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Huntsville Holiday Events 2019

Huntsville Holiday Events 2019

Jingle Bells may rock… but unless you check out this list, you’ll miss out on all the best holiday events in Huntsville, AL!

Here’s our guide to the Huntsville Holiday Events 2019.

Adult Holiday Events

These Huntsville Holiday Events are geared for adults. Have fun!!

Margarita Ball 

  • Date and Time: Saturday, November 23 at 7:30 pm
  • Cost: Toy donation of $100 per couple
  • Location: Von Braun Center
  • Event Information

One of Huntsville’s grandest social events. Each couple brings two or more unwrapped toys with a suggested value of $100.00. These toys are distributed to underprivileged children throughout the community. Contact the Margarita Society on Facebook to receive an invitation via mail or in person

 Nutcracker Ball 

  • Date and Time:  Friday, December 6 at 6:30 pm
  • Location: Von Braun Center North Hall
  • Cost: $100 (21 and over)
  • Event Information

The 11th annual Nutcracker Ball is a festive black tie optional event featuring dinner, silent and live auctions, and dancing. This event serves as a kick-off celebration for the holiday season with a special performance by members of  Huntsville Ballet Company. The proceeds from the Nutcracker Ball benefit Huntsville Ballet and its Discover Dance outreach programs, which provide dance and movement-based educational opportunities throughout the community. 

2019 Nutcracker Ball Co-Chairs – Amy Henrich and Brandy Worthy

For more information about the event, to be added to the invitation list, or to donate, email balletguildhsv@gmail.com.

Yule Y’all

  • Date and Time: Saturday, December 7 
  • Location: Lowe Mill
  • Cost: Free, $5 parking
  • Event Information

Show your spirit early this year at ‘Yule Y’all’, our Christmas Market with a southern twist and twinkle. Discover the work of hand picked makers from across the south who will peddle their unique crafts and wares from 10:00 AM- 6:30 PM. Inside, keep your eyes peeled for unique seasonal artwork from participating Lowe Mill A&E studios. You’ll be sure to find that one of a kind gift or stocking stuffer during our only holiday shopping day of the year. Regional distillers will be on site to sample their crafted spirits in limited quantities.

Live music, holiday themed entertainment and overall cheer will be sprinkled high and low from floor to floor, culminating at 7:00 PM under our iconic water tower for a lighting ceremony like no other. Krampus will be there and available for pictures and if you’ve been good this year you may survive them. Photo sessions $5.00.

This event will take place throughout the entirety of our grounds and is accessible at no other cost to the public than a $5.00 Fee (per car) for parking on the property.

Clinton Ave. Claus-Play Crawl

  • Date and Time: Sunday, December 8 at 2 – 5pm
  • Cost: Free
  • Location: Begins at Innerspace Brewing
  • Event Information

Come participate in the second Geek Out Huntsville Cosplay Crawl along Clinton Ave on Sunday, December 8th! Meet us at Innerspace Brewing at 2PM that afternoon, where we will crawl through along Campus 805 IN COSTUME through some of the best bars.

Have a great costume from DragonCon? Putting one together for Christmas?  Come hang out with us and other fellow Huntsville geeks and have a drink (or two) and have a good time.

Holiday Magic Dinners

One of Burritt’s most anticipated events, Holiday Magic, is a reservations only event. During the Christmas season enjoy one of 3 evenings of dinners in the Mansion, Historic houses or Old Country Church. With carolers strolling through and Father Christmas making an appearance, Holiday Magic has come to be a tradition for families, supper clubs, and friends.

Mars Masquerade

  • Date and Time: Tuesday, December 31
  • Location: US. Space and Rocket Center
  • Cost: $65-75 single, $130-150 per couple
  • Event Information

Ring in the New Year under the Saturn V moon rocket at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center’s Davidson Center for Space Exploration. The party starts Dec. 31, at 8 p.m., and the “Flashbacks Show Band” takes the stage at 8:30 p.m., with favorites from early Motown to today’s hits. Heavy hors d’oeuvres will be available from 8 until 10 p.m., and bars will be open until 1 a.m. Enjoy a celebratory complimentary champagne toast with us at midnight. Mars Masquerade is a black-tie optional event.

