List of Christmas parades: Difference between revisions
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Latest revision as of 16:56, 30 June 2024
This is a List of Christmas parades in the Birmingham area:
2022
Thursday, December 1
- Gardendale: "A Very Vintage Christmas" theme
Saturday, December 3
2021
Thursday, December 2
- Gardendale: "A Christmas Salute" theme
Saturday, December 4
Thursday, December 9
Friday, December 10
Saturday, December 11
Sunday, December 12
- Trussville: "Christmas Joy" theme (rescheduled from Saturday December 11)
Thursday, December 16
- Pinson: "Grinch Who Stole Christmas" theme (rescheduled from Tuesday December 7)
Saturday, December 18
2020
The cities of Anniston, Bessemer, Birmingham, Cullman, Gadsden and Tuscaloosa all canceled their parades due to the ongoing 2020 Coronavirus pandemic.
Thursday, December 3
Saturday, December 5
Friday, December 11
Saturday, December 12
- Argo (canceled due to weather)
- Bluff Park
- Center Point
- Hueytown
- Moody
- Springville
- Westover
Sunday, December 13
- Trussville (rescheduled from Saturday December 12)
Saturday, December 19
2019
Thursday, December 5
- Gardendale, 6:00 PM: Route begins at Gardendale High School, goes north along Mt. Olive Road, then turns right onto Fieldstown Road, then left on Grubbs Avenue, then crosses through the parking lot of Village Green Shopping Center, turns right onto Main Street and then ends back at Gardendale High School; THEME: "The 12 Days of Christmas". A candy parade started at 5:45 PM along the same route during which 50,000 pieces of candy were handed out.
Thursday, December 7
- Morris, 10:00 AM: Route begins at the Burkett Center, goes down 1st Avenue, then onto Morris Majestic Road and Old Highway 31, and ends back at the Burkett Center. The parade was followed by festivities in the city park.
Thursday, December 12
- Warrior, 6:00 PM: Route begins at the Warrior Ballpark and ends at Church Street, next to Launius Furniture. The parade was followed by a Christmas Tree Lighting at City Hall that included bell ringers and activities for children.
Saturday, December 14
- Trussville, 3:00 PM
- Kimberly, 5:00 PM: Route begins at the end of Memorial Park on Highway 31. The parade was followed by a Christmas Tree lighting ceremony.
2018
Thursday, December 6
- Gardendale, 6:00 PM: Route begins at Gardendale High School, goes north along Mt. Olive Road, then turns right onto Fieldstown Road, then left on Grubbs Avenue, then crosses through the parking lot of Village Green Shopping Center, turns right onto Main Street and then ends back at Gardendale High School; THEME: "A Who Dale Christmas"
Thursday, December 13
- Warrior, 6:00 PM: Route begins at the Warrior Ballpark and ends at Church Street, next to Launius Furniture.
2017
Saturday, December 2
- Alabaster, 10:00 AM: Along U.S. Highway 31 [1].
- Blount County
- Hanceville
- Helena, 1:00 PM: "A Christmas Movie Memory" was the theme. It also honored former Helena City Council President Cris Nelson for his volunteer work. [2]
- Pinson
Sunday, December 3
Monday, December 4
Tuesday, December 5
Wednesday, December 6
- Homewood: Rescheduled from December 5 due to weather.
Thursday, December 7
- Gardendale, 6:00 PM: Route begins at Gardendale High School, goes north along Mt. Olive Road, then turns right onto Fieldstown Road, then left on Grubbs Avenue, then crosses through the parking lot of Village Green Shopping Center, turns right onto Main Street and then ends back at Gardendale High School; THEME: "Jingle Dale Rock"
Friday, December 8
Saturday, December 9
- Argo
- Bessemer
- Kimberly and Morris, 4:30 PM
- Moody
- Springville
- Tarrant
- Trussville
- Westover, 10:00 AM: Route changed this year to go along Shelby County Highway 55 and continue east on Old Highway 280 to Westover City Hall. [3]
Sunday, December 10
Saturday, December 14
Monday, December 16
2016
Thursday, December 1
- Gardendale, 6:00 PM: Route begins at Gardendale High School, goes north along Mt. Olive Road, then turns right onto Fieldstown Road, then left on Grubbs Avenue, then crosses through the parking lot of Village Green Shopping Center, turns right onto Main Street and then ends back at Gardendale High School; THEME: "Winter Wonderland"
Saturday, December 3
- Helena, 1:00 PM: The parade honored the ciy's fire department with the theme "Put the fire out… Santa’s coming." [4]
- Pinson
Thursday, December 8
Saturday, December 10
Thursday, December 15
2015
Thursday, December 3
- Gardendale, 6:00 PM: Route begins at Gardendale High School, goes north along Mt. Olive Road, then turns right onto Fieldstown Road, then left on Grubbs Avenue, then crosses through the parking lot of Village Green Shopping Center, turns right onto Main Street and then ends back at Gardendale High School; THEME: "North Pole Express"
Saturday, December 5
- Alabaster, 10:00 AM: Along U.S. Highway 31 [5].
