By PHOEBE DONALD ROBINSON / Community Columnist

Columbiana is the place to be the first week of December to get in the Christmas spirit!

The town is decorated with the 2015 theme, “An Old Fashioned Christmas,” chosen by the very active Columbiana Beautification Board: Chair Ouida Mayfield; Mayor Stancil Handley; Becky Moore; Rhetta Argo; Helen Gibson; Nena Atchison; Pam Oliver; Emily Gravitt; and Jennifer Maier.

The Christmas Parade will be Thursday, Dec. 3 with events beginning at 5:30 p.m., and the Tour of Homes will be Saturday, Dec. 5 from 11 a.m.–3 p.m.

Thursday night, Dec. 3, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Christmas tree in the center of town where Main Street intersects College Street, Robert Robinson Jr. will sing Christmas music with Miss Shelby County Hayley Barber and Miss SC Teen Myra Callens signing autographs.

The Dream Makers will dance at 6:15 p.m., followed by the parade at 7 p.m. with Grand Marshall Phoebe Donald Robinson lighting the Christmas tree.

Students from Columbiana Middle will be dressed as Christmas trees and give out candy during the parade and both Misses will be in the parade.

After the parade, Santa will be sitting on his red bench by the tree to have his picture taken with one and all, but bring your own camera! The night’s activities are free.

On Saturday, Dec. 5 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. the Columbiana Tour of Homes with include one church, one business and five homes: Columbiana United Methodist Church, 200 N. Main; Owen Arts Studio/Sign Graphics, Scott and Taylor Owen, 670 Highway 70; Josh and Laura Beane, 305 N. Main; Bonnie Atchison, 311 N. Main; Tim and Jeannie Lacy, 400 N. Main; Ronnie and Emily Lansford, 312 Mildred St.; and Jim and Susan Todd, 158 Barnsley Street, Wilsonville. The church will have a quilt display in the sanctuary decorated for the Hanging of the Greens annual ceremony, Sunday, Dec. 6at 6 p.m. Owen will display his art and signs at his studio.

For the first time, the trolley will run the tour route except to the Todd home on Lay Lake in Bulley Creek.

The trolley will be free to all ticket holders with pick up stops at the methodist church and Columbiana Senior Center.

Tickets are $12 in advance and can be purchased at Busy Hands and Framing, Main Street Florist and all beautification members.

Tickets can be purchased at each tour stop the day of tour for $15.

The Tour of Homes is the Columbiana Beautification Board’s main fundraiser and is used to finance the beautification board’s many projects, such as: Holiday decorations, building lights, shrubbery, murals, welcome signs and more.

Come to Columbiana on Dec. 3and 5 for an old fashioned Christmas!