The 33rd annual Christmas on the River Festival will be held Nov. 28 to Dec. 4 in Demopolis, Alabama.
The week-long celebration will begin on Sunday, Nov. 28 with the 5 p.m. lighting of the Love Light Tree at Bryan W. Whitfield Memorial Hospital. The tree and the ceremony will be presented on the front lawn of the hospital and is sponsored by the hospital’s Ladies Auxiliary (better known as the “Pink Ladies”).
The Love Light Tree features ornaments placed in honor or memory of area citizens. The ornaments can be purchased from the auxiliary at $3 for one ornament and $5 for two. Call 287-2626 for more information.
The Demopolis Singers will be performing at the beginning of COTR week. Performances are scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on Nov. 28 and 7 p.m. on Nov. 29 at First Baptist Church.
The annual St. Nicholas announcement ceremony and Lantern Light Parade will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 29 in the Demopolis Public Square. A citizen is chosen as St. Nick each year in honor of their contribution to the community especially involving activities with children. Nominations for St. Nick will be accepted until Nov. 15.
Area children are encouraged to make lanterns for the Monday parade using juice bottles, flashlights or other containers. These creations will be judged, and prizes will be given in different age groups.
The lantern parade will be held from the public square down East Washington Street to First Baptist Church. The lanterns will be on display at the Demopolis Public Library during COTR week.
Ann Parsons, a long time volunteer with COTR, has been chosen as this year’s Christmas on the River ambassador, and she will be recognized during the Nov. 29 ceremony.
Downtown business owners are being asked to decorate their storefronts to present a holiday atmosphere in historic downtown Demopolis.
The Alabama Symphony Orchestra will make a very special appearance at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 30 in the First Baptist Church gym. Admission is free for the ASO concert, which is co-sponsored by the Two Rivers Arts Council.
The community-wide church service will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 1 at Trinity Episcopal Church. There is also a live nativity scene from 7:30 to 9 p.m. that evening at Trinity church.
Historic homes are showcased from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 2 with the “Christmas in the Canebrake” celebration. Tours will be available at Gaineswood, Bluff Hall and this year Lyon Hall. The First Baptist Handbell Choir will perform at Bluff Hall. There will be storytelling, and a performance by the Crimson Quintet at Gaineswood.
Things get cooking, literally, on Friday, Dec. 3, with the annual Alabama Championship Barbeque Cook-off at 4 p.m. to midnight on the City Landing ball field. Governor Bob Riley has declared the annual Demopolis event as the official BBQ cook-off of Alabama.
This is the No. 1 party of the Christmas season. Over 40 cooking teams will be on display, and live music will be provided by the Brother To Brother band from Tuscaloosa.
Admission is $5. Samples of BBQ from the various cooking teams is not guaranteed to visitors, but the majority of people at the event likely will be able to sample the incredible cooking that will be judged throughout the two-day event.
The official BBQ competition gets serious from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday with the winners announced that afternoon.
Of course, Dec. 4 will be the climax of COTR week with activities from dawn to midnight. The Jingle Bell 5K/One Mile Fun Run begins at 9 a.m. at Demopolis City Hall. Registration is at 8 a.m.
The run registration fee is $12 before Nov. 19, $15 after Nov. 19 and the day of the race.
The Fair in the Square begins at 7:30 p.m. and runs to 4 p.m. Arts and crafts and food items will be for sale throughout the day in the Demopolis Public Square.
There will also be a live music stage from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the BankTrust intersection near the square on Main Avenue.
The Children’s Day Parade begins at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the Old Main Street School. The day parade features marching bands from the area, floats featuring the COTR pageant courts, St. Nick and, of course, Santa Claus. Participants in the day parade will gather behind New Era Cap Company on Strawberry and the parade will begin at the Old Main Street School, move north on Walnut, turn right on Capitol, turn right again on Strawberry and continue down Strawberry to Pettus.
Former University of Alabama star quarterback Andrew Zow is the grand marshal of the day parade.
Any organizations wishing to participate in the day parade should call the chamber before Nov. 15. at 1-334-289-0270.
A free movie for the entire family will be presented at 2 p.m. on Dec. 4 in the Marengo Theatre.
The famous Nautical Parade will be held at 6:30 p.m. on the Tombigbee River. The fireworks display will be presented before and after the parade.
The COTR Gala at the Demopolis Civic Center will be held during the Nautical Night Parade. For a $50 fee, guests can watch the parade from the balcony of the civic center and enjoy great food and live music. Dress is semi-formal.
The Hot Sauce band will perform at the from 9 p.m. to midnight at the Civic Center. Admission is $10, and the dance is intended for persons - over 21-years-old.
For information concerning all COTR events, call 1-334-289-0270.
CLICK HERE for a complete schedule of events.
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