- Helena, 1:00 PM [6]
Thursday, December 10
- Hayden, 7:00 PM: Inaugural parade; route runs along Alabama Highway 160 from Bent Tree to Hayden United Methodist Church.
Thursday, December 12
- Pinson, 10:00 AM: Route begins at Pinson Valley High School and runs southward down Alabama 75, turning onto Pinson Boulevard and ending at Triangle Park (Pinson) across from Rock School Center.
- Trafford, 1:00 PM
- Kimberly and Morris, 4:30 PM: Combined parade that starts at the Morris Walking Park and progresses northward on Stouts Road, ending in Kimberly.
Thursday, December 17
- Warrior, 6:00 PM
2014
Thursday, December 4
- Gardendale, 6:00 PM
Monday, December 8
- Kimberly, 6:00 PM
Saturday, December 13
- Morris, 10:00 AM
Thursday, December 18
- Warrior, 6:00 PM
2013
Thursday, December 5
- Gardendale, 6:00 PM
Saturday, December 7
Thursday, December 12
- Warrior, 6:00 PM
Saturday, December 14
2012
Thursday, November 15
- Montevallo, 6:00 PM
Friday, November 16
- Fairfield, 4:00 PM
Saturday, December 1
- Pleasant Grove, 9:00 AM
- Alabaster, 10:00 AM: South along U.S. Highway 31 to Alabaster City Hall, then along 1st Street Southwest to 6th Avenue Southwest.
- Graysville, 10:00 AM
- Morris, 10:00 AM
- Helena, 1:00 PM
- Clay, 3:30 PM
- Kimberly, 6:00 PM
Sunday, December 2
- Mountain Brook, 3:00 PM
Thursday, December 6
- Gardendale, 6:00 PM
- Vincent, 6:00 PM
- Columbiana, 7:00 PM
Saturday, December 8
- Center Point, 9:00 AM
- Hueytown, 10:00 AM
- Irondale, 10:00 AM
- Westover, 10:00 AM: Along Old Highway 280.
- Trafford, 1:00 PM
- Bessemer, 2:00 PM
- Calera, 2:00 PM
- Pinson, 2:00 PM
- Trussville, 3:00 PM
- Clay, 3:30 PM
- Moody, 5:00 PM
- Tarrant, 5:30 PM
- Springville, 6:00 PM
Sunday, December 9
- Vestavia Hills, 2:00 PM
Tuesday, December 11
- Homewood, 6:30 PM
Friday, December 14
- Leeds, 7:00 PM
Saturday, December 15
2011
Pleasant Grove canceled their 2011 parade. Some parade committee members homes were destroyed in the April 27, 2011 tornado outbreak and were still in the process of rebuilding, making parade planning difficult. Vestavia Hills moved its parade to the Liberty Park subdivision.
Thursday, November 17
- Montevallo, 6:00 PM
Friday, November 18
- Fairfield, 4:00 PM
Thursday, December 1
- Gardendale, 6:00 PM
- Homewood, 6:30 PM
- Columbiana, 7:00 PM
Saturday, December 3
- Alabaster, 10:00 AM: Held at Colonial Promenade Alabaster.
- Graysville, 10:00 AM
- Morris, 10:00 AM
- Five Points West, 11:30 AM
- Lipscomb, 1:00 PM
- Helena, 1:30 PM
- Calera, 2:00 PM
- Kimberly, 6:00 PM
Sunday, December 4
- Mountain Brook, 3:00 PM
Thursday, December 8
- Vincent, 6:00 PM
Friday, December 9
- Leeds, 7:00 PM
Saturday, December 10
- Center Point, 9:00 AM
- Hueytown, 10:00 AM
- Irondale, 10:00 AM
- Westover, 10:00 AM
- Vestavia Hills, 1:30 PM
- Bessemer, 2:00 PM
- Pinson, 2:00 PM
- Clay, 3:00 PM
- Trussville, 3:00 PM
- Tarrant, 5:30 PM
- Adamsville, 6:00 PM
Sunday, December 11
- Lay Lake boat parade, 5:15 PM
Saturday, December 17
2010
Thursday, December 2
- Gardendale, 6:00 PM
Saturday, December 4
- Alabaster, 10:00 AM: Along U.S. Highway 31.
