Celebrate the Season in Alabaster with a slate of events throughout the city that will put a lot of jingle in everyone’s jolly!
Alabaster Tour of Lights
For the sixth year, Alabaster kicks off the holiday season with its fun and festive Tour of Lights. Presented by Alabaster’s Beautification Board, the tour features 15 to 25 local homes decorated to the hilt with lights, music, and colorful decorations. Displays will be complete by December 1st, with judging taking place from December 2-20. A map of all the homes on the tour by address will be available for spectators, and displays will be on by 5:30 p.m. each night. Winners will be announced in January.
Alabaster Christmas Parade
The Alabaster Christmas Parade—one of the largest holiday parades in Alabama—will kick off on Saturday, December 4, with the theme, “A Beary Special Christmas.” For the first time, the parade will feature a philanthropic component, being held in conjunction with a teddy bear drive benefitting Shelby Emergency Assistance, who will distribute the donated bears throughout Alabaster with extras going to neighboring cities. Parade participants and viewers can bring teddy bears to donate, with donation collection points available on the parade route.
The parade will begin at 10 a.m. at Ernest McCarty Ford and proceed south down U.S. 31 to the Alabaster Police Department where floats will be judged and awarded a Santa trophy for Best Holiday Spirit, Best Use of the Theme, Best Walking Entry, Most Creative, and Most Entertaining. Winners will be notified the week following the parade. After judging, the parade will conclude at Southbrook Village on 1st Street Southwest.
Dozens of festive floats, the Thompson High School Marching Southern Sounds band, dance teams, and other groups will help ring in the season. Children will be thrilled by the parade’s finale—an appearance by Santa Claus riding on an Alabaster Fire Department truck!
Santa Stops
For years, the Alabaster Fire Department has brought the joy of Christmas to the residents of Alabaster with the Santa Stops event. On Christmas Eve, firefighters play Santa’s elves, driving Santa around the city and stopping at designated locations for children to visit with the Jolly Old Elf. “This year we are changing the scheduling somewhat to compensate for the growth of the city,” says Alabaster Fire Chief Tim Love. “This year the three engine companies will bring Santa to neighborhoods at 27 different locations.” Santa will remain at each location for 30 to 45 minutes. Tower 19 will carry Santa to three major locations and remain at each location for 11/2 to 2 hours. New signs with a QR code will allow citizens to access and view the schedule on their phones. “This tour is a favorite of our citizens,” Chief Love says. “We want every citizen to have the opportunity to have a visit from Santa.” The Fire Department will also continue the 25-year-plus tradition of hosting a Christmas Village for kids at Firehouse #1. The Village, which features replicas of the city’s yellow fire trucks, a gingerbread house, a helicopter, and more, will open December 4th after the Christmas Parade. The Village will remain open through January 1st from 5 to 9 p.m. each day, weather permitting.
Water Tower Lighting
On December 4 at 5:30 p.m., following the Alabaster Christmas Parade, for the second year, the city will light its iconic water tower in Christmas colors. Debuting last year, the water tower lighting will once again feature food trucks and performances by local choirs, including the award-winning Thompson High School choir.
