Rolling on the river: Christmas Afloat lights up Tuscaloosa's Black Warrior River

Ken Roberts, The Tuscaloosa News
·2 min read

Boats with festive holiday decorations lit up the Black Warrior River on a chilly Dec. 17 during Christmas Afloat, a Tuscaloosa holiday tradition

The Pirates of the Warrior non-profit group brought Christmas Afloat back in 2015, following four years off, after devastation from the 2011 tornadoes took out roughly 100 boats at adjacent marinas Eagle Cove and Hide-A-Way Harbor.

The first parade rolled out in 1990, and ran every year until 2011. Since its return, Christmas Afloat has usually featured two dozen or so decorated boats, except for 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic led to the event's cancellation.

Dec 17, 2022; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; The Pirates of the Warrior parade illuminated boats on the Black Warrior River in Tuscaloosa during the annual Christmas Afloat event.
Dec 17, 2022; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; The Pirates of the Warrior parade illuminated boats on the Black Warrior River in Tuscaloosa during the annual Christmas Afloat event.

The Dec. 17 parade, with free admission, started by the Hugh Thomas Bridge, traveled down the river to the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater, then rode back upriver. Viewers lined both banks of the Black Warrior River, with bigger crowds on the Tuscaloosa side around the Park at Manderson Landing, and the Amp, and on the northern bank at restaurants in Northport, or at the former location of the Cypress Inn.

Christmas events

Other Tuscaloosa holiday traditions will continue as Christmas nears. Folks can tour the Tinsel Trail, a display of more than 200 decorated trees, at Government Plaza, 2106 Sixth St. The Tinsel Trail is part of Holidays on the Plaza, which includes an outdoor ice skating rink. Admission to walk the Tinsel Trail is free, but skate passes, which include skate rentals, cost $15 and are required to use the rink. The rink will be open from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday and 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. Friday, weather permitting. The rink will be closed Saturday for Christmas Eve and Sunday for Christmas Day. For more information, go to www.holidaysontheplaza.com.

And for kids who want to see Santa, the jolly old elf will be at Center Court of University Mall, 1701 McFarland Blvd. E. Santa's hours will be 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Santa will take a break from 2:30-3:30 p.m. each day. On Christmas Eve, Santa's hours will be from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. Kids can also take a ride through Santa's Magical Forest on the Holiday Express for $3 during Santa's hours.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Rolling on the river: Christmas Afloat lights up Tuscaloosa's river