CULLMAN, Ala. – The City of Cullman and Cullman Parks, Recreation and Sport Tourism (CPRST) on Saturday officially kicked off the Christmas season with a day full of activities downtown, enjoying good turnout despite the cold and drizzly weather. During the day, visitors shopped their way through the Warehouse District and visited the new seasonal Christkindlmarkt (Christmas market) (www.cullmantribune.com/2019/11/23/cullman-prepares-for-trial-run-of-christkindlmarkt-outdoor-christmas-market/) in the Festhalle for gifts, food and drinks.
Across from the Festhalle, the parking lot turned into a kids’ activity zone and food court. Younger children got their pictures taken with Santa, wrote him letters and made decorations. Kids of all ages made s’mores, sipped hot chocolate, played cornhole and visited a petting zoo. Next door, visitors got to sit down to eat anything from a light snack to a full meal from local food trucks.
Late in the afternoon, CPRST Acting Executive Director Christy Turner told The Tribune, “It’s been a great day. (It) started off with the weather and the rain. (It’s) cool and brisk now- feels like Christmas! We’ve had a great crowd; it’s been a wonderful turnout. Lots of kids have come out and visited Santa’s Workshop and written letters to Santa, we have a food court, glühwein (a spiced German wine served hot) being sold, and our taste of what’s to come in 2020 for our market. So, we’re excited about that.
“Everybody’s kind of anticipating the parade and a Christmas tree lighting production you’re not going to want to miss!”
Turner was playing her cards close to the vest, but her excitement about the evening to come was evident and proved to be well-founded.
In the evening, Cullman’s annual Christmas Parade came down First Avenue, with Mayor Woody Jacobs and family leading the way for numerous local businesses and organizations to escort Santa to Depot Park. At the conclusion of the parade, the large crowd reassembled in the park and on Arnold Street for the annual Christmas Tree Lighting.
This year’s production featured live music at the foot of the tree and a light show that the misty, slightly foggy weather only made more visible and impressive to those watching. After Hannah Jacobs led the countdown, the illumination of the tree was preceded and accompanied by a firework display in Depot Park, a first for the Christmas in Cullman celebration.
Afterward, folks stayed around for more pictures with Santa and the Grinch (who had slipped into the celebration but was behaving himself!), selfies in front of the tree and newly-relit Christmas Pyramid (www.cullmantribune.com/2019/10/30/countrys-tallest-weihnachtspyramide-goes-up-and-up-at-cullman-county-museum/), more food and drink, more live music and one more visit to the Christmas Market.
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