The 12 days of Christmas
1. Search for Jingle Bell in local stores
Jingle Bell the Reindeer will be hiding in stores all over Vestavia Hills through Dec. 15. Print the list of stores from vestaviahills.org and go look for him. Look for the businesses with a stocking on their door. When you find Jingle Bell in a store, have the store stamp your sheet. When you have 10 stamps, turn it in to the Chamber of Commerce for a surprise and to be entered in a drawing for a $24 Chamber gift check.
For more, visit vestaviahills.org
2. Enjoy a tree lighting festival
Enjoy entertainment, merchant giveaways and the lighting of the tree. Visit with Santa and play in the snow. Don’t miss the Snow Ball Drop when the chamber will be dropping ping pong balls with discounts from participating merchants. The festival will take place Dec. 9 at 6 p.m. at the Vestavia Hills City Center.
The event is presented by the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce. For more, visit vestaviahills.org
3. Eat breakfast with Santa
On Dec. 13, from 7:30 a.m.- 10 p.m. enjoy a pancake breakfast with Santa at the Vestavia Hills Civic Center. A $1 donation is suggested. The event is presented by the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce.
For more, visit vestaviahills.org
4. Shop local businesses
This holiday season, get all your holiday shopping done in Vestavia Hills. Visit vestaviavoice.com for a calendar list of local businesses’ open houses. Also see our Holiday Gift Guide in this issue for fun gift ideas for everyone on your list.
5. Decorate at the Holiday Pinterest Party
Shopping for gifts? Ready to decorate? You’re invited to a party where you can sip wine and create beautiful items to give away or keep. On Dec. 5, come out to the Community Room at the Library in the Forest at 6:30 p.m. for a Holiday Pinterest Party.
For more, visit vestavialibrary.org
6. Join the Friends of the Library for a Holiday Luncheon
On Dec. 18, come out to the Library in the Forest at 11 a.m. for a Friends of the Library Holiday Luncheon, which celebrates members and staff.
The Friends of the Vestavia Hills Library is a non-profit group of citizens who work together to assist the Board of Trustees and the Library Director to promote increased knowledge of the needs of the library, to stimulate volunteer service, to encourage gifts and memorials for the library, to help the library procure funds, and to sponsor cultural and related programs for the community.
For more, visit vestavialibrary.org.
7. Shop for a Christmas tree and support the Boy Scouts
A familiar scene come Thanksgiving, the Over the Mountain Boy Scout Christmas Tree Sale has been a tradition in Vestavia Hills for more than 50 years. The sale, located in Scout Square in front of Walgreens on U.S. 31, funds year-long activities for 10 boy scout troops in the over the mountain area and runs through Christmas Eve.
For more information, see the article on page A1.
8. See the Preschool pals “Storybook Holiday”
See the Library in the Forest staff re-create some of their favorite holiday stories for your entertainment. Lots of audience participation is encouraged. This is a great holiday fun for preschool age kids. The event is on Dec. 5 from 10:30-11:15 a.m.
For more, visit vestavialibrary.org
9. Celebrate at the Liberty Park Christmas Parade
Enjoy the city’s parade followed by the Liberty Park Christmas Celebration with children’s activities, refreshments, live entertainment, pictures with Santa and more. The parade will take place on Dec. 14 form 2 to 4 p.m. and the route will run from the Liberty Park Sports Complex to Alston Meadows. The Vestavia Hills High School Marching Band and the Rockettes will lead the parade, and Mayor Alberto Zaragoza will be riding at the front of the procession.
The event is presented by the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce. For more, visit vestaviahills.org
10. See local student in the Alabama Ballet
Campbell Pate, a fourth grader at VHEC, will be dancing the role of Marie in Alabama Ballet’s production of Balanchine’s Nutcracker in December.
The Alabama Ballet remains one of only seven companies in the world granted the right to perform this holiday classic by the Balanchine Trust. Performed to Balanchine’s exacting specifications; dazzling choreography, costumes and sets make this production unlike any other.
This year, the Alabama Ballet’s performances will be held Dec. 12-14 and Dec. 19-21 at the Wright Center at Samford University. Tickets can be bought at alabamaballet.org or by calling 975-2787.
11. Tour de Vestavia
The Samford University Legacy League will hold its third annual Christmas Home tour on Dec. 11. The 2014 tour features five homes, and proceeds will go toward endowing a new need-based scholarship. All homes will feature their holiday décor, and one stop, the Samford president’s house, will serve holiday hors d’oeuvres.
For more, see “Tour de Vestavia” article in this issue.
12. Join the Jingle Jam at Shades Mountain Baptist Church
On Dec. 14 at 5 p.m., come out to Jingle Jam, which is taking place at Worship Center 200 at Shades Mountain Baptist Church. It’s a family experience for preschool and children. Come and have fun and re-discover what matters most about Christmas. Childcare provided for birth-3 years old. Visit shades.org.