By John Underwood / john@gulfcoastmedia.com
Central and North Baldwin residents will have plenty of opportunity to get into the Christmas spirit beginning this weekend.
Arctic Express
Wales West RV Resort and Light Railway will host its annual Arctic Express beginning Nov. 29 through Christmas Eve at 13670 Smiley St. off County Road 9, Silverhill.
Ride an authentic steam train through a wonderland of lights and decorations to the North Pole. Children visit with Santa in the Winter-wonderland barn and receive a free wooden toy. Free refreshments served at the train station after the trip. Enjoy a ride on the mini-train, a sleigh/hay ride, and inflatables on the playground.
Hours are 4-9 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday until Dec. 12 and nightly beginning Dec. 12 through Christmas Eve. Train rides are free with park admission, which is $15 per person, plus tax. Admission is free for children under 2.
For more information call 251-232-2322. Tickets can also be purchased online at waleswest.com/arctic.htm, “click here to order tickets online.”
Robertsdale
Christmas at the Library, sponsored by the Robertsdale Public Library and Central Baldwin Sunset Rotary Club, will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5 at the library, 18301 Pennsylvania St., Robertsdale. Come and see Santa and Mrs. Claus as they make their first appearance of the year. Bring your camera for a great photo op.
The event will also include cookie decorating, snow cones from Frosty, a petting zoo, caroling on a mule-drawn wagon, stories under the Christmas tree and a DJ playing Christmas Carols.
Reindeer antlers will be available for the kids and each child will receive a Christmas book and a bag of candy.
For more information call the library at 251-947-8960.
St. Patrick’s Ladies Auxiliary will host its 45th annual Christmas Bazaar Dec. 6 and 7 at St. Patrick’s Center, 23035 Alabama 59, Robertsdale. Doors open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Bazaar will feature over 100 hand crafted gift baskets along with fresh baked Stollen (coffee cakes) and nut filled Kifles. There will also be a jam stand filled with jams, jellies, and sauces made by local cooks. The church ladies, including baking prize winning baker, Sylvia Pulliam, will present homemade cakes, candies, and cookies for sale.
Unique hand-crafted items are also in the spotlight. Starting with handmade quilts, afghans, baby items, soaps and shabby chic. The Christmas tree stand is always a place to stop and gaze at not only the gorgeous trees, but all sorts of arrangements. This year buffalo plaid will be featured in this section. A hand-made quilt, pieced and quilted by Barbara Landers and friends, will be raffled. Get your ticket with a small donation.
Proceeds will benefit community charities, St. Patrick Church, and St. Patrick School.
Honeybee Festival
The annual Honeybee Festival will be held Saturday, Dec. 7 at Honeybee Park.
The event kicks off with the Honeybee Festival 5K at 8 a.m., immediately followed by the 1-mile walk/run with awards presented.
The festival includes more than 90 arts and crafts and food vendors, including several to benefit local schools, along with entertainment from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
For more information visit the Central Baldwin Education Foundation’s page on Facebook or visit cbef.org.
The City of Robertsdale will host its annual
Christmas in the Park and Parade on Saturday, Dec. 7.
Parade lineup is at 4:30 p.m. at the RHS baseball complex and is set to roll at 6:30 p.m.
The parade will be followed by the annual photos in the park from 7 to 9 p.m. in Honeybee Park. Bring your own camera for photo opportunities with Santa and Mrs. Claus.
The Robertsdale Rotary Club sponsors the parade, with the assistance of the Central Baldwin Chamber of Commerce and City of Robertsdale.
For a parade application and for more information contact the chamber at 251-947-2626.
Polar Express
Reserve your spot now for the annual Derailed Diner Polar Express inside the Oasis Travel Center, 27801 County Road 64 at the I-10 Wilcox Exit. Reservations can be made beginning the day after Thanksgiving. Spots are available Dec. 6-7 and 13-14.