- Columbiana, 1:00 PM
- Helena, 1:30 PM
- Calera, 2:00 PM
- Kimberly, 5:00 PM
Sunday, December 5
- Mountain Brook, 2:00 PM
Thursday, December 9
- Homewood, 6:30 PM: From the Homewood Library along Oxmoor Road to 18th Street to 28th Avenue to 19th Street.
Saturday, December 11
- Argo, 10:00 AM
- Hueytown, 10:00 AM
- Lipscomb, 10:00 AM
- Fairfield, 11:00 AM
- Bessemer, 2:00 PM
- Pinson, 2:00 PM: From Pinson High School along Highway 75 to Triangle park.
- Clay, 3:00 PM
- Trussville, 3:00 PM
- Midfield, 4:00 PM
- Adamsville, 6:00 PM
- Springville, 7:00 PM
Sunday, December 12
- Liberty Park, 1:30 PM
2009
Thursday, November 19
- Montevallo, 6:00 PM: Along Main Street.
Monday, November 30
- Vincent, 6:00 PM
Thursday, December 3
- Fairfield, 5:00 PM
Saturday, December 5
- Pleasant Grove, 8:00 AM
- Homewood, 9:00 AM
- Alabaster, 10:00 AM
- Graysville, 10:00 AM
- Center Point, 11:00 AM
- Pinson. 1:00 PM
- Helena, 2:00 PM
- Columbiana, 3:30 PM
- Adamsville, 6:00 PM
- Calera, 6:00 PM
Saturday, December 12
- Hueytown, 10:00 AM
- Westover, 10:00 AM
- Irondale, 11:00 AM
- Bessemer, 2:00 PM
- Trussville, 3:00 PM
- Shelby (on Lay Lake)
Saturday, December 19
- Chelsea, 10:00 AM
2008
Saturday, December 6
- Vestavia Hills, 8:30 AM: Along U. S. Highway 31 South from Southwood Road to Canyon Road.
- Graysville, 9:00 AM: Along Main Street from Uncle Mon's Restaurant to Park West Shopping Center.
- Homewood, 9:00 AM: From Homewood Public Library east on Oxmoor Road to 18th Street South, then to 28th Avenue South to Homewood Central Park.
- Alabaster, 10:00 AM: Along U. S. Highway 31 from Industrial Road to Buck Creek Park.
- Center Point, 11:00 AM: Along Center Point Parkway from the Cathedral of the Cross to the Center Point Post Office.
- Morris, 11:00 AM: Starts at Mortimer Jordan High School
- Helena, 1:00 PM: Along Alabama Highway 261 from the Winn-Dixie at Shelby County Highway 17 to Old Town Helena.
- Mountain Brook, 2:00 PM: From Crestline Elementary School down Church Street to the Crestline clock tower in front of Piggly Wiggly.
- Trussville, 3:00 PM: Along U. S. Highway 11 from Parkway Drive to Chalkville Road, then north to West Mall for the tree-lighting.
- Irondale, 4:00 PM: From Irondale Community School down 16th Street South to Crestwood Boulevard and then to 20th Street South for a tree lighting at Irondale City Hall.
- Columbiana, 5:00 PM: followed by the tree lighting.
- Calera, 6:00 PM: Along U. S. Highway 31 South from 6th to 21st Avenues.
Saturday, December 13
- Hueytown, 10:00 AM: From the intersection of High School Road and Sunset Drive to the Hueytown High School football stadium.
- Midfield, 10:00 AM: Starts and ends at Midfield Community Center.
- Westover: 10:00 AM
- Pinson, 11:00 AM: From Pinson Valley High School to Triangle Park (Pinson).
- Bessemer, 2:00 PM: Along 1st Avenue from 16th Street to 19th Street, then along 19th to 8th Avenue and along 8th to 15th Street and then to DeBardeleben Park.
- Clay, 3:00 PM: Along Deerfoot Parkway from Clay-Chalkville High School.
- Lay Lake, 5:15 PM: Boat parade from Beeswax Creek Park to Paradise Point Marina, Cedar Creek, Okomo Marina and Bozo's Marina.
