Tourism – A Time For New Traditions

Athens’ Big Spring Memorial Park has been transformed into a venue for the beginning of a new tradition for the Christmas Holidays, starting December 5th and continuing through January 3rd. This beautiful park, which is home to several breeds of ducks, will also be home to seventeen decorated Christmas Trees, a Snowman family and a giant postcard painting by artist Ashley Bates that will serve as a selfie-photo location.

This project is the hard work of several organizations. First off, Athens Lowe’s Home Improvement Store donated the Fraser Fir trees to be sponsored and decorated. Ben Wiley, of Athens Parks and Recs provided the manpower to stand the trees and to ensure the location was optimal for our needs. Athens-Limestone County Tourism president Teresa Todd, Spirit of Athens executive director Trisha Black, Keep Athens Limestone Beautiful director Lynne Hart, Diane Lehr with Athens Art League, Holly Hollman with the City of Athens, Rebekah Davis Athens-Limestone County Archivist and Deborah Daws with Athens-Limestone County Tourism Board of Directors have all participated with ideas, hard work and scheduling the details for a kick-off on December 5th. We are blessed to live in such a beautiful part of North Alabama and to have these organizations working together on this project. How pleased I am to have an event held in this family park for our community to begin a new quality of life tradition.

Keep Athens Limestone County Beautiful and the board of directors will be selling hot chocolate for those who come out Saturday night for the kick-off.

Dec 4th & 5th – Holiday Open House at Mooresville Mercantile. 5081 Mooresville Road, Mooresville, AL. Come shop among the all American-made wares and goods to fill your stockings or pile under the Christmas tree. For more information about this event, visit: www.mooresvillemercantile.com/special-events/

Dec 4th, 5th & 6th and again Dec 11th, 12th & 13th – Bethlehem Walk. Mable Hill Baptist Church 3778 Ready Section Road, Ardmore, AL. Join Mable Hill Baptist Church as they re-enact the birth of Jesus in this annual walk through production from 5:30PM-9:00PM. Large groups welcome with reservations. For more information, visit: www.mablehillbaptist.org/bethlehem.html

Dec 4th, 5th, & 6th and again Dec 11th, 12th, &13th – The Christmas Story Drive-Thru Nativity. Emmanuel Baptist Church 1917 U.S. Highway 72W, Athens, AL. Pack the family car and enjoy a living nativity from 6:00PM-9:00PM on the 4th, 5th, 11th and 12th, and from 6:00PM to 8:00PM on the 6th and 13th. Free admission. For more information, visit: www.ebcathens.com

Dec 5th – Coffee Call. Alabama Veterans Museum, 100 West Pryor Street Athens, AL. Join fellow Veterans and their families for breakfast 8:00AM-9:30AM. Contact Director Sandy Thompson for more information at 256-771-7578.

Dec 5th – AHS JROTC Jingle Bell Jog 5K Run/Walk. Athens High School, 100 U.S. Highway 31N, Athens, AL. Race starts at 8:00AM. For more details, contact Chief James Chambers at (256) 233-6619 or james.chambers@acs-k12.org for more details.

Dec 5th – Ardmore Christmas Craft Fair. TN Annex Building, Main Street, Ardmore, TN. Top off your shopping list with handmade crafts to give to friends, family, party hostess or surprise gift giver.

Dec 5th – Elkmont Lions Club Christmas Parade. Elkmont, AL. Join the Elkmont Lions Club for Christmas cheer and to welcome Santa to Elkmont starting at 1:00PM. To register your float, marching band, group or individual participant, please call 256-732-4211.

Dec 6th – Committed Holiday Concert. McCandless Hall, Athens State University, 300 North Beaty Street, Athens, AL. The 2nd Season Champions of “The Sing Off” take to the stage of McCandless Hall at 7:00PM for a holiday concert sponsored by the Center for Lifelong Learning and the Livingston Concert-Lecture Series. All seats reserved, advance purchase only, $15.00 each. Tickets available at Center for Lifelong Learning, 121 South Marion Street, Athens, AL. You can also call 256-233-8260 for more information.

Dec 6th – Bells of Christmas 5th Annual Athens Ladies Civitan Holiday Home Tour. Athens, AL. Enjoy a tour of several prominent Athens homes dressed up for the holidays and open for touring from 1:00PM-5:00PM. Each home will have delicious sweet treats provided by local caterers for your enjoyment. This is a self-guided tour with hostesses at each home. Tickets are available for $15 in advance and $20 on the day of the event. Contact Carolyn Stair at 256-233-0258 or purchase tickets at Crawford’s Gifts, Nestle Toll House Café, Pablo’s on Market, Pam’s Home Furnishing, or Pimento’s.