For four magical nights Derailed Diner’s authentic dining car will be transformed into the train car from the children’s book “The Polar Express.” Participants receive a golden “Believe” ticket punched by the Polar Express train conductor as they enter the train car singing the “Hot Chocolate” song.
All attending will be served hot chocolate and cookies after the professional performance and sing-a-long from the book. Each child will be gifted a magic jingle bell to wish upon.
Admission is free for children ages 4 to 12. No adults will be allowed on the train, but can peek through the windows. Each child is asked to bring a canned good to donate to charity.
Reservations are required by calling 251-960-1152.
Holiday Business After Hours with the Central Baldwin Chamber of Commerce, will be held from 6 to 6:30 p.m. at First Baldwin Land Title, 23315 Pet Drive, Robertsdale.
Join the chamber for a fun night of food, refreshments, door prizes and networking.
Donations of unwrapped toys for young children will be accepted and will go to Kanes Warrior Kids for children at USA Children’s and Women’s Hospital in Mobile.
Derek "Kane" Long and Michelle Long, who operate the program, will be attending the event to accept donations.
The menu will include Chicken Opelusus, Boudin balls, bread pudding, cheese and fruit, beer, wine and more.
For more information call the Chamber at 251-947-2626.
Walk Through Bethlehem
The annual event will be held again this year from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, Dec. 13-15 at Bethel Baptist Church, 22250 U.S. 90, Robertsdale.
This live, interactive adventure follows the birth of Jesus Christ through with recreations of the shepherd’s fields, the town of Bethlehem, the manger where Jesus was born, complete with live animals. Scenes also depict Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection with the stone rolled away.
For more information on other events contact the church, 251-947-5145, email bethelbaptistrobertsdale@gmail.com or visit bbcrobertsdale.com.
Silverhill
14th Annual Down Home Christmas will be from 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 7 at the Silverhill Covenant Church, 16094 Alabama 104, Silverhill.
Hand-made crafts will be sold by church members, including wreaths, jewelry, ornaments, crocheted items, quilted items, knitted items, T-shirts and stained glass. Swedish coffee breads will also be sold and Poinsettias will be available for purchase.
Lunch will be served featuring homemade soup and salad at a cost of $6.
For more information call the church, 251-945-5143.
The Town of Silverhill will kick things off with its annual
Christmas parade beginning at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6. The parade will line up at the Silverhill Community Center and follow the normal parade route on Highway 104.
Open house will follow the parade. For more information call town hall at 251-945-5198.
Bay Minette
North Baldwin Infirmary welcomes the public to its annual
Christmas Tree Lighting from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5 on the hospital campus, 1815 Hand Ave., Bay Minette.
This free, family-friendly event will feature children’s crafts, food vendors, local choirs and Santa photos. Santa will be available for photos with children who have special needs at 4:30 p.m. The event will culminate at 6:45 p.m. with a tree lighting. For event updates and more information, find North Baldwin Infirmary on Facebook.
North Baldwin Infirmary provides Baldwin County with the compassionate care expected from a community hospital. The 78-bed hospital is a BABY-FRIENDLY™ and Bama Better Babies award winning facility. This means the North Baldwin Infirmary's birth center meets the highest standards for maternity care and infant feeding. The North Baldwin Infirmary birth center is one of only seven hospitals in Alabama with the BABY-FRIENDLY™ designation and the only hospital in both Mobile and Baldwin Counties with this distinction.
North Baldwin Infirmary's Senior Behavioral Health Program offers in-patient help to those suffering from emotional or mental issues and long-term care at Oakwood - North Baldwin's Center for Living. Oakwood is a 75-bed long-term nursing facility located directly on campus. The modern campus also includes a state-of-the-art fitness center and surgical suites.
Milk and Cookies with Santa will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 at Holly Hills Municipal Golf Course, 38600 Country Club Drive, Bay Minette.
For more information call 251-580-2553.
Christmas On the Circle will be held from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, hosted by the Douglasville School of Arts & Recreation.
The event will include gift shopping, photos with Santa, games, face painting, free treats, gift wrapping and more.