Ticket pricing during the Early Bird Special is $130 per couple or $65 for single tickets, available through Dec. 23. Pricing is $150 per couple and $75 per single ticket beginning Dec. 24.

Holiday Sporting Events

For those of you looking to get in shape this holiday season, try these events.

Ugly Sweater Fun Run 

Ugliest sweater wins a prize! 3 and 5-mile options with treats and giveaways to follow!

Galaxy of Lights 5K Run 

The 5k (3.1 miles) begins with the course winding through the newly paved Galaxy of Lights trail. Pets, strollers, headphones and non-registered participants are not allowed on the course. Due to the construction of the new visitors center, this year’s course will not be certified.

Galaxy of Lights 3K Holiday Dash

The 3K Holiday Dash (1.8 miles) begins with the course winding through the newly paved Galaxy of Lights trail. Pets, Headphones and non registered runners over 3 years of age are not allowed on the course. Strollers are welcome. Participants under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. The run will not be timed but will be full of great light displays, fun holiday music and prizes from our many generous sponsors.

Hot Chocolate Run 

Come run with friends and enjoy tasty hot chocolate afterward! 3 and 5-mile options. Refreshments and giveaways to follow! 

Mistletoe Madness 5K & Fun Run 

  • Date and Time: Sunday, December 8 at 1:00 pm
  • Location: Columbia High School
  • Cost: $10 for 1 Mile Walk, $35 for 5K Run/Walk
  • Event Information

Come dressed in your most creative holiday attire! Everyone enjoys the costume contest, bounce house for kids, DJ music, photos with Santa, and free healthy snacks. Proceeds benefit Camp Seale Harris for children and teens with diabetes.

Rudolph Run

  • Date and Time:  Saturday, December 21 at 8 am
  • Location: Constitution Village
  • Cost:$20-$25
  • Event Information

Join Santa and his crew for a run through beautiful Old Town and Twickenham. Come visit Santa and his reindeer for the 12th Annual Rudolph Run!

Recover From the Holidays 50k

  • Date and Time: Monday, December 31, 8 am – 4 pm
  • Location: John Hunt Park 
  • Event Information

Wrap up the year with all of your running friends!  Recover From The Holidays is an old fashion, no-frills, low-cost 50Km run each year on New Years Eve at the Huntsville Cross Country Running Park. This race is the final event in the calendar year for the Huntsville Track Club.

Sleigh Bell Run

  • Date and Time:  Saturday, December 21 at 8 am
  • Location: Constitution Village
  • Cost:$20-$25
  • Event Information

It’s the most RUNderful time of the year, to ring your Sleigh Bell into the finish line. All in benefit to Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Alabama! Previously known as the Go BIG 5k, but this year we’ve decided to change things up and introduce our first ever Sleigh Bell Run. Enjoy music, hot chocolate, food trucks, Reindeer games and more. Come dressed in your favorite festive attire. Brought to you by Publix Charities.

The 5k race will start/end at Meridian St and Cleveland Ave City Parking Lot @ AM Booth’s Lumberyard. The Sleigh Bell Run will take runners and walkers through downtown Huntsville’s Five Points historic district with beautiful sights along the way.

Rocket City Marathon

  • Date and Time: Saturday, December 14, 7 am
  • Location: Von Braun Center South Hall
  • Event Information

The 43rd running of the Rocket City Marathon will start at 7am. It will run parts of Downtown before heading out to North Huntsville and Five Points. It returns to Downtown, then heads out past Lowe Mill to the US Space and Rocket Center and Botanical Gardens, through Big Spring Park and finally finishes inside the VBC South Hall.

Holiday Family Events

These events are geared towards families, so bring the kiddos!

Lights Up!

  • Date and Time: Friday, November 22, 4:30
  • Location: Bridgestreet Town Center
  • Cost: Free
  • Event Information

Join us for Bridgestreet’s annual tree lighting celebration “Lights Up!”, featuring live music, fireworks, and Santa! 

