COLBERT COUNTY-Kicking off the holiday season atop LaGrange Mountain in Colbert County is a tradition for many north Alabama families.
The LaGrange Living Historical Association’s Christmas in the Country celebration is often the first holiday event of the season for Shoals residents. This year’s Christmas in the Country is from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Friday, November 21 – Sunday, November 23 at the LaGrange College site near Leighton. Admission is free. Donations will be accepted.
Louise Lenz, an organizer of the event, said many of the buildings at the college site will feature new holiday decorations this year.
“It’s going to look a little different this year, but we will be sticking to the theme of depicting what Christmases were like for the early settlers of our
Louise Lenz
area,” Lenz said.
Students from throughout north Alabama will attend the first day of the event. Lenz said it’s important for children to learn about pioneer Christmas celebrations.
The historic buildings at the college site include dogtrot log cabin that serves as a welcome center, a chapel, country store, and the Bonner House Bed and Breakfast. The buildings will be decorated with Christmas trees and fresh evergreen boughs reflecting pioneer days on the mountain.
LaGrange volunteers and vendors will offer handmade crafts and Christmas decorations, along with baked goods for sale. Admission to the park is free but donations received and proceeds from sales will benefit operation and maintenance of the LaGrange site.
Lenz said the arts and crafts offerings this year should be the best ever.
There will also be a bake shop, hay rides, live entertainment and opportunities to visit Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Susann Hamlin
LaGrange College was Alabama’s first chartered college and the forerunner of the University of North Alabama. It was burned by Union forces during the Civil War. LaGrange College Site Park is located off Alabama 157, 8 miles southeast of Muscle Shoals.
Susann Hamlin, executive director of Colbert County Tourism and Convention Bureau, said Christmas in the Country is great to start the holiday season. “We will soon be rushing around preparing for and celebrating the holidays, Christmas in the Country provides an opportunity to relax and step back in time and enjoy the holidays as they were in a time when things were less hectic”.
For more details about the festival, call 256-446-9324 or the Colbert County Tourism and Convention Bureau at 256-383-0783.
