Deck the Heights returns after successful 1st year

Katherine McRee, owner of The Lili Pad and Gigi’s, said she was hoping at least 100 people would come to last year’s inaugural Deck the Heights in Cahaba Heights. Instead, more than 600 residents came, exceeding her expectations.

This year’s event, featuring trolley rides that stop at various businesses and places in Cahaba Heights, will be held Nov. 8, 4-8 p.m, and is free to the public, though businesses may charge for their products. 

The Vestavia Hills High School choir group Just Singin will perform at 4:30 p.m. at Creative Dog Training and a strolling violinist will be at Leaf & Petal. A snow machine will help it look a little bit more like Christmas at Meadowlawn Park and a Santa photo booth will be set up, too.

A passport will be given out to mark each stop visitors make and once filled up can be exchanged for a sorbet at Doodle’s or for adults, a shopping gift from area businesses.

In response to last year’s crowd, McRee said the event will feature two buses going to some of the stops, in addition to the two trolleys from last year’s event, with each trolley going to four of the eight stops.

With the Vestavia Hills City Council creating an entertainment district in Cahaba Heights in October, patrons may be able to purchase adult beverages and take them out in public for the event. Martin’s BBQ, Blackwell’s Pub and possibly Wintzell’s Oyster House are among participants who serve alcohol, McRee said.

Visitors should park at Vestavia Hills Elementary Cahaba Heights.

The trolley stops include (not necessarily in order):

► Meadowlawn Park

► Heights Village

► Creative Dog Training

► Birmingham Physical Therapy

► flip flops & what nots

► Ryan Reeve/The Blue Willow

► Blackwell’s Neighborhood Pub

► Leaf & Petal