COLBERT COUNTY-For many Tennessee Valley residents, the holiday season begins the third weekend of November atop LaGrange Mountain in Colbert County
The LaGrange Living Historical Association’s annual Christmas in the Country celebration attracts people from throughout the Tennessee Valley to the tiny mountaintop community south of Leighton. For many, it’s their first holiday festival of the season. This year’s celebration is 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20 – Sunday, Nov. 22 at the LaGrange College Site. Admission is free. Donations will be accepted.
While the time-honored tradition of decorating the historical buildings at the site to resemble and old-time Christmas continues this year, organizer Louise Lenz said the celebration will include several changes. The changes include new vendors and artists along with a program to commemorate the LaGrange Observatory reopening. There will also be hayrides and tours of the recently renovated LaGrange Cemetery.
Lenz said this year’s decorations will include a dozen Christmas trees, each adorned with ornaments reflecting a unique theme.
“One of the trees will be decorated with bird nests. Another will be decorated with vintage tobacco tins and ribbons,” Lenz said. “We decorate several of our trees like the early settlers would have decorated theirs”
She said there will be plenty of cakes, pies, cookies and other treats at the ever popular Christmas in the Country Bake Sale.
Both Santa and Mrs. Claus will attend and be available for photographs. “A lot of people like to come out and take pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus and use the photos for making their Christmas cards every year.”
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.
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.
For more details about the festival, call 256-446-9324 or the Colbert County Tourism and Convention Bureau at 256-383-0783.
