The holiday season is finally here! It’s time for lots of delicious food, time with family and friends, and holiday festivities. Want to know what your fellow Chamber members are up to this month? Check out all of the fun holiday events our members are having this December!
Downtown Merchants Association
Join the Auburn Downtown Merchants Association for a festive, new event in downtown Auburn — The Loveliest Village Holiday Fair — a two-day celebration that will include past holiday favorites with new traditions. On Saturday, December 4 and Sunday, December 5, there will be a Holiday Market in the Gay Street lot that will feature over 40 local artisans, gifts, food trucks, and more! There will also be special holiday performances throughout the day on Saturday. Santa will join the fun at Toomer’s Corner from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Sunday for family photos. Donations made from photos with Santa will benefit United Way of Lee County. The Auburn Christmas parade will cap off the weekend on December 5 at 2 p.m. All events are free and open to the public! There’s nothing like Christmas in The Loveliest Village on the Plains!
Auburn Parks and Recreation
All aboard the Polar Express! Children ages 12 and under are invited to experience the magic of the Polar Express on Saturday, December 4 at the Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center. Activities include holiday-themed art projects, hot chocolate and cookies, story time with Mrs. Claus, and a North Pole room complete with a visit from Santa Claus himself. Children are required to be accompanied by an adult ticket holder. The Polar Express session times begin at 9 a.m., 12 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. Purchase tickets online!
Looking for a way to burn off all the milk and cookies? It’s time to pull out those elf ears and Santa hats — The Santa Stroll Fun Run and Jingle Jog 5k are back! Join Active Auburn on Saturday, December 4, to prance into the holiday season in style! The Santa Stroll Fun Run will begin at 7:30 a.m. and the Jingle Jog 5k will begin at 8 a.m., with both starting at Toomer’s Corner. Registration is now available and can be completed online.
Kreher Preserve & Nature Center
Ho Ho Ho, it’s time to hike! The Kreher Preserve & Nature Center is excited to present their annual Ho Ho Ho Hike on Saturday, December 4, from 10 – 11:30 a.m. Hikers will visit stations along a well-marked trail to learn about the many treasures within nature’s beauty and pick up various items to create a beautiful, custom art project for the holidays. A fun holiday photo opportunity will be set up in the Nature Playground for family photos. Even Santa appreciates nature – children will be able to wave at Santa who will be safely nestled in his tree house workshop! Tickets can be purchased online. The Kreher Preserve & Nature Center is located at 2222 North College Street.
Auburn Marriott Opelika Resort & Spa at Grand National
Join Marriott at Grand National every Saturday from December 4 through December 18 for a holly jolly celebration! Drink hot cocoa while walking through the spectacular light display, listen to Mrs. Claus read Christmas stories, decorate a gingerbread house, and even call an elf through a direct line to the North Pole! The fun doesn’t end there – Santa Claus is coming to town, and he wants to have a very merry brunch with you! Enjoy a waffle station as well as an omelet station with good ole Saint Nick himself. There will also be jolly-filled Christmas crafts, train rides on the North Pole Express, and time with Santa and his elves to make sure he knows what you want for Christmas! The holiday fun will be Saturday, December 11, with seating times at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. Tickets are $35 for ages 13 and older, $18 ages 6-12, and free for children under five. To make reservations, please call (334) 737-2117. Auburn Marriott Opelika Resort & Spa at Grand National is located at 3700 Robert Trent Jones Trail in Opelika.
Fountainview Mansion
Fountainview Mansion invites you to celebrate this joyous season at the mansion! Enjoy holiday treats of cookies and cocoa on Sunday, December 5 from 3 – 6 p.m. There will be magical holiday activities for all ages and Rachel Alice Photography will be taking family portraits. As a gift to you this year, Fountainview will be sending you the best photo captured during this memorable event. Enjoy the elegance of Fountainview Mansion to kick off the holidays. The Fountainview family wish you and your family a very merry Christmas and a happy new year! Fountainview Mansion is located at 2700 Mimms Trail.
Auburn Dental Spa and eLeve
Tis the Season to be jolly with Auburn Dental Spa and eLeve! The team is excited to present the annual “Spa la la la la,” from Monday, December 6, through Friday, December 10. At Auburn Dental Spa, enjoy $9 per unit on Botox and $75 off on a full tube of Juvederm. At eLeve, receive 20% off all products and gift cards. Spoil yourself or a loved one with these amazing deals and discounts. Happy Spalidays! Auburn Dental Spa and eLeve are located at 1575 Professional Parkway.
Twenty-One Acres
Calling all fellow detectives and crime junkies! Twenty-One Acres is hosting their last murder mystery dinner of the year – “The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year.” The evening of thrill and intrigue will begin at 5 p.m. on Saturday, December 11, with complimentary cocktails, a three-course dinner, an incredible performance from the professional actors of The Murder Mystery Company of Atlanta, and other mysterious surprises to round out the evening of saving the Auburn-Opelika community from a masked menace on the loose! Find your most festive holiday clothes to make this event a colorful spectacle as you seek to solve the crime. Tickets are $75 or $540 for a table and can be purchased online. Twenty-One Acres is located at 5505 Lee Road 137.
