NOV. 22 — FOOTBALL, FANS & FEATHERS
The Auburn University Raptor Center’s Football, Fans and Feathers offers fans the opportunity to see a raptor show where they will experience birds of prey eye-to-eye and watch as they swoop overhead. Shows are held at 4 p.m. on Fridays before Auburn home games. Tickets can be purchased in advance; there is no charge for children age three and under. The hour-long program is presented at the center’s the 350-seat Edgar B. Carter Educational Amphitheater.
NOV. 22 — COME HOME TO THE CORNER
Join the Auburn Downtown Merchants Association for Come Home to the Corner every Friday night before a home football game. There will be live music from 6-9 p.m., extended shopping hours and more. Entertainment district from 5-10 p.m.
NOV. 27 — COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING LUNCH
A free Thanksgiving lunch will be served starting at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 27, at Courthouse Square in downtown Opelika. Everyone is welcome.
NOV. 27 — HARVEST EVANGELISM THANKSGIVING
Harvest Evangelism will host the annual community Thanksgiving meal on Wednesday, Nov. 27, at Lakeview Baptist Church, 1600 E. Glenn Ave. in Auburn. Plates of turkey and dressing with all the trimmings will be served beginning at 6 p.m. Enjoy fellowship and share stories of gratefulness with Hosanna Home and His Place.
NOV. 28 — THANKSGIVING FOOD DRIVE
Be part of a powerful tradition of giving back to the community at Harvest Evangelism’s annual Thanksgiving Food Drive on Thursday, Nov. 28, from 8 a.m. until noon at Lakeview Baptist Church, 1600 E. Glenn Ave. in Auburn. Experience the true spirit of Thanksgiving by preparing and distributing food to those in need. Families are welcome.
NOV. 27 — VERY MERRY STROLL & TREE LIGHTING
Come to the back porch at the Opelika Public Library for Very Merry Stroll, a festive tree lighting event that show-cases live trees beautifully decorated by local groups and businesses. Tree lighting promptly at 6 p.m. Arrive early for best parking. Following the tree lighting, the trees will remain lit each night from dusk until 9 p.m.
NOV. 28 — THANKSGIVING EXPERIENCE
Join the Auburn Marriott Opelika Resort and Spa for a memorable Thanksgiving experience on Thursday, Nov. 28, where renowned chefs will prepare a sumptuous buffet featuring traditional favorites and seasonal specialties. Seatings are set for 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Cost is $79 per adult, $39 per child 6-12 years old. Children ages 5 and under eat free. Reservations accepted on www.Opentable.com or call (334) 737-2117.
DEC. 1 — DOWNTOWN AUBURN HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE
Auburn’s downtown retailers will host a Holiday Open House with specials, sips and snacks on Sunday, Dec. 1. The Holiday Market, featuring local artisans, will be set up from 2 to 5 p.m. Enjoy free train rides and other fun children’s activities along with live music. The Auburn University Tree Lighting Ceremony will cap off the evening at 5 p.m.
DEC. 1 — SANTA AT O TOWN
Santa and Mrs. Claus will return to O Town, 700 2nd Avenue in Opelika, on Sunday, Dec. 1, from 4 to 6 p.m. Come and get ice cream, espresso drinks and cookies, and don’t forget to bring your camera.
DEC. 3 – 6 — SUSCC CHRISTMAS CONCERT
Tickets are on sale now for Southern Union State Community College’s Christmas Concert, set for Dec. 3-6 at Brazeal Auditorium, 750 Roberts St., on the Wadley campus. Performances will begin at 7 p.m. nightly, Tuesday, Dec. 3, through Friday, Dec. 6. Tickets must be reserved in advance by calling the business office at (256) 395-2211 ext. 5113 or www.suscc.edu/students/production. Southern Union students with current student identification cards, faculty and staff are admitted free with a reserved ticket.
