Historic Decatur’s Annual Christmas Tradition Set for December 10th

The Albany and Old Decatur Historic Districts announce their annual Historic Decatur Christmas Tour where seven traditionally decorated homes and buildings complete with luminaries, fruit and greenery, and thousands of lights welcome visitors in celebration of the holiday season. The self-guided holiday tour provides a rare glimpse into private homes located in the city’s two historic districts sharing many untold stories and holiday decorating tips and also offers an evening of carriage rides, refreshments, and live holiday music. Always the second Saturday in December, this year’s event is scheduled for December 10^th from 3 to 8 p.m.

Residences in the Albany and Old Decatur Historic Districts are not normally open for public viewing except when a select number of homes open their doors during the annual holiday tour. This year’s tour features five stunning homes, along with the Girl Scout Little House and a special event venue, The Columns of Decatur. Homes participating this year include the Henkel-Cox House, the Barrett-Faison House, the Edwards-Digges House, the Dancy-Polk House Inn, and the McEntire-Bennett House. The Dancy-Polk home and McEntire-Bennett home join the tour this year in celebration of the 150^th anniversary of the Civil War.

Along with the tour of homes, neighborhood churches will open their doors for inspirational concerts and refreshments. The Brass Choir, Handbell Choir and other vocal and instrument ensembles of the First Baptist Church music ministry will perform, First Presbyterian Church will present “Jazzin’ the Season” featuring Trish Brown along with Keith Taylor, and First Presbyterian and Westminster Presbyterian Churches will feature Carillion Christmas Music. “A Collection of Nativities” will be on display at the First United Methodist Church Wesley Fellowship Hall and First Baptist Church will host a guided, narrated tour of the 111 year old Stephenson Chapel beautifully decorated for the holiday season.

Carriage rides will be offered beginning at 4 p.m. at the Carnegie Visual Arts Center or at Delano Park near the tennis courts. Cost for the carriage ride is $10 per person. Shuttle bus service will also be available from First United Methodist Church to the tour sites. Many merchants and restaurants throughout the downtown area will also be open during the tour.

Tickets are $15 each and can be purchased in advance at the Decatur/Morgan County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Bank Street Antiques, Trish Land Designs, the Carnegie Visual Arts Center, and Jimmy Smith Jewelers. On the day of the tour, tickets can also be purchased at Trish Land Designs, Bank Street Antiques, Jimmy Smith Jewelers, and the Decatur/Morgan County Convention & Visitors Bureau from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and at the Old State Bank, the Carnegie Visual Arts Center, and First United Methodist Church from 3 to 7 p.m. For groups of ten or more, tickets are $10 each and must be purchased in advance at the Decatur/Morgan County Convention & Visitors Bureau. Proceeds from the tour are used for neighborhood improvements such as tree replenishment and neighborhood public parks restoration.

Combined, the Old Decatur and Albany Historic Districts represent one of the finest and largest collections of Victorian and earlier 20^th century craftsman and bungalow homes in Alabama. The homes date back, in some instances, to the early 1800s, while most were constructed around the turn of the 20th century.

A walking/driving tour map of the historic districts is available from the Decatur/Morgan County Convention & Visitors Bureau. For more information, call 256.350.2028. For a schedule of events and more information on the historic homes, visit www.decaturchristmastour.com or www.historicalbanyalabama.com.

 

Annual Parade of Lights Set for Saturday, December 10th

Decorated boats will be on display beginning at 4 p.m.

Sponsored by the Riverwalk Yacht Club and Extreme Marine, the annual Parade of Lights will take to the waterway, illuminating Decatur’s Wheeler Lake, on Saturday, December 10, 2011. The free holiday maritime event features approximately 20 boats of all types and sizes decorated with lights, holiday themes, and other festive trimmings for the holiday season. New for this year, the public is invited for a leisurely stroll around the docks for an up close look at the brightly lit boats prior to the parade.

Beginning at 4 p.m., the docks at Riverwalk Marina open allowing the public for the first time to admire the boats and their holiday decorations before they set sail. In addition, the Morgan County Humane Society will be on-hand with various animals available for adoption. With Christmas just around the corner, a new pet would be a wonderful present for someone. The Morgan County Humane Society will also be accepting donations of pet food, supplies, and cash.

At 6 p.m. the boat parade will take its usual route, making a circle from the entrance of Riverwalk Marina located on Highway 20, west to the Railroad Bridge, east in front of Rhodes Ferry Park and then back into the Marina. The best viewing will be at Rhodes Ferry Park, the Hard Dock Café or the Marina entrance.

Anyone interested in participating in the parade or for more information, contact Bob Namie at 256.306.0909.