- Tarrant, 5:30 PM: Begins and ends at Tarrant City Hall.
- Kimberly, 6:45 PM: From Bryan Elementary School to Memorial Park for the tree lighting.
- Adamsville, 7:00 PM: Along Main Street from Spring Street Park to Minor High School.
2007
Saturday, December 1
- Graysville, 10:00 AM: Began at Uncle Mon's Diner on Main Street and ended at the Parkwest Shopping Center. The grand marshal is former city official James Chafin. Minor High School's marching band participated.
- Center Point, 11:00 AM: Began at Cathedral of the Cross on Center Point Parkway and ended at the Center Point Post Office. Erwin High School's marching band, the Center Point Fire Department, General George Bowman, Shriners from the Zamora Temple, Sheriff Mike Hale and many others participated in the largest parade in the city to date.
- Columbiana
- Springville, 7:00 PM
- Homewood, 9:00 AM: Oxmoor Road from Homewood Public Library
- Mountain Brook, 3:00 PM: Crestline Village, starting at Crestline Elementary School
- Trussville, 3:00 PM
- Vestavia Hills, 8:30 AM: U. S. Highway 31 from Shades Crest Road south to Canyon Road.
Thursday, December 6
- Gardendale, 6:00 PM
Saturday, December 8
Thursday, December 13
- Pell City, 7:00 PM
Saturday, December 15
2006
Saturday, December 2
- Vestavia Hills, 8:30 AM: South along U. S. Highway 31's south-bound lanes from Shades Crest Road to Old Creek Trail. (Northbound lanes of the highway will be temporarily converted to two-way traffic).
- Homewood, 9:00 AM: From Homewood Public Library east down Oxmoor Road, north on 18th Street South, west on Central Avenue to Homewood Park.
- Graysville, 10:00 AM: The route began at the Park West Shopping Center.
- Center Point, 11:00 AM: From the Cathedral of the Cross parking lot and traveling north along Center Point Parkway before ending at Center Point Plaza. Sponsored by the Center Point Chamber of Commerce, the event featured 225 floats with state Representative Arthur Payne serving as grand marshal.
- Fairfield, 11:00 AM: The route followed E.J. Oliver Boulevard to Valley Road then left on Gary Avenue before ending at the Walter J. Hanna Library.
- Trussville, 3:00 PM: From Hewitt-Trussville Middle School down Chalkville Road to Gadsden Highway to Parkway Drive ending at the Trussville Mall. At the conclusion of the parade, Trussville's Christmas Tree lighting took place at the western end of the mall.
- Irondale, 4:00 PM: From Irondale Community School down 16th Street to Crestwood Boulevard to 20th Street to Irondale City Hall. Grand Marshall is Suzanne Lisenby.
Tuesday, December 5
- Birmingham Christmas parade, 12:30 PM at Kelly Ingram Park and 5:00 PM at Linn Park: Parade around Linn Park, with musical performances and lighting of the Birmingham Holiday Tree. Mistress of Ceremonies is Valorie Carter. [7]
Saturday, December 9
Saturday, December 16
- Pleasant Grove, 9:00 AM: From the Jack's restaurant at 27 Park Road and traveled along Pleasant Grove Road before ending at First Baptist Church (Pleasant Grove) on First Street.
- Midfield, 10:00 AM.
- Chelsea, 10:00 AM. From Chelsea Elementary School to Winn-Dixie.
1969
Saturday, November 29: Birmingham's Christmas parade, the last balloon parade sponsored by the Downtown Action Committee, returned to an evening schedule, starting at 6:30 PM. The balloons secured for the event were knock-offs of well-known cartoon characters.
1968
Saturday, November 16: The third Downtown Action Committee balloon parade returned to a Saturday morning schedule, following the same route as the National Veterans Day Parade just five days prior. Its circus theme was enhanced with live elephants and other animals. The cost to rent the balloons themselves was reported as $5,500.
1967
- The Downtown Action Committee held their second balloon parade on a Saturday morning, rather than a weekday evening. The parade had an Old Testament-heavy Biblical theme.
1966
Monday, November 28
- Birmingham, 7:00 PM. The first Christmas parade sponsored by the Downtown Action Committee was held. The parade featured "animated balloons" mounted on rolling platforms escorted by costumed volunteers. The spectacle was intended to mimic the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade in New York, but the smaller balloons secured for the parade, loosely representing a "Fairyland" theme, were described as, "past their prime," and as having, "horrible expressions on their faces." Nevertheless as many as 100,000 viewers attended the event.
