By PHOEBE DONALD ROBINSON / Community Columnist
There is always something happening in Columbiana, and this Christmas season is no exception. Downtown and neighborhoods are decorated with Christmas lights, colorful bows and festive decorations.
Columbiana’s exquisite Christmas tree is located at the center of town at the corner of Main and College streets, lighted by Grand Marshal Ouida Mayfield during the Christmas Parade on Dec. 4 at 7 p.m.
The tops of Main Street’s commercial buildings are illuminated with white lights which gives Columbiana the feel of a Norman Rockwell painting.
To showcase our city’s holiday finery, the Columbiana Merchants and Professionals Association is sponsoring the first annual Holly, Jolly, Trolly Christmas Tour guided by Mayor Stancil Handley on Dec. 11 and 12.
The trolley will tour the town and surrounding neighborhood’s streets as Handley will give a historical guided tour of the buildings and homes.
There will be two trolley runs each night at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. Seating is limited to 20 persons per trolley tour, and everyone must have a ticket. Tickets are numbered and cost $5, the suggested donation fee for the CMPA Scholarship Fund and available at Davis Drug and Bust Hands. Children under 12 are free. If the four tours sell out, another tour at 8 p.m. can be added both nights.
Handley has guided the Columbiana walking tour and knows the commercial buildings’ history well. Residential neighborhoods have been added to the trolley tour to see the whole town at night.
The tour will start at the Shelby County Museum (old courthouse) where Robert Robinson will give a Christmas concert on the courthouse steps both nights.
Complimentary hot chocolate and cookies will be served to the public. The tour will begin at the old courthouse down Highway 47 to Pitts Drive, right on Bolton Lane and circle back to Pitts Drive, left on Washington pass Elvin Hill and Shelby County High schools, right on Mildred to Arlington, circle Arlington to Washington, left onto East College, right on Thompson, left on Sterrett, and final left on Main Street back to the old courthouse. Come see Christmas in Columbiana at night!