By EMILY SPARACINO / Staff Writer

COLUMBIANA – Residents wanting to get into the Christmas spirit in the coming weeks can mark their calendars for several events happening in Columbiana in December.

The 17^th annual Columbiana Christmas Parade will be held downtown on Thursday, Dec. 5.

Christmas carols by Mike Mason will start at 5:30 p.m., Dream Makers Dancers will perform at 6:15 p.m. and the parade will begin at 7 p.m.

Columbiana City Councilman Leslie Whiting will serve as grand marshal of the parade, which will involve the Columbiana, Shelby and Wilsonville communities.

Santa will bring up the end of the parade.

“This year, for the first time, we will have food trucks available for the evening,” City Councilwoman Ouida Mayfield said.

Food trucks will be set up from 5-8:30 p.m. in the new parking lot between the Shelby County Museum and the Shelby County Arts Center.

Cultivate Church will serve free hot chocolate.

Anyone who would like to participate in the parade can contact Mayfield at (205) 669-7813.

The Holly Jolly Trolley Christmas Lights Tour will be held on Friday, Dec. 13. Tours will depart at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Narrated by Mayor Stancil Handley, the tour will visit Christmas light displays and neighborhoods throughout the city

Refreshments will be provided by Gail’s Florist for those who purchase tickets.

Tickets are available at City Hall and are $10 for adults and $7 for children. Tickets are limited.

The trolley will pick up riders on Main Street in front of the Shops of Columbiana.
Main Street merchants will be open late, and food trucks will be available.

The event is a fundraiser for Columbiana Main Street.

New this year, the city will hold a Community Ugly Sweater Christmas Parade on Friday, Dec. 20, which is National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day.

“It is for the entire community,” Columbiana Main Street Director Brenda Sands said. “We want to have an entire social media swarm of photos.”

The judging and parade lineup will take place at the Columbiana Senior Center at 1 p.m.

Prizes from local businesses will be awarded.

The parade will then depart from the senior center and proceed to Main Street, where participants will be welcomed by Main Street merchants.

Follow @ColumbianaMainStreet on Facebook for updates leading up to the event.

The Shelby County Arts Council’s annual Holiday Artist Market will also take place in Columbiana, at the new Old Mill Square facility.

The Market Preview Party will be held Friday, Dec. 6, from 6-8 p.m.

The Artist Market will follow on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

The market will feature fine arts and crafts from many local artists and makers.