Dothan Christmas celebration expected to draw crowd downtown

Shannon Mallory said events like the upcoming Dothan Christmas celebration help draw people into downtown.

Mallory, who works downtown at Miracle Finance, was one of a couple dozen people who gathered at one of downtown’s newest restaurants Thursday while officials unveiled details of the 2008 Dothan Christmas celebration.

“It brings people from all over to downtown,” Mallory said. “We’re still a small town, but things like this help generate that hometown feeling.”

Mallory’s company has sponsored the free snow zone, along with Larry Blumberg and Associates. It will be split into two areas to help manage the crowds of people.

“It puts you in the holiday spirit,” Mallory said. “One year I was an elf and last year I was Frosty the Snowman.”

The event, in its fourth year, is coordinated through the Downtown Group and the City of Dothan. D’Monico’s Italian Gardens and Sinatra’s Bar on Troy Street hosted the event Thursday.

“It is wonderful to walk into a building downtown and it be alive like this one today,” Dothan Mayor Pat Thomas said. “It’s a wonderful day to walk down Foster Street and see the work being done.”

The week-long series of events kicks off Tuesday, Dec. 2, with a tree lighting ceremony sponsored by the Dothan Leisure Services Department. The ceremony will be at 6 p.m. at the Dothan Civic Center. The fifth grade chorus from Montana Magnet School will perform at the tree lighting ceremony and Santa will make an appearance on the back of a Dothan Fire truck.

“We truly are in a renaissance down here,” said Downtown Group Director Cathy Cole. “Part of it is we get people engaged in downtown.”

The city’s celebration will resume Friday, Dec. 5, at 7:30 p.m. with the Opera House Holiday Spectacular featuring a variety of entertainment, including Pattie Rutland Jazz, Ron DeVane’s Understudy Dinner Theater, the Westgate Praise Team, the Ringtones bell choir, the Chipola Show Choir and ball room dancers from the Dothan Dance Club.

The celebration’s main events fall on Saturday, Dec. 6, with the Downtown Christmas Festival which includes a visit from Santa, several arts and crafts vendors, live musical entertainment options, along with free horse and buggy and train rides. The Wiregrass Museum of Art will also hold its First Saturday Family Day which includes a free art workshop for elementary school age children. All art supplies will be provided, and children will be able to make their own ceramic animals.

The daylong festival’s activities conclude with a concert at Dothan Opera House featuring the Tri-State Community Orchestra at 7 p.m. Tickets for a Wiregrass Christmas with local performers cost $8 for students and seniors and $10 for adults.

“It’s not about one person, it’s about a movement that’s taking hold,” Cole said.

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What: Downtown Dothan Christmas Festival

Cost: Free

Where: North Foster Street

When: Saturday Dec. 6

Timeline:
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. - Santa at the park

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Train rides on the Boo Weevil Choo Choo

9 a.m. to 12 p.m. - Snow zone; split into two areas based on the child’s age

9 a.m. to 3 p.m. - Blue Bell ice cream tasting complete with an inflatable Blue Bell Bounce House sponsored by Blue Bell Creameries

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. - Horse and buggy rides

3 p.m. - Pet fashion show