Sponsored by the Chosen Youth Outreach Ministry.
For more information call the North Baldwin Chamber of Commerce, 251-937-5665.
Business After Hours Block Party with the North Baldwin Chamber of Commerce will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12 in Downtown Bay Minette, First Street and Hand Avenue. The event will include live music, food and networking. For more information call the Chamber at 251-937-5665.
37th annual Christmas Festival will be held Saturday, Dec. 14. This year’s event, sponsored by the North Baldwin Chamber of Commerce, will be one-day only and will be held on the Courthouse Square in Downtown Bay Minette.
The event features arts and crafts vendors, live music, food vendors and kid’s activities.
Activities include a Ping Pong Ball Drop where many wonderful prizes are up for grabs; and the annual Christmas Parade. Line up begins at noon in front of Bay Minette Elementary School, judging begins at 1 p.m. with the parade set to roll at 1:30.
From BMES, the parade will run to Ninth Street, from Ninth Street to Hand Avenue, from Hand Avenue to U.S. 31 South, from U.S. 31 to Pine Street, from Pine Street to First Street, from First Street to Hoyle Avenue from Hoyle Avenue to Fifth Street and back to the school lot.
For more information call the Chamber at 251-937-5665.
Bedtime Stories with Santa will be held beginning at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13 at the Bay Minette Public Library, 205 W. Second St. The event is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to wear their PJs. For more information call 251-580-1648.
Baldwin County High School Reindeer Dash 5K and Fun Run will be held Saturday, Dec. 14 beginning at the Community Kids Park on McMillan Avenue. The 5K Run/Walk begins at 8 a.m. with a 1-mile Fun Run beginning at approximately 9 a.m. Entry fee is $15 for youth age 14 and under, $20 for adults. Prizes will be awarded for the top three male and female 5K and Fun Run finishers, the top 5K male and female walk finishers and top finishers in age groups ranging from under 9 to 60-plus. For more information contact race director Graylin Hodge at 251-937-2341 or glhodge@bcbe.org.
Breakfast with Santa and Starla will be held from 8 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 14 at Pearl & Addie’s Café, 20 Hand Ave., Bay Minette. As a special treat, Chef Starla will be on hand to whip up some of her famous pancakes. Bring your cameras and capture a special moment with Santa Claus. Breakfast buffet costs $10 (includes drink).
Christmas in Perdido
This annual event will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 in the gym at Perdido School, 23859 County Road 47.
The event will include Breakfast with Santa from 8 to 10 a.m. Cost is $5.
For more information call the school at 251-937-8456.
Loxley
Light Up, Loxley! Christmas decorating contest, sponsored by the Loxley Public Library, is currently accepting nominations.
For a fee of $20, your residence (exterior and yard) will be entered into the contest. Judging will take place in the evening hours of Dec. 17-20.
The winner will receive half of the collected entry fees (split-the-pot). The winner will be notified with a phone call on Dec. 21 and will be posted on Loxley Public Library's Facebook page.
Pick up entry form at the Loxley Public Library or Loxley Town Hall. Please turn in fee and entry form to the Loxley Public Library or Loxley Town Hall by Dec. 17. For more information, call the library at 251-964-5695.
The Town of Loxley will have its annual
parade and Christmas in the Park beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 14.
The parade route will follow Highway 59 north from the Loxley Church of God to the Loxley Municipal Park. Following the parade there will be hot chocolate and cookies. Santa will be available for photos.
For parade and Christmas in the Park information, contact Tina Harris at the Civic Center, 251-964-7733.
Summerdale
The town of Summerdale’s annual Christmas parade will begin at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14. The parade begins on Fourth Street and will travel west on Broadway to Northwest First Street, north to Jefferson, west to West Fourth Street, then south to Broadway, going east on Broadway back to Pioneer Park.
Visit with Santa in the park gazebo and enjoy refreshments after the parade. For more information call the Summerdale Town Hall, 251-989-6202.
