Christmas Events Throughout Alabama!

Christmas at Arlington

Birmingham; Dec. 1
Celebrate with Arlington's staff as they commemorate the mansion's 52nd anniversary as Birmingham's historic house museum. See local floral designers transform the interior into replications of Christmas past.

Candlelight Christmas at Oakleigh
Mobile; Dec. 1-2
Step back into a festive 19th-century holiday celebration at Oakleigh Historic Complex. Daily activities, 10-4, will feature seasonal music, horse-drawn carriage rides, guided tours, Victorian Santa, exhibitors and refreshments. Tours by candlelight are 6:30-8:00. Day admission $5 members, $10 nonmembers. Evening admission $7 members, $12 nonmembers, $5 children.

American Streamlined Designs: The World of Tomorrow
Montgomery; Dec. 1-Mar. 2
A fresh appraisal of the aesthetic of streamlined design, placing the achievements of its best-known exponents — among them Norman Bel Geddes, Henry Dreyfuss, Raymond Loewy and Walter Dorwin Teague — squarely alongside the contributions of other lesser-known but significant designers such as Lurelle Guild, Clifford Brooks Stevens and Harold Van Doren.

West Alabama Christmas Parade
Tuscaloosa; Dec. 3
The 32nd West Alabama Christmas Parde is Alabama's largest Christmas parade with more than 200 entrants spreading holiday cheer. The 2007 Grand Marshals are Harry Lee and Doug Phillips.

Dickens Downtown Celebration
Northport; Dec. 4
The streets and shops of historic downtown Northport will come alive with Victorian music, crafts and family activities. Visitors can enjoy the sounds of the holidays with live music, a visit with Father Christmas, carolers, a winter wonderland and much more. The shops and galleries of downtown Northport will be open and decorated for the holidays, and merchants will be in traditional Victorian costume.

Holiday Gallery Tour
Huntsville; Dec. 6
Meridian Arts, along with other local galleries and the Huntsville Museum of Art, offers a holiday open house. This informal event showcases artists whose talents include painting, pottery, glass, sculpture, jewelry, photography and woodworking.

Governor's Mansion Candlelight Open House
Montgomery; Dec. 7-21
Tour the public rooms of the state's executive residence while it's decorated in all its holiday grandeur. The 1907 Governor's Mansion will be aglow with lights and filled with the spirit of the season.

Victorian Christmas
Dothan; Dec. 9
Warm up to some holiday hospitality during an afternoon centered on the pleasures of Christmases past. Visitors are invited to sample turn-of-the-century desserts and sip hot chocolate or mulled cider while children try their hand at making traditional Christmas decorations. A circuit-riding preacher will arrive by horse and carriage to deliver a Christmas message at the church.

Holiday Music Extravaganza
Fort Payne; Dec. 30
Wind up the holiday season with this concert featuring the local talent of Steven Kean, FAA Quartet from Plainview School, Naomi ("NIB") McKinney and The George Boys.

City of Fairhope New Year's Eve Celebration
Fairhope; Dec. 31
Residents and visitors are invited to bring their family and friends downtown and ring in the New Year dancing in the streets to live entertainment. The band will begin playing at 8:30 p.m. at the corner of Section Street and Church Street. Other entertainment includes karaoke, face painting, magic shows, fireworks at midnight, free party favors and a ball drop at midnight.

A Few Upcoming Local Events...

36th Annual National Shrimp Festival
Gulf Shores; Oct. 11-14
One of the premier events in the Southeast, The Annual National Shrimp Festival draws over 300,000 people to Alabama's Gulf Coast. The festival has over 300 vendors offering everything from Arts & Crafts and The International Marketplace to the Children's Art Village, where kids can let their creative talents and imaginations run wild! Some of the best Fine Art in the region will be displayed, and four days of musical entertainment will be on hand, featuring national recording artists as well as all the local favorites. Fabulous seafood will be on hand and, of course, shrimp- fried, grilled, broiled or steamed.

Tale Tellin' Festival
Selma; Oct. 12-13
The rattle of chains in an abandoned Southern plantation, lights flickering from a cypress swamp, hidden treasures in an old well... it's Southern magic at its best. Spin a yarn at the Swappin' Ground (5:30 p.m.); then at 7 p.m. enjoy storytelling by nationally known storytellers such as Selma's own Kathryn Tucker Windham.

Pompeii: Tales from an Eruption
Birmingham; Oct. 14-Jan. 27
The Birmingham Museum of Art is pleased to announce a groundbreaking exhibition that will, for the first time, tell the intriguing stories of the final days of Pompeii and the nearby resort cities of Herculaneum, Oplontis and Terzigno following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in August of 79 AD. Excavations dating back to 1780 through current day have produced the more than 500 objects, many of which have never been toured outside of Italy, that allow the Museum to reconstruct final moments of the citizens and the magnificence of these vibrant cities.

Governor's Mansion Autumn Garden Tour
Montgomery; Oct. 19-20
Stroll through the beautiful landscaped grounds of the 1907 Colonial Revival mansion and learn how to beautify your fall garden.

Southern Wildlife Festival
Decatur; Oct. 20-21
Wildlife art show and sale featuring works by wildlife artists from throughout the U.S.

