December Events Not to Miss in Shelby County

‘Tis the season for Christmas tree lightings, holiday markets, theatre productions and other festive events. Here are the details about what’s happening in the area this month.

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•Old Baker Farm Christmas Tree Farm

Late November through December 24 // Old Baker Farm in Harpersville

Old Baker Farm’s Choose and Cut Christmas Tree Farm will be open the day after Thanksgiving through Dec. 24, seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to dark. Visitors can also enjoy complimentary hot apple cider, candy canes and a hayride through the Christmas trees. Admission is free. For more details, visit Oldbakerfarm.com.

•Mt Laurel Tree Lighting and Treats

December 1 // Mt Laurel Library

Stop by the Mt Laurel Library following the Tree Lighting in the town center between 5 and 6:30 p.m. for treats, a craft and face painting.

•Wilsonville Tree Lighting Ceremony

December 2 // Wilsonville Central Park

The town of Wilsonville will hold its annual Tree Lighting Ceremony Dec. 2 at 5:30 p.m. rain or shine at Wilsonville Central Park located at the corner of Alabama 25 and Shelby County 61. Music will be provided by the Wilsonville Elementary School Choir with Lincoln Byron Thomas and the Official Clutch Band as the main act. Santa will be there, and you can take photos with Santa and his sleigh at the tree.

•Owens House Holiday Open House

December 3 // Owens House in Columbiana

Owens House, Shelby County Children’s Advocacy Center, will host this festive event from 3-6 p.m. There will be crafts, food and an opportunity to see Santa. Wear your cutest winter attire or your favorite ugly Christmas sweater. Event is located at 22747 Alabama 25 in Columbiana.

•Pelham Christmas Tree Lighting

December 5 // Pelham Civic Complex

The annual Pelham Community Christmas Tree Lighting will be held from 6:30-9 p.m. at Pelham Civic Complex. Guests will hear holiday music from a community church choir, and members of the Beautification Board will pass out 1,000 Christmas ornaments. Pelham Skate School and the Birmingham Figure Skating Club will perform on ice. Santa Claus will be available from 5:30-6:15 p.m., and he returns for visits after the Tree Lighting at 7:30 p.m. until 8:45 p.m. Both ice rinks will feature free ice skating from 7:30-9 p.m.

•Montevallo Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting

December 5 // Montevallo Main Street

Montevallo’s Main Street will host the city’s annual Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting with holiday music from the Montevallo Community Band on the post office lawn prior to the lighting ceremony at 5:30 p.m. The parade will follow at 6 with lineup taking place at 4:30 p.m. in the Montevallo High School parking lot.

•Columbiana Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting

December 5 // Columbiana Main Street

The 17th annual Columbiana Christmas Parade will kick off with Christmas carols by Mike Mason. Dream Makers Dancers will perform at 6:15 p.m. and the parade is at 7 p.m. This year’s grand marshal is City Councilman Leslie Whiting. Food trucks will be available in the parking lot between the Shelby County Museum and Archives and the Shelby County Arts Center.

•Christmas in the Park

December 6 // Shelby Iron Works Park in Shelby

Save the date for Christmas in the Park at Shelby Iron Works Park from 5-8 p.m. The park is located at 10268 Shelby County 42, Shelby.

•Helena Holiday Festival and Christmas Tree Lighting

December 6 // Downtown Helena

This year’s event will take place Friday, Dec. 6 from 5:30-9 p.m. and include the illumination of the city Christmas tree at the caboose and the holiday shopping festival. For more information, visit Facebook.com/helenabeautiful.

•Holiday Artist Market

December 6+7 // Shelby County Arts Center in Columbiana

’Tis the season of shopping for gifts, and what better place to find those gifts than at the Shelby County Arts Council’s Holiday Artist Market? Local artists and makers will be selling a variety of handmade treasures, including photography, pottery, fabric work, gourd art, painting and printmaking. Shop the market early on the preview night, Dec. 6, from 6-8 p.m., or go to the regular market day Dec. 7 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

•Alabaster Christmas Parade

December 7 // U.S. 31 in Alabaster

“A Storybook Christmas,” this year’s Alabaster Christmas Parade, will take place at 10 a.m. From Ernest McCarty Ford on U.S. 31, the parade will move south and turn at the Alabaster Police Department, ending at the front of Southbrook Village Shopping Center. In order to view all of the parade entries, you will need to be south of the former Faith Consignment building across from the 1022 Tower. For more details, visit Cityofalabaster.com/233/Christmas-Parade-Dec.

