Tis the season for parades and concerts, home tours and living nativities, shopping and, well, shopping. Check out our full list of what is going on when this December.

1. Holiday Open Houses

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.

  • Wednesday, Nov. 29: English Village, 5-8 p.m.
  • Thursday, Nov. 30: Mountain Brook Village, 5-8 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Dec. 5: Cahaba Village, 5-8 p.m.
  • Thursday, Dec. 7: Crestline Village, 4-7 p.m.

2. Mountain Brook Art Association Holiday Show

Dec. 1-17 | 11 a.m.-8 p.m. daily, Sunday 12-6 p.m.
The Summit

Find some of your favorite local artists displaying their wares and find a one-of-a-kind gift for those impossible-to-buy-for people on your list. Note that this is a new location for the annual event; find it to the left of Bed, Bath & Beyond.

3. Holiday Parade

Sunday, Dec. 3 | 3 p.m.
Mountain Brook Village

Come watch the parade as it travels down Cahaba Road, Culver Road, and Petticoat Lane, and you’ll see dance groups, the Mountain Brook High School Band, Maggid the Mayfield Cow, Morris Shea Bridge Company’s latest masterpiece and more. Of course Santa will be there too and will stick around afterward for photos, and Jack Royer of WIAT CBS 42 will serve as emcee.

4. Fancy Nancy Holiday Hairdo Hullabaloo

Wednesday, Dec. 6 | 4-5 p.m.          
Emmet O’Neal Library

Girls can get their whimsy on and get their hair styled like Fancy Nancy in her books. No appointments are necessary, and it’s for ages 3 and up. See more children’s library events here.

5. A Christmas Carol Reading

Friday, Dec. 7 | 7  p.m.
Emmet O’Neal Library

Stay after the Crestline Village Open House for a live reading from this Charles Dickens classic, and get transported to the land of Scrooge and Tiny Tim. See more adult library events here.

6. Birmingham Boys Choir 40th Annual Christmas Concert

Sunday, Dec. 10 | 2:30 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 11 | 7:30 p.m.
Canterbury United Methodist Church

Celebrate the season with musical selections from a chorus of 150 young men and boys ages 8-18 from more than 50 different schools in the community. The event is so popular that they are holding two different performances this year—the choir’s 45th to perform. Guests are asked to register their attendance for this free concert event through Eventbrite or by calling 205-767-9219. The Sunday concert is sold out, but you can get tickets for Monday here.

7. IPC Holiday House Tour

Saturday, Dec. 9 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 10 |  10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Independent Presbyterian Church

Take a tour of area homes decked out for the season, and stay for tea at the Great Hall at IPC—which acts as a stop on the tour. The tour benefits the Children’s Fresh Air Farm, STAIR and The Open Door—all missions sponsored by IPC Presbyterian Women. Tickets, which are $30 each, can be purchased online here, at each house or at Independent Presbyterian Church during tour hours.

8. Living Nativity

Dec. 20-22
Mountain Brook Baptist Church

See the Biblical account of Jesus’ birth played out live—with live actors and live animals at this annual production by Mountain Brook Baptist Church, now going more than 50 years strong. And hark! the herald angels will sing, glory to the newborn king. Shows start at 6:45, 7:30 and 8:15 p.m. each night.

9. Letters to Santa

Anytime before Dec. 25 

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.

10. Mountain Brook Tree Commission Recycling Program

Dec. 26-Jan. 8
The Birmingham Zoo

Not sure what to do with your tree come Dec. 26? You can drop off during normal business hours in the zoo’s picnic area near the parking lot, and your evergreen will be recycled to make mulch for the zoo and other areas thanks to an effort by the Mountain Brook Tree Commission. Be sure to clear off all your ornaments and lights first.

Did we miss any events? Do you have an event coming up in a future month? Email mm@mountainbrookmagazine.com to submit yours.