AO Discover!
‘Tis the Season to Discover! AO Discover, Auburn-Opelika’s hands-on science center, is excited to host their second annual Tis the Season to Discover event. Kids will get to help Santa’s sleigh fly faster, make an ice necklace, design a gingerbread house, code a path to help the elves deliver the presents, and much more. Also, Santa will be there for photos! Photos will be edited and emailed to participants. The fun will take place in Opelika on December 12, from 12 – 5 p.m. at the Auburn Marriott Opelika Resort and Spa at Grand National and in Auburn on December 18, from 9 – 11:30 a.m. and from 1:30 – 4 p.m. at the Hotel at Auburn University. Each ticket purchased will include access for your child to experience all of AO Discover’s STEM exhibits and a ticket to vote for your family’s favorite tree. Learn more and purchase tickets online! This holiday event is presented by Kali Chadick State Farm.
Jay & Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center at Auburn University
See all your favorite characters—Santa and Mrs. Claus, Hermey the Elf, Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster, Clarice, Yukon Cornelius and, of course, Rudolph—as they come to life in “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical!” The timeless TV classic soars off the screen and onto the stage at the Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center on Sunday, December 12, with 3 p.m. matinee and 7:30 p.m. evening performances. Seats for both showtimes are available now! Tickets can be purchased online, or contact the Gogue Center box office by telephone at (334) 844-8497 or via email at gpactickets@auburn.edu. The Jay & Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center is located at 910 South College Street.
Covenant Care Hospice
Are you missing a loved one this holiday season? Chances are, you’re not alone. Join Covenant Care Hospice on Tuesday, December 14, to learn about ways to cope with the holidays after a loss and spend time with others who may be feeling the same way. This event will begin at 5:30 p.m. and will take place at the Auburn Chamber, located at 714 East Glenn Avenue. The evening is free and open to the public, and there will be light refreshments served. RSVP to Covenant Care Hospice at (334) 758-1305 or email anna.fountain@choosecovenant.org.
Auburn Area Community Theatre and Kreher Preserve Nature Center
In the spirit of unity and peace, Auburn Area Community Theatre and the Kreher Preserve are bringing back their special December event for the Auburn community to celebrate together the many traditions of this season. There will be a series of staggered and timed walking small group tours with a guide on a well-lit and easy-to-walk trail through the piney woods at the Kreher Preserve and Nature Center. Performers representing different groups, traditions, and cultures from the community will share a song, spoken word or other performance with the tour group at 6-8 stations along the roughly hour-long trail. Enchanting decorations, sweet treats, and nature art projects will round out this wonderful family-friendly holiday experience! Performances will be Friday, December 17, from 5-7 p.m. and Saturday, December 18 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 5 – 7 p.m. In the chance of rain, the show must go on! The rain make-up date will be Sunday, December 19. Purchase your tickets online!
Lucy’s
Get into the holiday spirit with a memorable craft cocktail class! Experience the art of the craft with the Bar Manager and 2020 Alabama Bartender of the Year, Neil Cooper. Host a holiday party with a twist at Lucy’s with two craft cocktails, three passed hors d’oeuvres, and recipe cards, all for $50 per person. Speaking of sips and treats, Lucy’s will have entrée and cocktail specials to ring in the new year. New Years Eve specials will include seared new bedford scallops, oven roasted bone marrow, brockmans champagne cocktail, and a French hibiscus martini. Call Lucy’s at (334) 521-0391 for more information today! Lucy’s is located at 2300 Moores Mill Road.
Crooked Oaks Farm
Enjoy the magic the most wonderful time of the year at Crooked Oaks Farm! With unmatched southern hospitality and the beautiful scenery filled with Coach Pat Dye’s favorite Japanese Maples, Crooked Oaks is the perfect place to experience the heart of the South this holiday season. Book your Christmas parties, office dinners, bridal showers, and more at Crooked Oaks Farm, and let the talented team take care of the rest! Email info@crookedoaks.com for more. Crooked Oaks Farm is located at 768 Red Creek Road in Notasulga.
Blade and Barrel
Sometimes the holidays can be stressful. What better way to relieve the stress than to throw an axe? Book Blade and Barrel for your holiday festivities, luncheons, secret santa parties, and more! Grab your friends, family, and co-workers to enjoy axe throwing in this safe, family-friendly environment. Blade and Barrel is open Wednesday through Sunday each week and is located within the Midtown entertainment district. Book your holiday event online! Blade and Barrel is located at 1188 Opelika Road Mainstreet 900 AB.
The grazer co.
Looking for a fun activity to do with your loved one this holiday season? Choose The grazer co. for your next Christmas party. Graze on over to 1188 Opelika Road, Suite H for delicious spreads and an elevated experience you won’t forget. The grazer co. is also available for catering all of your holiday events. Learn about all the available workshops, catering options, and space reservations online! The grazer co. is located at 1188 Opelika Road, Suite H.
Want to give the gift of an experience? Head to the Auburn-Opelika Tourism website to view their 2021 Gift Guide!