Roll tidings: How Tuscaloosa will celebrate Christmas this year

Tuscaloosa's Christmas list for 2022 blends holiday traditions that date back nearly half a century with a few fresh new and new-ish events to spice up the season.

Concerts, holiday movies, a downtown parade, an outdoor ice skating, an opera, Santa at University Mall and more will fill Tuscaloosa's calendar in the days leading up to Christmas.

Here's your guide to what's happening this holiday season:

West Alabama Christmas Parade

The 46th annual West Alabama Christmas parade will begin at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 5 along Greensboro Avenue in  downtown Tuscaloosa, preceded by the Christmas tree lighting, 5:15 at the Tuscaloosa County Courthouse, 714 Greensboro Ave. The parade features dozens of floats, decorated vehicles and marching bands. This year's parade theme is "A Retro Christmas." For the parade route and other information, go to www.tcpara.org/west-alabama-christmas-parade.

Dickens Downtown

Dickens Downtown will be from  5-8 p.m. Dec. 6 in downtown Northport. The free, family-friendly event is Victorian-style Christmas celebration inspired by the Charles Dickens tale "A Christmas Carol." The event will include caroling performances, an appearance by Father Christmas, snow machines, a tree lighting, the 5th Alabama Regimental Band, a town crier and live artist demonstrations.

The Nutcracker

The Tuscaloosa Community Dancers will present "The Nutcracker" Dec. 8-11 at the Bama Theatre, 600 Greensboro Ave. The production of Tchaikovsky’s "The Nutcracker" has been a Tuscaloosa tradition since 1971. Performances will be at 7 p.m. Dec. 8-9; 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Dec. 10; and 2 p.m. Dec. 11. Tickets range from $20 to $30. There's also a "Breakfast with the Nutcracker" scheduled for 8:45 a.m. Dec. 10 at the Battle-Friedman House, 1010 Greensboro Ave., with $15 admission. For more information, go to www.etix.com/ticket/o/9232/tuscaloosacommunitydancers.

Tinsel Trail

The Tinsel Trail featuring more than 200 live Christmas trees decorated by local businesses, organizations and individuals, will be at Government Plaza, 2106 Sixth St. The display, which is marking its 10th year in Tuscaloosa, is free to tour at any time day or night now through Jan. 1. For more information, go to www.ttowntinsel.com.

Holidays on the Plaza

Holidays on the Plaza, an ice-skating and Christmas-themed event, will also be at Government Plaza now through Jan. 17. Private parties and other holiday-related events will be included during some weeks of Holidays on the Plaza. Skate passes are $15 each, which includes includes skate rental and admission to the rink. A season pass is $85. Tuesdays are family skate night with skate pass specials at $12. www.holidaysontheplaza.com.

Christmas Afloat

A free lighted boat parade, organized by the Pirates of the Warrior, is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. Dec. 17 along the Black Warrior River. In past years, 10 to 15 boats have participated in Christmas Afloat. Good places for viewing include near the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater, the Farmers Market, the Tuscaloosa Riverwalk and the Northport Levee. For more information, search for Pirates of the Warrior on Facebook.

Christmas concerts

The Shelton State Community College music department will host the college’s annual tree lighting and sing-along at 1 p.m. Nov. 29 in atrium of the Martin campus, 9500 Old Greensboro Road.  Sacred and secular holiday pieces will be performed, and the audience will participate in a sing-along.  Also, the music department will present its annual Christmas concert at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 1 in the Martin campus atrium, featuring the Shelton Singers and the Shelton State Jazz Ensemble. Both events are free and open to the public.

The University of Alabama's School of Music will present "Hilaritas," at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2 and  2 p.m. Dec. 4, .at the Moody Music Building, 810 Second Ave. on the the UA campus. "Hilaritas" was created at UA in 1969 by Steve Sample Sr., then director of jazz, and Fred Prentice, director of choral studies, blending new and established jazz and pop arrangements of classical, standard and contemporary songs, sacred and secular, from the season. The name came from a Greek word translating loosely to "Live joyfully and be proud of what you are." Tickets cost $15 for general admission, $5 for seniors and children and $3 for UA students, faculty and staff.

The Stillman College Choir's Christmas Candlelight Concert will be at 6 p.m. Dec. 4 at Birthright Alumni Hall, Stillman campus. Admission is free. The choir, featuring soloist Diva Hall, is comprised of music majors and non-music majors at the school and its repertoire includes a wide variety of secular and sacred songs. The Stillman College campus is at 3601 Stillman Blvd. in Tuscaloosa.

The Alabama Choir School will hold its winter concert at 7 p.m. Dec. 10 in the concert hall of the Moody Music Building, 810 Second Ave., on the UA campus. The performance will feature a variety of seasonal pieces, including traditional holiday carols, spirituals and songs from around the world, contemporary and popular. The choir consists of children in the first through 12th grades. Tickets cost $15 and are available at https://acstickets.ludus.com or through a link on the Alabama Choir School's Facebook page. For more information, go to www.alachoirschool.org.

