Alabama’s Historic Homes and Holiday Lights
Montgomery, Ala. – Alabama’s gardens, trails, historic homes and parks light up for the holiday season. Visitors can see historic homes and mansions decorated with lights and holiday finery in Eufaula, Decatur, Opelika, Demopolis, Mobile, Tuscumbia and Montgomery. Parks in Arab and Florence offer dazzling light displays and winter wonderlands, while gardens in Huntsville and Mobile showcase millions of lights and hundreds of displays.
Catch spectacular holiday displays at these 20 Alabama Tourism recommended historic homes and holiday light festivals:
Anniston — Home for the Holidays
Dec. 7
Area homes are decorated for the holidays and are open for tours. The self-driving tour allows participants to visit and enjoy at their own pace. 11 a.m.-7 p.m., 256.237.6766, www.annistonmuseum.org.
Arab — Christmas in the Park
Nov. 26–Dec. 31
For the 15th consecutive year, the City of Arab will offer a dazzling display of nearly two million holiday lights that transform the park into a winter wonderland. Visitors will enjoy holiday music and special decorations in the Historic Complex, which features an old church, a school and an operational gristmill. 256.586.3138, www.arabcity.org.
Bellingrath Gardens — Mobile — Magic Christmas in Lights
Nov. 26–Dec. 31
Stroll through a wonderland of more than three million twinkling lights and 928 custom-designed holiday displays throughout the 65-acre estate during Magic Christmas in Lights at Bellingrath Gardens in Mobile. Tour the historic Bellingrath Home decorated in its holiday finery, enjoy nightly entertainment and visit with Santa. Light show and home tours nightly 5 – 9 p.m., 251.973.2217, www.bellingrath.org.
Birmingham — Christmas at Arlington
Dec. 3-5
Floral designers transform the interior of the Antebellum home into replicas of Christmas past. This year marks the 52nd anniversary of Arlington as Birmingham’s historic house museum. Sat., 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Sun., 1-4:30 p.m., 205.780.5656.
Birmingham — Zoolight Safari at the Birmingham Zoo
Dec. 10-12, 17-23, 26-31, Jan. 1-2
Ride the Zoolight Express train while enjoying a half-million twinkling lights. The spirit is festive and the tradition comes complete with hot cocoa, a light show synchronized to favorite holiday tunes, trail ride and appearances by Santa. 205.879.0409, www.birminghamzoo.com.
Cullman — Christmas in the Historic Homes of Cullman
Dec. 11
Historic homes are decorated and aglow in holiday splendor. Tours are 2-5 p.m. 256.734.4799.
Decatur — Christmas Tour of Homes
Dec. 11
Decatur’s historic districts are decorated with luminaries, greenery and thousands of lights. Several homes are open for tours. Refreshments are served and carriage rides are available. Tour are from 3-8 p.m. 800.524.6181, www.decaturcvb.org.
Decatur — Parade of Lights
Dec. 4
River Walk Marina comes alive with a parade of boats lighting the way along the Tennessee River. Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m.-5 p.m., 1.800.524.6181, www.sowildfestart.com.
Demopolis — Candlelight Evening
Dec. 2
Visitors can tour beautiful, historic Gaineswood Mansion by candlelight. Enjoy holiday decorations, treats and entertainment during the tours. 5:30 – 8 p.m.
334.289.4846, www.preserveala.org.
Eufaula — Christmas Tour of Homes
Dec. 4
Visitors can stroll through downtown to see the antebellum homes aglow in holiday splendor. Enjoy a seated luncheon or dinner at the grand, historic Shorter Mansion. Daylight tours 1-5 p.m., twilight tours 5-8 p.m., 334.687.6664, www.eufaula-barbourchamber.com.
Florence — Open House & Festival of Lights
Dec. 3
Florence businesses and Wilson Park will be decorated in lights for Christmas. Visitors can shop while listening to music on the street corners and in the park. The jingle of bells on horses giving carriage rides adds to the festive atmosphere. 5 p.m. until, 256.740.4141, www.flo-tour.org.
Greensboro — Christmas Open House
Dec. 12
The open house at the Magnolia Grove Historic House Museum is a holiday tradition. Guests can see the home’s holiday decorations while enjoying refreshments and musical entertainment. 1-3 p.m., 334.624.8618, www.preserveala.org.
Huntsville — Galaxy of Lights Holiday Light Show
Nov. 19–Dec. 31
Celebrate the holiday season with a drive or a stroll through the Huntsville Botanical Garden.
The walking tours take place November 19-21 while the one-mile driving tours are November 25-December 31. This magnificent holiday light extravaganza features thousands of lights and more than 700 lighted displays arranged in 125 varied holiday scenes and themes. 256.830.4447, www.hsvbg.org.
Mobile — Candlelight Christmas at Oakleigh
Dec. 3-5
Step back in time and enjoy a festive 19th century holiday celebration. Enjoy seasonal music, horse-drawn carriage rides, Victorian Santa and refreshments 10 a.m. – 4 p.m… Candlelight tours 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m., 251.432.6161, www.historicmobile.org.
Mobile — Christmas at the Mansion
Dec. 5
As visitors step inside the historic Bragg-Mitchell Mansion they will be treated to an afternoon of seasonal music, sleigh rides, holiday decorations and refreshments. 1-4 p.m., 251.471.6364, www.braggmitchellmansion.com.
Mobile — Christmas Celebration at Richards-DAR House
Dec. 4-5
Each room in the Victorian townhouse is decorated in an annual theme. Guests will be treated to refreshments, holiday music and a visit with Santa. Sat., 10 am.m-5p.m.; Sun., 1-5 p.m., 251.602.0324, www.richardsdarhouse.com.
Montgomery — Governor’s Mansion Candlelight Open House
Dec. 13-14
Governor and Mrs. Bob Riley will open the Governor’s Mansion for candlelight tours from 5-7 p.m. The 1907 Colonial Revival mansion located at 1142 South Perry Street in Montgomery will be aglow with lights and filled with the spirit of the season. 1.800.ALABAMA, www.alabama.travel.
Montgomery Zoo — Christmas Light Festival
Dec. 2-31
Thousands of lights illuminate the pathways for a leisurely stroll through the Montgomery Zoo during the city’s Holiday Lights Festival. Visitors can ride the train through the forested wonderland and see animals come alive in lighted displays. 5:30 – 9:30 p.m., 334.240.4930, www.montgomeryzoo.com.
Opelika —Victorian Front Porch Christmas
Dec. 8-11
Step back in time with a visit to an Ole World Christmas wonderland in Opelika. On the Victorian Front Porch Christmas Tour, visitors will see more than 60 turn-of-the-century homes in all their lighted glory featuring life-sized Santa, angels, toy displays and carousel horses. Also enjoy live holiday entertainment. 334.887.8747, www.aotourism.com.
Tuscumbia — A Plantation Christmas
Dec. 5
Visitors will enjoy a holiday event at Belle Mont Mansion that’s reminiscent of the “Old South.” Traditional decorations, period Christmas music, vintage ballroom dancers and more await guests at the historic 1828 mansion, 1-5 p.m., 256.383.0783, www.colbertcountytourism.org
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Posted: November 10th, 2010 under Bed and Breakfast News.