•Breakfast with Santa

December 7 // Oak Mountain Middle School

Breakfast with Santa will be held from 8-11:30 a.m. Tickets are $5 for an individual breakfast and $20 for a family breakfast (immediate family living in the same household). A photo with Santa is available for $10. The event will include a Waffle House breakfast and a visit with Santa in his sleigh. Proceeds benefit the OMMS Athletic Boosters. For tickets, visit Gofan.co/app/school/AL67656.

•SCT Presents ‘Yes, Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus’

December 13-15+19-21 // South City Theatre in Pelham

Inspired by a simple, poignant letter written more than 100 years ago by 8-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon to the editor of the New York Sun—and by the timeless editorial response printed on the front page of the Sun. Virginia wondered and wrote: “Dear Editor, I am eight years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says if you see it in the Sun, it’s so. Please tell me the truth. Is there a Santa Claus?” Donna Stinson Williamson will direct this timeless show. Visit Southcitytheatre.com for show times and ticket information.

•Colonial Christmas Lunches and Tours

December 9-13 // The American Village in Montevallo

10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. and 12-2:30 p.m.

Enjoy a delicious luncheon in the East Room of the White House with hostess Abigail Adams, and then tour several vignettes of the American Village, including the Colonial Chapel, Barn and Meeting House, with the talented costumed historical interpreters

Tickets are $30 and can be reserved by calling (205) 665-3535 ext. 1031 or emailing Christmas@AmericanVillage.org.

•Westover Christmas Parade

December 14 // Westover

The festivities will kick off at 10 a.m. Clair Huddleston, news anchor with WBRC TV will be this year’s grand marshal. This year’s parade will follow a new route starting at Shelby County 55 and continuing east on Old Highway 280 to city hall. Spectators are encouraged to park along Old Highway 280 between Shelby County 55 and city hall. Inclement weather make-up day will be Thursday, Dec. 19 at 5 p.m. For more information, contact Bonnie Meacham at (205) 678-3375 or Clerk@westoveralabama.org.

WHAT TO DO IN SHELBY COUNTY

Dec. 13
Holly Jolly Trolley Christmas Lights Tour
Columbiana
6 p.m.

Dec. 13+14
Birmingham Bulls vs. Pensacola
Pelham Ice Arena
7 p.m.

Dec. 15
Birmingham Bulls vs. Quad City
Pelham Ice Arena
3 p.m.

Dec. 19
Griswold Family Trivia
Siluria Brewing Co.
7 p.m.

Dec. 20
Community Ugly Sweater Christmas Parade
Columbiana
1 p.m.

Dec. 21
25^th Annual Meadow Brook Runs – Alabama Bicentennial
Valley Bank, Meadow Brook Branch
9 a.m.

Dec. 27
Birmingham Bulls vs. Macon
Pelham Ice Arena
7:30 p.m.

Dec. 31
New Year’s Eve Celebration with The Martini Shakers
Siluria Brewing Co.
7 p.m.

AROUND TOWN

Dec. 19
Birmingham Boys Choir Christmas Concert
Briarwood Presbyterian Church

Dec. 13-15
Once On This Island Presented by Broadway In Birmingham
BJCC Concert Hall

Dec. 20
Handel’s Messiah Presented by the Alabama Symphony Orchestra
Alys Stephens Center

Dec. 21
Home for the Holidays Presented by the Alabama Symphony Orchestra
Alys Stephens Center

Dec. 28
Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker
Alabama Theatre

Dec. 31
Cheers! The New Year’s Eve Concert Presented by the Alabama Symphony Orchestra
Alys Stephens Center