Tis the season for shopping and festive homes. Check out our list of holiday happenings with social distance this month.
1. Holiday Open Houses
Mountain Brook Shops
No need to worry about a 5:00 closing time on these nights. Plus, there will be extra merriment with festivities in the stores, so come knock out some shopping for special ones on your list and support local businesses. All open houses are organized by the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce.
- Dec. 3: Mountain Brook Village Jingle and Mingle, 5-7 p.m.
- Dec. 4: English Village Shop, Sip, and Stroll, 5-7 p.m.
2. Glow Wild: An Animal Lantern Celebration
Wednesday-Sunday Nights | 5-9 p.m.
The Birmingham Zoo
See lantern creations of wildlife from around the world as hundreds of animal shapes of all sizes –pandas, elephants, cheetahs, polar bears, and whales – soar up to 30 feet high. The event lasts through Jan. 18.
3. Santa Claus on Parade
Sunday, Dec. 6 | 1-4 p.m.
A Street Near You
Santa Claus is coming to a neighborhood near you, and his sleigh will be a Mountain Brook Fire Truck. In place of the annual Holiday parade, watch for Santa to come to you with a police escort or two to stay safe this holiday season.
4. Celebrate Village Gold Day
Wednesday, Dec. 9
Look for balloon in front of all the Mountain Brook accept Village Gold gift certificates as reminder of where all you can spend yours and why it makes a great holiday gift! The Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce will also have a social media contest going that day for anyone who posts a picture using their Village Gold. Purchase Village Gold at mtnbrookchamber.org/village-gold.
5. Christmas Home Tour
Thursday, Dec. 10
10 a.m.-2 p.m. & 4-8 p.m.
Tour homes in all their festive glory at this 10th annual event to benefit the Samford Legacy League’s scholarships to Samford University for students with significant financial need and challenging circumstances. Due to COVID-19, masks covering nose and mouth are required, guests are asked to follow social distancing guideline, and each guest will have temperature check and complete a symptom checklist prior to entry. For tickets visit samford.edu/legacyleague/. Here are the homes that you can tour:
- Linda & Charlie Israel, 2300 Country Club Place, Mountain Brook
- Carrie & Joseph Kreps, 1524 Woodridge Place, Vestavia Hills
- Anne & George Lawton, 1504 Buckhead Trail, Vestavia Hills
- A South Bend Spec Home, 3320 South Bend Circle, Vestavia Hills
- Beth & Bill Welden, 2308 Country Club Place, Mountain Brook
- Jeanna & Andy Westmoreland, Samford President’s Home, 1994 Shades Crest Road, Vestavia Hills
6. Holiday Bingo
Friday, Dec. 11 | 7 p.m.
Zoom
Have some safe fun this holiday season to benefit Mountain Brook Merchant Relief Fund. Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce members have donated prizes, and you can organize a family or small group to play. Cards are now being sold at mtnbrookchamber.org/events.
7. 70th Annual IPC Holiday House Tour
Dec. 11-13
Virtually
Take a tour of area homes decked out for the season from the safety of your own home this year. The tour benefits the Children’s Fresh Air Farm, STAIR and First Light Women’s Shelter—all local ministries missions supported by IPC. Find more information at ipc-usa.org.
8. Birmingham Boys Choir Annual Christmas Concert: Virtual Edition
Friday, Dec. 18 |7 p.m.
birminghamboyschoir.org
Tune in to birminghamboyschoir.org, to view this beloved Birmingham holiday tradition in a reimagined way. Plan your watch party with family and friends to enjoy the sounds of the season from the comfort of home.
9. Drive-In Living Nativity
Dec. 20-22
Mountain Brook Baptist Church
Come park and watch the Biblical account of Jesus’ birth played out live as you stay in the warmth of your car. Live actors and live animals are used in this annual production by Mountain Brook Baptist Church, now going more than 50 years strong. Due to COVID-19, all attendees will be asked to stay in their cars this year and to tune their radios to a specific FM channel to hear the narration. Shows start at 6:45, 7:30 and 8:15 p.m. each night.
10. North Pole Express
All Season Long
Children can send wish lists straight to the North Pole via “Letters to Santa” mailboxes located in the villages. After their arrival, Santa will send a response thanks to a special collaboration between Mountain Brook Public Works employees and the Jolly Old St. Nick himself. Mailboxes are located outside Gilchrist in Mountain Brook Village, Swoop in Lane Parke, Smith’s Variety in Crestline Village and the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce office on the side of city hall across from Oak Street Garden Shop.
AROUND TOWN
Christmas Movies
Dec. 1-22
The Alabama Theatre
Christmas Tree Farm
Dec. 1-24
Old Baker Farm
Magic City Nutcracker
First Week of December
Streamed Virtually
magiccitynutcracker.org
Hope is Alive
Sunday, Dec. 6 | 5 p.m.
Shades Mountain Baptist Christmas Program Featuring Drew and Ellie Holcomb
Watch on WBRC Fox6
Alabama Ballet’s The Nutcracker
Dec. 17-29
BJCC Concert Hall
Holiday Spectacular Presented by Red Mountain Theatre Company
Dec. 17, 19, 20
Regions Field
The Reindeer Dash
Saturday, Dec. 19
Pure Fitness, Vestavia Hills
Meadow Brook Runs
Saturday, Dec. 19
Valley Bank, Meadow Brook Branch
Did we miss any events? Do you have an event coming up in a future month? Email mm@mountainbrookmagazine.com to submit yours.