Christmas season is nearly upon us and there are a plethora of Christmas events and parades set for the next 35 days.
Annual Christmas parades will again take place in the cities of Red Bay, Vina, Phil Campbell and the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade in downtown Russellville.
Red Bay's parade will take place Monday, December 2, at 6 p.m., in downtown Red Bay. Vina's parade will be the next day, Tuesday, December 3, at 6 p.m., and will follow along the traditional Highway 19 route.
The downtown Russellville Chamber of Commerce Parade takes place Thursday, December 5, at 6 p.m., along Jackson Avenue and the Phil Campbell Christmas Parade will be Thursday, December 12, at 6 p.m., along the traditional Broad Street downtown route.
2024 parade themes include: 'Trains and Candy Canes' in Red Bay, 'Christmas in Toyland' in Vina and 'Christmas Classics' in downtown Russellville.
Other Franklin County Christmas events include 'Peppermint in the Bay,' an all-day shopping special event in downtown Red Bay. Participating businesses will have special offers for the upcoming holiday season.
The Red Bay Christmas Open House takes place from 1-4:30 p.m., Sunday, December 1, with horse and carriage rides available in Bay Tree Park, and the town's Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in Bay Tree Park at 5 p.m.
The Russellville Main Street's 'Who-Ville' event will take place December 5th, before and after the Christmas Parade in downtown Russellville. The event will be hosted by the Downtown Russellville Coalition.
Also on Thursday, December 5th, the Every Light a Prayer for Peace event will take place in front of the Franklin County Courthouse at 4:15 p.m., and the Russellville Christmas Tree Lighting at the Byars Building will start at 5 p.m.
The Christmas at City Lake Park Tree Lighting Ceremony begins at 7:30 p.m., after the parade and the Christmas Tree Trail will be open until January 1, 2025.
The Russellville Parks and Recreation Department's 'Miss Merry Christmas' Pageant is set for Friday, December 6, from 6-8:30 p.m., at the Russellville Rec Center, 201 Ash Avenue. Ages 0-12 are eligible with six age divisions. For more information, contact Jennifer Cook at jenniferreed623@gmail.com.
Application and payment deadline is November 29th.
Northwest Shoals Community College's Breakfast with Santa will start at 9 a.m., Saturday, December 8th, on the Shoals Campus. It includes breakfast, crafts, Christmas carols and an appearance from Santa himself. Tickets are $14 per person. Children under two are free. Proceeds benefit the NWSCC Foundation.
'Christmas at Sloss Lake' is set for Sunday, December 8, from 12-7 p.m., at Russellville's Sloss Lake on Highway 24 East. It will include craft vendors, activities, music, food trucks, a Christmas program at 4:30 p.m., Santa's arrival at 4 p.m., all leading up to a live Bethlehem nativity scene.
The Town of Hodges will host its Memory Tree Lighting at Hodges Town Park on Sunday, December 8, at 5 p.m. Angels may be purchased at Harold's Gas & Grocery or at Hodges Town Hall. And 'Christmas Around the Trail' at Hodges Park will be ongoing through January 7, 2025.
The Roxy's Christmas Spectacular will feature public performances on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, December 12-15, at the historic Roxy Theatre. Tickets are $15.
'Cookies for Santa' takes place at the A.W. Todd Centre from 5:30-7:30 p.m., on Tuesday, December 17th. This event is sponsored by the Russellville Parks and Recreation Department and includes a cookie decorating class, story time with Dianne Pace and customized popcorn creating at the popcorn bar. There's a $25 registration fee and participants should be in grades K-5th.
For more information on these events, visit www.franklincountychamber.org.
