LEIGHTON-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 16 – Sunday, November 18 at the LaGrange College site near Leighton. Admission is free. Donations will be accepted.
Louise Lenz, an organizer of the event, said Christmas in the Country, said new decorations have been added this year to enhance the festive atmosphere of the celebration.
She said the buildings at the college site will be decorated with Christmas trees and evergreen boughs as they would have been 150 years ago. 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.
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.
Lenz said Christmas in the Country is a perfect opportunity to make family photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus or at the decorated buildings to use in Christmas cards.
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, president and CEO of Colbert County Tourism and Convention Bureau, said Christmas in the Country is great to start the holiday season. “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.