The parade started from Woodrow Wilson Park going south on 20th Street to 2nd Avenue North, went west one block, then returned north on 19th Street.
1935
Saturday, November 30 Birmingham: A parade held in concert with the Birmingham Christmas Carnival capped the first big shopping Saturday after Thanksgiving. It was led by "King Cheer I" Andrew Thomas and his Queen, Martine Comer on a royal float. Subsequent floats depicted "scenes of splendor from Christmas traditions and from fairy tails". American Legion Post No. 111's drum and bugle corps followed, leading seven other bands interspersed among the floats, including the "Little German Band" of Ensley Post No. 35, the Alabama Boys Industrial School, Phillips, Ramsay and Woodlawn High Schools, and the Avondale Mills band. 18 clowns under the direction of Bailey Waller and impersonating "well-known comic characters" dashed around the floats. The end of the parade featured Santa Claus on his sleigh pulled by reindeer, all "posed airily atop the final float."
The prize for best float went to the Pickwick Club for their depiction of Prince Charming fitting a glass slipper to the foot of Cinderella. Second prize went to a miniature cathedral with ringing chimes contributed by J. Blach & Sons, and third was claimed by a "Treasure Island" float sponsored by Pizitz. The Mickey Mouse Club float was ridden by costumed versions of Mickey and Donald Duck.
According to The Birmingham News, the crowd viewing the parade was "estimated from 100,000 to 225,000, but officially set at 150,000. Universal Newsreel photographers were on hand to capture the celebration.
Note
In 2013 and 2014, only parades covered in the North Jefferson News are listed on this page.
References
- Hollis, Tim (2005) Birmingham's Theater and Retail District. Images of America series. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 0738517771
- "Christmas is drawing close; it's time to catch one of metro Birmingham's many Christmas parades." (December 5, 2008) The Birmingham News
- Thornton, William (October 25, 2009) "Trussville plans annual Christmas parade to avoid conflict with football." The Birmingham News
- "Shelby County municipalities holding handful of holiday events". (November 16, 2009) Shelby County Reporter
- Norris, Toraine (December 1, 2009) "Western area parades go on despite sour economy." The Birmingham News
- "Hueytown and other western Jefferson County cities send Christmas parades rolling." (December 11, 2010). The Birmingham News
- Norris, Toraine. (October 26, 2011) "Christmas parades off in Fairfield, Pleasant Grove." The Birmingham News
- Legg, Catherine (November 1, 2011) "Celebrate the season in Montevallo." Shelby County Reporter
- "Plenty of Christmas parades, tree lightings scheduled in Jefferson, Shelby counties." (December 1, 2011) The Birmingham News
- Norris, Toraine (December 2, 2011) "Pleasant Grove shares Christmas spirit with tree lighting." The Birmingham News
- "Alabaster Christmas parade is Dec. 1." (November 19, 2012) Shelby County Reporter
- Sides, Melynda (November 15, 2012). "2012 Christmas Parade schedule." WBRC.
- Almond, Mark (December 1, 2012) "Alabaster Christmas Parade is a sweet event for children." The Birmingham News
- Patterson, Melanie (November 28, 2011) "Christmas events fill calendar" North Jefferson News
- Staff Reports (November 9, 2012) "Cities prepare for upcoming Christmas parades" North Jefferson News
- "Christmas Parades" (December 4, 2013) North Jefferson News
- "Gardendale Christmas events begin" (November 30, 2016) North Jefferson News
- "Christmas events around North Jefferson" (November 27, 2019) North Jefferson News
- Gray, Jeremy (November 24, 2020) "Birmingham’s truly bizarre 1960s holiday balloon parades." The Birmingham News
- Anderson, Jon (November 25, 2020) "5th annual Bluff Park Christmas Parade pushed back to Dec. 12." Hoover Sun
- Thomas, Erica (November 30, 2020) "Christmas events in Trussville, Pinson, Clay, Center Point, Springville, Argo, Leeds and Moody." Trussville Tribune
- Anderson, Jon (November 20, 2021) "2021 Bluff Park Christmas Parade set for Dec. 4." Hoover Sun
- Caver, Hannah (December 2, 2021) "Area Christmas events kick off this weekend." Trussville Tribune
- Caver, Hannah (December 7, 2021) "City of Pinson postpones Christmas parade due to rain threat." Trussville Tribune
- Caver, Hannah (December 9, 2021) "Trussville Christmas parade postponed due to rain threat." Trussville Tribune