Grand Festival of Art by the Bay
Fairhope; Oct. 20-21
This fine arts show features over 90 artists exhibiting in a variety of mediums, including oils, watercolor, acrylics, photography, ceramics and fine jewelry. Exhibitors include both local and national artists, many of whom return each year for this unique venue on the shores of Mobile Bay.

Kentuck Festival of the Arts
Northport; Oct. 20-21
The Kentuck Festival, nationally recognized for its quality and diversity, celebrates a variety of artistic styles ranging from folk to contemporary arts as well as traditional crafts. Each of the 250+ artists participating in the Festival is either invited as a guest artist or is juried based on the quality and originality of their work. The guest artists are nationally recognized folk and visionary artists whose powerful visual images continue to capture national and international acclaim. Mose Tolliver, Annie Tolliver Turner, Lonnie Holley, Jimmy Lee Sudduth and Charlie Lucas are among the self-taught artists Kentuck has been honored to showcase.

Events in and around Alabama

Alabama's top 10 events of October. You may also click here to see a listing of every event Alabama has to offer this month.

Order a 2007 Alabama Calendar of Events

Governor Riley cordially invites you to visit during the special celebration of 2007: The Year of Alabama Arts. [read more]

Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention
Athens; Oct. 5-6
Music lovers and musicians from more than 30 states converge on the campus of historic Athens State University for one of the oldest and largest Old Time Fiddlers Conventions in the nation. Two days of competition in 18 categories, over 150 booths packed full of activities, tasty treats, arts and crafts.

UAW-Ford 500 Event Weekend
Talladega; Oct. 5-7
Be here for the 2007 UAW-Ford 500 Event Weekend featuring the Food World 250 ARCA RE/MAX Series race on Friday, Oct. 5; the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series on Saturday, Oct. 6; and the UAW-Ford 500, race four in the Chase for the NASCAR Nextel Cup on Sunday, Oct. 7. Kids age 11 and younger are admitted free of charge on Friday and Saturday of race weekends at Talladega Superspeedway - NASCAR's Most Competitive Track!

44th Annual Bluff Park Art Show
Hoover; Oct. 6
The Bluff Park Art Association hosts the 44th Annual Bluff Park Art Show featuring visual artists from around the United States. Artists exhibit and sell their work in this juried, open-air event. Free admission, parking and shuttle service. Live jazz band entertainment. Food and refreshments available for sale. Hands-on arts activities are provided for a nominal fee. Proceeds from the annual show go to support the arts in the greater Birmingham community.

36th Annual National Shrimp Festival
Gulf Shores; Oct. 11-14
One of the premier events in the Southeast, The Annual National Shrimp Festival draws over 300,000 people to Alabama's Gulf Coast. The festival has over 300 vendors offering everything from Arts & Crafts and The International Marketplace to the Children's Art Village, where kids can let their creative talents and imaginations run wild! Some of the best Fine Art in the region will be displayed, and four days of musical entertainment will be on hand, featuring national recording artists as well as all the local favorites. Fabulous seafood will be on hand and, of course, shrimp- fried, grilled, broiled or steamed.

Tale Tellin' Festival
Selma; Oct. 12-13
The rattle of chains in an abandoned Southern plantation, lights flickering from a cypress swamp, hidden treasures in an old well... it's Southern magic at its best. Spin a yarn at the Swappin' Ground (5:30 p.m.); then at 7 p.m. enjoy storytelling by nationally known storytellers such as Selma's own Kathryn Tucker Windham.

Pompeii: Tales from an Eruption
Birmingham; Oct. 14-Jan. 27
The Birmingham Museum of Art is pleased to announce a groundbreaking exhibition that will, for the first time, tell the intriguing stories of the final days of Pompeii and the nearby resort cities of Herculaneum, Oplontis and Terzigno following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in August of 79 AD. Excavations dating back to 1780 through current day have produced the more than 500 objects, many of which have never been toured outside of Italy, that allow the Museum to reconstruct final moments of the citizens and the magnificence of these vibrant cities.

Governor's Mansion Autumn Garden Tour
Montgomery; Oct. 19-20
Stroll through the beautiful landscaped grounds of the 1907 Colonial Revival mansion and learn how to beautify your fall garden.

Southern Wildlife Festival
Decatur; Oct. 20-21
Wildlife art show and sale featuring works by wildlife artists from throughout the U.S.

Grand Festival of Art by the Bay
Fairhope; Oct. 20-21
This fine arts show features over 90 artists exhibiting in a variety of mediums, including oils, watercolor, acrylics, photography, ceramics and fine jewelry. Exhibitors include both local and national artists, many of whom return each year for this unique venue on the shores of Mobile Bay.

Kentuck Festival of the Arts
Northport; Oct. 20-21
The Kentuck Festival, nationally recognized for its quality and diversity, celebrates a variety of artistic styles ranging from folk to contemporary arts as well as traditional crafts. Each of the 250+ artists participating in the Festival is either invited as a guest artist or is juried based on the quality and originality of their work. The guest artists are nationally recognized folk and visionary artists whose powerful visual images continue to capture national and international acclaim. Mose Tolliver, Annie Tolliver Turner, Lonnie Holley, Jimmy Lee Sudduth and Charlie Lucas are among the self-taught artists Kentuck has been honored to showcase.