DEC. 6, 13 & 20 — MRS. CLAUS STORIES & S’MORES
Enjoy a holiday story, crafts and treats on the three Fridays leading up to Christmas at Marriott Grand National Resort in Opelika. On Dec. 6, 13 & 20 from 5:15 to 6 p.m., Mrs. Claus will read stories aloud in the Lobby Lounge. After story time, enjoy s’mores on the lawn. This event is free and open to the public. Kids are welcome to wear their festive outfits or pajamas.
DEC. 6 — SNOPELIKA PARADE & TREE LIGHTING
Opelika’s SNOPELIKA Christmas Parade will take place in historic downtown Opelika on Friday, Dec. 6, starting at 5:30 p.m. At the conclusion of the parade, Opelika’s Courthouse Square will transform into a snowy winter wonder-land, complete with Christmas music, snowball fights, food trucks, picture opportunities galore and a chance to visit with Santa Claus on the Courthouse steps. Lighting of the city’s 72-foot-tall Christmas tree will take place at 8:30 p.m.
DEC. 7 — 29TH ANNUAL COOKIE WALK
The 29th annual Cookie Walk fundraiser to support Auburn Opelika Habitat for Humanity is is scheduled for Satur-day, Dec. 7, from 8 a.m. to noon at True Deliverance Holiness Church, located at 936 N. Donahue Dr. in Auburn. The WeHelp Coalition of Churches needs volunteers to lend their time and talents to bake and donate cookies and spread the word about the event. Then, on Dec. 7, come buy cookies for your holiday parties or as gifts for your friends, your relatives, your office and yourself! Cookies will be sold by the pound, and purchases will help build another Habitat Home in Lee County. More information is available on Facebook: Great Christmas Cookie Walk of Lee County, Alabama.
DEC. 7 — MASTER GARDENERS WREATH WORKSHOP
On Dec. 7, from 9 to 11 a.m., the Lee County Alabama Extension and the Lee County Master Gardeners of Alabama will be out at the garden (1103 Glenn St., Opelika) for a holiday workshop. Adults will receive materials to make wreaths from local, natural materials. For the kiddos, we’ll be making bird feeders out of pine cones. There will also be local food and craft vendors and other festivities.
DEC. 7 — AUMC CHRISTMAS MARKET
Auburn United Methodist Church (137 South Gay St.) will host its annual Christmas Market on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission is free, and parking is available in the church lots on Magnolia and on Gay Streets. Shop local arts, crafts, baked goods and frozen soups and casseroles. For more than 50 years the United Women of Faith at AUMC have used all proceeds from the annual Christmas Market to support local area missions.
DEC. 7 — BLACK BELT TREASURES @ PEBBLE HILL
Join the Caroline Marshall Draughon Center for the Arts & Humanities and Black Belt Treasures Cultural Arts Center for a special holiday market — Blackbelt Treasures at Pebble Hill — on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 101 S. Debardeleben St. in Auburn. Featured artists include Betty Anderson (Gee’s Bend dolls), Billy Baggett (metal sculptures), Duncan Black (pottery), Carole Bandy Carson (painting), Angela Fernandez (mixed media), Kristin Law (pottery and mixed media), Andrew McCall (vine baskets and barn wood art), Bud Rogers (woodcrafts), Laura Spencer (goat milk soap and natural skincare) and Elizabeth Taylor (jewelry). Plus, there will be homemade fudge and pecan snacks from Flying Bassett Farm.