26th Annual Thanksgiving Day Hike

  • Date and Time: Thursday, November 28, 9 – 11:30am
  • Location: Land Trust hiker’s parking lot
  • Cost: Free
  • Event Information

A fun Huntsville tradition – Appreciating the beauty of Monte Sano Nature Preserve with family and friends on Thanksgiving morning! We’ll burn some extra calories and walk down Alms House Trail to Historic Three Caves.  Then, drivers will be ferried back to the Bankhead hiker’s parking lot. Please bring water and cameras.

10th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting

  • Date and Time: Friday, November 29, 4:00 – 7 pm
  • Location: Village of Providence
  • Cost: Free
  • Event Information

Join us in Providence Park for the 10th annual tree lighting event. Games, activities and pictures with Santa free with a new unwrapped toy for Toys-for-Tots. Santa arrives at 4:00 pm.!  Help bring Christmas to local children in need. Drop a new unwrapped toy off at any participating Village of Providence business before Wednesday, December 7.

Tinsel Trail Lighting Celebration

  • Date and Time: Friday, November 29 at 6:30 pm
  • Location: Big Spring Park East
  • Cost: Free
  • Event Information

Join Downtown Huntsville, Inc. for the official ribbon cutting and grand opening of Tinsel Trail 2019. See over 300 Christmas trees lit around Big Spring Park EAST.  Tinsel Trail will be open through January 1.

Huntsville Christmas Parade

Date and Time: Tuesday, December 3 at 6 pm

We are super excited to announce this year’s Mix 96.9 Von Braun Center Huntsville Christmas Parade is set for December 3rd at 6:00 pm! We are thankful again this year to have Redstone Federal Credit Union back as our presenting sponsor!

Kris Kringle’s Candlelight Christmas

One of Burritt’s favorite traditional holiday events is being updated!

To ensure that every visitor is guaranteed admission and a parking space, and therefore can enjoy the evening to the fullest, we will be selling tickets for each night.

Burritt comes alive with the sights, sounds and smells of a traditional Christmas. Cabins are decorated with historic ambiance and the sounds of traditional music fill the air throughout the park.  String cranberries and popcorn, make paper punch ornaments, create handmade cards and ice cookies to kickoff the holiday season. Don’t miss Kris Kringle in the mansion from 5-8 for that annual photograph! It is certainly an event for young and old to enjoy.

Madison’s “Polar Express” Christmas Parade

  • Date and Time:  Saturday, December 14 at 5:30 pm
  • Location: City of Madison
  • Cost: Free
  • Event Information

The Parade route will begin at Plaza Drive and Hughes Road and will continue to downtown Madison.  There will be an Awards Ceremony following the parade on Front Street at the Gazebo. The Madison Rotary Club will be at the Roundhouse serving Hot Chocolate and Cookies. Don’t forget your camera….Santa and Mrs. Claus will be available for photos in the Gazebo following the Awards Ceremony.

Holiday Movies Under the Stars

  • Date and Time:  December 14, 21, 28
  • Location: US Space & Rocket Center Planetarium
  • Cost: Adult – $10, Member – $8, Child (5-12) – $8, Children 4 and under – Free
  • Event Information

A “drive-in” holiday movie series in the INTUITIVE® Planetarium, beginning Saturday, December 7th, and each Saturday evening through December 28th. Enjoy classic films in the planetarium under a dome full of stars!

54th Boar’s Head and Yule Log Festival

  • Date and Time:  Sunday, December 22 at 5:00 pm
  • Location: First United Methodist Church
  • Cost: Free
  • Event Information

The Boar’s Head and Yule Log Festival is in the historic Sanctuary at First United Methodist Church. This family-friendly service is casual and features your favorite carols and characters of this Christian holiday!! Come celebrate, singalong, be entertained and be moved. Admission is free.

We love our awesome sponsor Limbaugh Orthodontics and Dr. Lindsay Limbaugh. Visit their website right now!

Looking for even more Christmas fun? Visit our Huntsville Holiday Guide 2019!