December in Fairhope is such a special time. The downtown trees are covered with tiny white Christmas lights and will stay lit until around Easter. Jim and I love our charming small town, and we try to get to as many events as we can. The tree lighting in November sees happy families gather at the intersection of Fairhope and Section Streets for a celebration we look forward to every year. We love the fact that Fairhope closes the downtown streets at least once a month for a party! Each year the music is beautiful, the speeches are poignant, and the suspense builds when the countdown begins. At the big moment, the switch is flipped, the trees all light up at once, and the snow begins to fall from the sky. Truly magical.
We've put together a list of some of our favorite events for December from available public information. If you're one of our guests during this holiday season, be sure to double-check the times and locations if you plan to attend. We'll see you there!
Lighting of the Trees
No list of December events would be complete without starting at the Lighting of the Trees celebration on the 3rd Thursday in November. It's one of our favorite events of the year. Crowds gather at the intersection of Section Street and Fairhope Avenue by the town Christmas tree for a short program that usually includes a few holiday greetings, and music. At the appropriate time, everyone joins in a countdown... 10, 9, 8, etc... 3, 2, 1... and with the flip of a switch, the entire downtown comes alive with thousands of twinkling white lights. At about the same moment, artificial snow begins to flutter down from someplace on high, and the town is transformed. Don't miss it!
Fairhope's Magical Christmas Parade
Usually held the first Thursday in December, this is an annual delight with over 60 parade units featuring high school bands, organization floats, lots of music, and a great excuse to bring the family downtown for some wholesome fun at night. Be sure to bring bags to collect all the "throws", a wonderful holdover from our Mardi Gras parades. The lights will be twinkling! Many of the streets will be closed, so plan your parking ahead of time.
Visit with Santa Claus
For another annual highlight for families with young children, plan to stop by the Santa house in front of the Fairhope Welcome Center downtown on N. Section Street. He'll be there at least a couple of Saturdays from 10:30 - 12 noon to enchant your child while you take pictures. Make a day of it and plan to take the family to lunch at one of the many charming restaurants in downtown Fairhope.
Outdoor Movie Night showing Frozen
Families will love this Outdoor Movie night at Volanta Park at 701 Volanta Avenue in Fairhope. There will also be events before the movie at 6pm, including a track parade at 3pm and interactive games with high school and youth sports. Candy and prizes will be awarded. Bring a blanket to sit on the football field or bring chairs to sit on the track around the football field to watch the movie. And Santa will also be there so bring your camera!
The Nutcracker by the Bay Shore Ballet
Celebrate the season and support this local ballet company as they perform the classic The Nutcracker at the Fairhope Civic Center. They usually offer two shows, 2 pm and 7 pm, with elaborate sets and over 60 dancers from the area. The performance dates and tickets will be listed on their website. Click here for more information on their website.
Christmas Day in Fairhope
Friday, December 31- New Year's Eve Celebration in Downtown Fairhope
The festivities start at 8:30 pm with live music at the intersection of Fairhope Avenue and Church Street. There's a ball drop at midnight and the fun continues until 12:30. Fairhope closes the streets to cars, so this is another family-friendly event.Bring the kids and dance in the streets!
Anytime in December- See the Sunset at the Fairhope Pier
No visit to Fairhope is complete without a visit to the Fairhope Pier at sunset. Known as our unofficial town square, you never know who or what you'll see there. It's always entertaining! Whether you walk, drive your car, bike, or take your golf cart to the Pier, you'll most likely be rewarded with one of the most gorgeous sunsets of your life. Especially in December, the cooler and drier weather seems to produce one spectacular show after another. Don't miss it!
Where to Stay in Fairhope
If you're a visitor to Fairhope, we invite you to check out our suites. We're located directly on the bluff overlooking Mobile Bay and most of our family-size luxury suites offer a patio or balcony for sunset viewing too. Many evenings we gather around the firepit for a sunset celebration with our guests. We'd love to host you and your family the next time you're here.