Parade and ice skating spotlight Christmas events in Tuscaloosa

While the pandemic has provided a “Bah, humbug” to the 2020 Tuscaloosa holiday events, most of the cherished Christmas events will return to the Druid City this year.

The 2021 holiday season will see these events return after a pandemic year: one of the state’s largest Christmas parades, a Victorian-style celebration with artificial snow, and a performance of a beloved ballet.

Meanwhile, the outdoor rink in the town of Tuscaloosa, along with a decorated Christmas tree trail, will move to a new site due to ongoing road construction in front of Jack Warner Parkway.

Here’s what’s happening this holiday season in the Tuscaloosa area:

Library open day

The Tuscaloosa Public Library will be holding an open house from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on December 5 at the main branch, 1801 Jack Warner Parkway. The free event will include Christmas treats, holiday music, and the ability to create a Christmas photo postcard. Local authors will also be on hand to sign copies of their books. For more information, visit www.tuscaloosa-library.org.

Western Alabama Christmas Parade

The 45th Annual West Alabama Christmas Parade kicks off at 6:30 p.m. on December 6 along Greensboro Avenue in downtown Tuscaloosa, preceded by Christmas tree lighting, at 5:15 p.m. at the Tuscaloosa County Courthouse, 714 Greensboro Ave. The parade includes dozens of floats, decorated vehicles and marching bands. The theme for this year’s parade is “Superheroes Celebrate Christmas”. For the parade route and other information, visit www.tcpara.org/west-alabama-christmas-parade.

Dickens Town Center

Dickens Downtown will take place from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on December 7 in downtown Northport. The free, family-friendly event is a Victorian-style Christmas celebration inspired by Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”. The event will feature Christmas carol performances, a Santa Claus appearance, snow machines, tree lighting and live artist demonstrations. For more information, go to the event Facebook page.

Nutcracker

Dancers from the Tuscaloosa community will perform “The Nutcracker” at the Bama Theater, 600 Greensboro Ave. Performances will be at 7 p.m. December 9-10, 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on December 11, and 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on December 12 Jennifer Lauren Quarles, a native of Tuscaloosa, principal soloist of the Miami City Ballet, will perform the role of Sugar Plum Fairy. Renan Cerdeiro, originally from Brazil and principal dancer of the Miami City Ballet, will join us in performing the role of Cavalier. Tickets, $ 15 and more, per buy.tututix.com/tuscaloosacommunitydancers.

Alabama Choir Concert

The Alabama Choir School will hold its winter concert at 7 p.m. on December 10 in the concert hall of the Moody Music Building, 810 Second Ave. on the University of Alabama campus. The show will feature a variety of seasonal pieces, including traditional Christmas carols, spiritual carols and songs from around the world, contemporary and popular. The choir is made up of children from grades 1 to 12. Tickets cost $ 12 and are available at acstickets.ludus.com or via a link on the Alabama Choir School Facebook page. For more information, visit www.alachoirschool.org.

Sing the Holidays

The Holiday Singalong will be held from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on December 11 at Capitol Park, 2828 Sixth St. The free, family-friendly event will feature songs from the season, accompanied by piano, with conductors, lyrics and Moreover. provided, courtesy of The Tuscaloosa News.

Garland Trail

The Tinsel Trail, which features more than 190 living Christmas trees decorated by local businesses, organizations and individuals, will move to Government Square in 2021, due to ongoing road construction on Jack Warner Parkway. The exhibition can be visited for free at any time until January 2. For more information, visit www.ttowntinsel.com.

Holidays in the square

Holidays on the Plaza, an ice skating and Christmas themed event, will also be taking place this year in Government Square until January 17. Skating passes cost $ 15 each, which includes skate rental and admission to the rink. Tuesdays are a night of family skating with specials on $ 12 skate passes. www.holidaysontheplaza.com.