DEC. 7 — HO HO HIKE
Tickets are now on sale for the Ho Ho Ho Hike and Holiday Celebration, scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 7, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Kreher Preserve & Nature Center. This event is for children ages 12 and under, who must be accompanied by an adult ticket holder. Children 23 months and younger are FREE with the purchase of an adult ticket. Tickets are available at kpnc.auburn.edu/hohoho-hike. Please note that an adult ticket must be purchased first. Then, a free infant ticket and/or a child ticket may be added to the adult ticket transaction. Tickets are $15 per per-son plus online fees for participants 24 months (2 years) and older. Make sure to purchase tickets early — this event sells out fast! Co-hosted by the Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center, the Kreher Preserve and Nature Center will transform into a Winter Wonderland full of nature-themed crafts, performances, cookies, hot chocolate and a chance to visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus. This event will also include the traditional HoHoHo Hike, a unique and fun “Santa-hunt” where you will hike the Preserve looking for the elusive visitor in red, so comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
DEC. 7 — BRUNCH WITH SANTA
Santa Claus is coming to the Auburn Marriott Opelika Resort and Spa on Saturday, Dec. 7, for Brunch with San-ta. Enjoy an omelet and waffle station, train rides on the North Pole Express and time with Santa and his elves. There will also be holiday arts & crafts and holiday themed movies playing. Seatings are available at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. The cost is $39 per adult, $24 for children ages 6-12 and free for children ages 5 and under. To reserve a seat, call (334) 737-2117.
DEC. 8 — AUBURN CHRISTMAS PARADE
The Auburn Christmas Parade will step off on Sunday, Dec. 8, at 2 p.m. in downtown Auburn, hosted by the Down-town Merchants Association and sponsored by Thames Orthodontics. For more information, visit www.downtownau-burnonline.com.
DEC. 9 —EAST ALABAMA CIVIC CHORALE
The East Alabama Civic Chorale will present its holiday concert on Monday, Dec. 9, at 6 p.m. at Auburn United Methodist Church.
DEC. 12 — AJHS BAND FALL CONCERT
Auburn Junior High School will host its Fall Concert on Thursday, Dec. 12. The Concert Band will perform at 6 p.m., followed by the Symphonic Band at 6:30 p.m., the Wind Symphony at 7 p.m. and the Jazz Band at 7:30 p.m.
DEC. 13-17 — VICTORIAN FRONT PORCH CHRISTMAS
Life-sized Old World Santas and other Christmas displays will be featured on homes in the North Opelika Historic District on Eighth and Ninth Streets during the 31st Annual Victorian Front Porch Christmas, set for Dec. 13-17. The community event features entertainment, hot chocolate at nearby churches and neighbors strolling in period costumes.
DEC. 14 — HOLLY JOLLY SHOP & DROP
Auburn Parks & Rec presents the second annual Holly Jolly Drop & Shop at Frank Brown Recreation Center on Saturday, Dec. 14. Kids ages 5-12 are invited to make holiday crafts, write letters to Santa, enjoy snacks and play games, giving parents an opportunity to do some kid-free holiday shopping. The event is free, but participants must register in advance at www.auburnal.myrec.com. Space is limited so register early.
DEC. 14 — CHRISTMAS MARKET
There will be a Christmas Market on Saturday, Dec. 14, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Courthouse Square in downtown Opelika, featuring free stockings for the kids, pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus and a variety of vendors with lots of goodies. For more information, call (213) 220-9943.
THRU DEC. 14 — JURIED PHOTOGRAPHY SHOW
Auburn Arts Association presents the 2024 Juried Photography Show, on exhibit through Dec. 14, at the Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center in Auburn, open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free.
DEC. 19 THROUGH 21 — REINDEER EXPRESS
Enjoy train rides around the park ($2 per person), s’mores around the campfire ($1 per s’more, free visits with Santa Claus and concessions and hot chocolate (prices varies). 5 to 8 p.m. at Opelika’s Municipal Park.
DEC. 31 — NEW YEAR’S EVE BASH
Ring in the New Year at Auburn Marriott Opelika Resort and Spa’s spectacular New Year’s Eve party on Saturday, Dec. 31. Guests can enjoy a gourmet dinner, live entertainment, photo booth with festive décor, balloon drop and a midnight countdown complete with a champagne toast. Dance the night away as we welcome 2025. Several packages are available. Visit Eventbrite.com to see options and reserve your spot.