Dec 6th – 11th Hour, Live In Concert. Nebo Community Church, 17772 Nuclear Plant Road, Athens, AL. Join the congregation for a Christmas concert with the group 11th Hour. Concert starts at 5:00PM. RSVP at: http://11thhourgospelgroup.com/tour/

Dec 7th – Holiday Wreath-Making Class. 1818 Farms, 24889 Lauderdale Street, Mooresville AL. 1818 Farms will provide the freshly-cut balsam and white pine wreaths, fruit, and other natural materials for making Della Robbia style wreaths. Artists who join the class will be given hands on instruction on decorating their wreath with berries, pine cones, seed pods, and all kinds of fruit. The only requirement is that you bring a glue gun along with your creativity. Cost: $60.00. Event begins at 9:00AM. For more information, visit: http://store.1818farms.com/collections/classes/products/2602

Dec 8th – Ardmore Christmas Parade. Ardmore AL/TN. Santa is coming to Ardmore with floats, marching bands, and more present the theme “Twas the Night Before Christmas” at 6:30PM. Rain date will be December 10th. To register your float, marching band, group, or individual participants, please call 256-423-3011 or 931-427-2421.

Dec 10th – Holiday Open House. Ardmore Welcome Center, 28232 Upper Elkton Road, Elkmont, AL. Enjoy music with the Athens Dulcimers, as well as fun and light refreshments with the Ardmore Welcome Center Staff from 10:00AM-3:00PM. RSVP required, please call: 256-423-389.

Dec 10th – Hope for the Holidays. Limestone County Event Center, 114 West Pryor Street Athens, AL. Join Team Victory 4 All for a childhood cancer benefit dinner featuring Huntsville Master Chorale, a catered dinner by Suzanne’s Eatery, and keynote speaker Dr. Carolyn Russo, medical director of the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital affiliate program. Proceeds benefit Team Victory 4 All.

Dec 10th – Supper with Santa. Creekside Elementary School, 16049 Sanderson Road, Harvest, AL. Creekside PTO would like to invite students and families for Supper with Santa on December 10th, from 5:00Pm – 6:00PM or 7:00PM – 8:00PM, in the cafeteria. Admission will include dinner (pizza, salad, cookie, and drink), craft, and a letter to Santa. Everything will be set up and brought to each family at their table. Santa will be available for pictures during and after dinner. The cost is $8 per person, school age and above. All children preschool age and below are free, but will still need a ticket.

Dec 12th – Sippin’ Cider. Downtown Athens, AL. From 5:00PM to 8:00PM, participating merchants will offer sample tastings of their favorite cider recipe. Guests will vote by ballot for their favorite, and the cider receiving the most votes wins bragging rights for the year. The ballots will also serve as an entry to one of many door prizes to be given away.

Dec 12th – 40th Annual Parade of Lights. Joe Wheeler State Park, 4403 McLean Drive, Rogersville, AL. Grab your space along the shore as the decorated boats cruise Wheeler Lake. Holiday Buffet will be served at Daniella’s in the Park starting at 4:00PM. Boat Parade starts at 6:00PM. To participate in the parade, call Denita at 256-247-6971 or email JoeWheeler.Marina@dcnr.alabama.gov. To book your meal or room, call 256-247-5461.

Dec 18th and 19th – Senior Lunch Matinée Special Christmas Show with Kevin Adams. Yesterday’s Event Center, 15631 Brownsferry Road, Athens, AL. Come enjoy a special Christmas Show featuring the talents of Kevin Adams, singer and impressionist. Cost is $11.00 and includes lunch, drink, and dessert. Groups welcome. Events begin 11:00AM with seating, opening, announcements, meal blessing, and lunch. The show will kick off at 12:00PM. Cancellation policy applies.RSVP required: info@yesterdaysevents.com

Dec 20th – Christmas is Jesus Orchestral Concert. Emmanuel Baptist Church, 1917 U.S. Highway 72W, Athens, AL. Join the Orchestra of Emmanuel Baptist Church at 6:00PM for a concert. www.ebcathens.com

Dec 26th – Audioprism Live at Mac’s. Mac’s Sports Bar & Steakhouse, 1733 Jefferson Street SE, Athens, AL. Audioprism (Jeremy Ezell, Chad Miller, Kirk Hannah and Joey Whitworth) debut in their hometown at Mac’s from 8:00PM-1:00AM. Enjoy music from across the decades, genres and even a few surprises.

Dec 31st – Yesterday’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve Variety Show. Yesterday’s Event Center, 15631 Brownsferry Road, Athens, AL. Come enjoy a night of your favorite music. Show. RSVP required, please specify if you plan to eat. RSVP to info@yesterdaysevents.com.
By: Teresa Todd, President, Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association