The Tuscaloosa Symphony will perform its "Home for the Holidays" concert beginning at 7 p.m. Dec. 12 at the Moody Music Building, 810 Second Ave., on the UA campus. The TSO show will also feature the Prentice Concert Chorale, the Shelton State Singers and the Alabama Choir School. Tickets cost $20, $30 and $40. For more information, go to www.tsoonline.org.

Holiday plays

"The Great Christmas Cookie Bake-Off," musical comedy will be presented Dec. 9-18 by Theatre Tuscaloosa at the Bean-Brown Theatre on the Shelton State Community College Martin campus, 9500 Old Greensboro Road. Tickets cost $24 general; $20 for seniors (60 and older), Shelton employees, and military; $16 for students and children; $8 for Shelton students. For more information, got www.theatretusc.com or call 205-391-2277.

The University of Alabama Opera Theatre will bring the moral and magical Christmas tale of “Amahl and the Night Visitors” to life in one performance only at 3 p.m. Dec. 11 at Bryant-Jordan Hall on the Bryce side of the UA campus. The opera is a family-oriented production about a disabled boy’s interaction with three traveling kings, the biblical Magi, and how his loving mother with a heart of gold tries to teach him vital life lessons. Admission is free and open to the public.

Christmas movies

Midtown Village will show the movie "Elf" on an inflatable screen at 6 p.m. Dec. 2 on the green between Barnes & Noble Booksellers and Panera Bread. Families are invited to bring lawn chairs and blankets to watch the free movie.

The newly renovated Bama Theatre, 600 Greensboro Ave., will show two holiday-themed movies on Dec. 17. "Elf" will begin at 2 p.m., while "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" will start at 7. Tickets for the "Elf" matinee cost $12, and $15 for the evening "Christmas Vacation." The movies are being shown as a part of "Merry and Bright at the Bama Theatre," a fundraiser for the Junior League of Tuscaloosa. For more information, go to www.jltuscaloosa.org/fundraisers/merry-bright-at-the-bama-theatre.

Where's Santa Claus?

Santa Claus has arrived at his spot in the center court at University Mall, 1701 McFarland Blvd. E.  Hours are 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, with a break from 2:30-3:30. Sunday hours are 1-5:30 p.m. Professional photo packages with Santa will be available. Holiday Express train rides will run during Santa hours for $3 per rider. St. Nick will be at the mall until 5 p.m. Dec. 24.

Other events

The Jingle Jangle Holiday karaoke and singalong will be from 6-9 p.m. Nov. 29 at the Lookout Rooftop Bar, Hotel Indigo, 111 Greensboro Ave. The Jingle Jangle Holiday is hosted by Druid City Pride and Five Horizons Health Services.

Hotel Capstone, 320 Paul W. Bryant Drive, will feature the Jingle Bar, a holiday experience at the hotel's Legends restaurant, from 4-10 p.m. Dec. 2-19. The event includes Christmas décor, elf-approved holiday cocktails andthemed food. Jingle Bar will have themed nights, such as "carol-okie," an ugly sweater contest and holiday trivia, and live musical performances on select nights. Reservations for 10 or more can be made bycalling 205-343-1105 or emailing sales@hotelcapstone.com.

Santa in the Park, featuring holiday lights, hot chocolate, popcorn and a visit from Santa, will be held from 6-9 p.m. Dec. 2-3 at Lake Lurleen State Park, 13226 Lake Lurleen Road in Coker. Admission is $5 for adults and $2 for children. For more information, go to www.alapark.com/parks/lake-lurleen-state-park.

Shelton State Community College athletics will host Cookies and Crafts with Santa from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m. Dec. 3 on the Martin campus, 9500 Old Greensboro Road.  Children 10 years old and younger can play games with doughnuts and drinks served.  Admission is $20 per child and $5 per adult.  All children must be accompanied by an adult.)  Space is limited to the first 100 registrants.  Register now at Cookies and Crafts with Santa.

Historic Tuscaloosa will present a holiday open house at five historic Tuscaloosa properties from 2-5 p.m. Dec. 4, with free admission. The event includes the Old Tavern, 500 Nick's Kids Ave.; Battle-Friedman Home, 1010 Greensboro Ave.; Jemison Van de Graaff Mansion 1305 Greensboro Ave.; Murphy Collins Museum 2601 Paul W. Bryant Drive; McGuire Strickland House 2828 Sixth St. For more, see www.historictuscaloosa.org/events-1/2022HolidayOpenHouse.

The public is invited to the Weihnachtsmarkt German Christmas Market from 3-7 p.m. Dec. 11 at Tuscaloosa Academy, 420 Rice Valley Road N. The traditional German Christmas market will feature a variety of vendors selling woodworking, jewelry, handmade soaps, books, Christmas crafts, treats and more. There will be music, kids' holiday crafts, German bread, bratwurst, pretzels, cookies and punch. Admission is $1, with children 5 years old and younger admitted free.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Roll tidings: How Tuscaloosa will celebrate Christmas this year