FLORENCE-Florence-Lauderdale Tourism and the Shoals Chamber of Commerce invite you to kick off the Shoals’ second Tinsel Trail on December 4, 2020 from 5:30-7:30 pm. There will be holiday music and Santa and Mrs. Clause at the Grand Opening to kick off this event. Masks and social distancing are required.
The Tinsel Trail is a display of live Christmas trees on the grounds of the Florence-Lauderdale Visitor Center in McFarland Park. Trees will decorate the Visitor Center for the holiday season. Intended to promote community, each tree is sponsored by a local corporation, group, or family, and has been decorated by its sponsor or another organization designated by the sponsor. This year, each sponsor was tasked with choosing a local charity or nonprofit to represent this year.
“I am super excited to see this year’s trees and see a little bit of friendly competition this year between the businesses and sponsors. This year, I decided to switch up the charity proceeds formatting just to make the trail more fun and competitive and for the community to have a say in where the proceeds go,” said Tinsel Trail Director, Randa Hovater.
Tinsel Trail Director, Randa Hovater
Trees can have themes that match the company’s mission; holiday themed or they can be just totally unique! Each tree has a sign with the sponsor and decorator’s names.
“We sold 50 trees this year. I was a little worried about doing it this year and scared we wouldn’t have many sponsors, but our community has really shown out this holiday season. I think this free outdoor event is perfect for families and friends to get out of the house and properly socially distance themselves, but still enjoy a bit of holiday cheer,” Hovater said.
The proceeds of this project are being donated to the winner of the Talk of the Trail Award Tree’s chosen charity or nonprofit. The public will vote the on the awards digitally. Voting will open December 4, 2020 at 5:30 PM and will close December 11, 2020 at 10:00 AM. The charity/nonprofit who will receive the proceeds will be announced at noon on December 11.
The Tinsel Trail is free and open to the public daily. Trees are lit from dusk until midnight each night. The trees will be on display through January 6th.
For more information visit the Tinsel Trail website.
Media Release/Randa Hovater
Manager, Media Relations/Social Media/Florence-Lauderdale Tourism
