Lifestyle,  Local

Christmas Events for Families in the Mobile, Al Area

Christmas season is upon us, and we want to help you make the most of it! From breakfast with Santa to Christmas parades, there are many ways to celebrate! Here you can find all of the top Family Christmas events in Mobile and surrounding areas- all in one place!


Bellingrath Gardens and Home is celebrating the 28th year of Magic Christmas in Lights in 2023! In this Gulf Coast holiday tradition, guests stroll through a dazzling light display throughout the 65-acre Garden estate. In addition, the Bellingrath Home is decorated in its holiday finery and enhanced with beautiful poinsettias. Magic Christmas in Lights is a made-in-Alabama production. Each year, the set pieces for the holiday lights are designed, welded, painted and lamped by members of Bellingrath’s staff. Three of our employees work full-time all year on the light display. Magic Christmas in Lights has received numerous honors over the years. The show is a 2020 Southeast Tourism Society Top 20 Festival & Event winner. The display was also ranked on USA Today’s 2020 and 2018 lists of “10 Best Botanical Garden Holiday Light Displays,” which was compiled with readers’ online votes, and selected to the American Bus Association’s “Top 100 Events of 2016.” Magic Christmas in Lights is a family-friendly event for all ages. It’s guaranteed to get everyone into the holiday spirit!

Guests will enjoy a magical and an immersive experience from the convenience of their own vehicle. This dazzling drive-through showcase is over 1.5 miles and features over one million lights fully synchronized to holiday classics right on your car radio.

Friday, December 1st

Santa is coming to town this year in true Mobile fashion on board the Condé Cavaliers Condé Express. Come join us for Live Holiday Music, Supporting Toys for Tots, Pictures with Santa, Hanging out with the Chic Fil A Mascot, Meeting the Azalea Trail Maids, Write Letters to Santa, Face Painting and More!

Saturday, December 2nd

Grand Bay Community annual Christmas Parade will roll Saturday, December 2, 2023 at 6:30 pm. Bring your family early and grab a good spot! Food and craft vendor’s will be available to get some shopping or treats before the parade! Thanks to all our sponsors, volunteers and vendor’s who make this annual event possible!

Join us for our award-winning Colonial Christmas at Fort Conde! Step back in time to celebrate the holidays with Colonial horse-drawn carriage rides (while tickets last)! We will also be serving apple cider and hot chocolate, and will have a Christmas craft and other holiday festivities inside the Fort, including a photo opportunity with St. Nick himself! Attendance is FREE for the Colonial Christmas activities inside the Fort, but timed tickets are required for the Carriage Rides. Carriage Ride tickets are $5.00 each. Please check in 15 minutes before your carriage ride, or your spot may be forfeited. No walkup tickets will be available — they must be reserved in advance.PURCHASE TICKETS FOR DEC. 9th: https://sales.historymuseumofmobile.com/calendar.aspx?eid=97 No refunds for advance tickets will be given under any circumstances, including in the event of inclement weather.

Sunday, December 3rd

Photos with Santa, Games, Shopping, Music, Food Trucks and more!!!

Free Event | Join us as we celebrate the Christmas season, by traveling through the story of Jesus’ birth. Enjoy the real-life scene of Bethlehem and experience what it was like the night baby Jesus was born with live character portrayals of Mary, Joseph, shepherds, wise men, angels and live animals. During your Live Nativity journey, we will be accepting donations of new, unwrapped toys benefiting Dumas Wesley’s Annual Toy Drive. Christ United Parking Lot.

Tuesday, December 5th

The USA Concert Choir and University Chorale will perform their Holiday Choral Concert on Tuesday, December 5 at 7:30 p.m. in the Laidlaw Performing Arts Center Recital Hall. The ensembles are conducted by Dr. Laura Moore. Tickets for this Musical Arts Series event will be sold at the door only. Admission is $8 general and $5 for USA faculty & staff, USA students, youths under 18 and all senior citizens (cash or card accepted). Musical Arts Series season passes will of course be honored for admission to this event. Persons needing more information about this event or in need of special accommodation may call 251-460-7116 or 251-460-6136.

Are you interested in visiting St. Luke’s? Join us for our Christmas Under the Oaks and Holiday Open House on December 5th from 5:00 – 7:30 p.m. and enjoy STEM(M) activities, snow, Christmas carols, Holiday Market, live nativity, and so much more! Email admissions@slesmobile.org with any questions!

Friday, December 8th

LoDa ArtWalk celebrates Christmas on Friday, December 8th! This event will highlight creatives within our community, including visual artists, musical performers, and local restaurants – Come downtown to show your support of local artists, arts organizations, and downtown businesses at this fun, family-friendly event. Dress up in your favorite holiday wear and partake in Christmas Karaoke in the square! There will be lots of dancing, singing, photo ops, and of course Santa. Kids Zone (N. Claiborne St. between St. Francis St. & Dauphin St.): Decorate your own gingerbread house in the Kids Zone and enjoy music, promo giveaways, and more!

Lace Up Your Skates And Join Us For This Very Special FREE Holiday Event! We are once again turning Bienville Square into an outdoor roller-skating rink! When: Friday, December 8th, Time: 6-9PM, Where: Bienville Square, Mobile, Alabama. Enter at the Corner of Conception and Dauphin Streets. Dress up as your Favorite Winter Holiday Character and snap pics at our holiday ops! *No Hoverboards, Skateboards, or Scooters allowed. By attending this event you agree to be photographed.

Saturday, December 9th

Get ready for the Semmes Christmas Parade! Floats will line up at MGM High School as usual. Walkers/ marchers will line up at the Semmes Boys & Girls Club. The Parade starts on Wulff Rd at the Boys and Girls Club, follows Wulff Rd to Moffett, turns right onto Moffett and ends at Firetower Road. We look forward to seeing you there!

SAVE the DATE!!!
This year’s Christmas on the River Boat Parade will be December 9, 2023! Parade starts at dust, around 5PM. Viewing from downstairs Dock & Bar, yawn, & Limited on Front Deck. Upstairs Deck Reserved for Restaurant Dining Customers. This year’s theme is “Christmas in the South”! Think flamingos, southern football teams, palm trees, Jimmy Buffet, southern state theme… to name a few. Be creative and have FUN!

The 11th Annual Dawes Christmas Parade is coming up on Saturday, December 9th at 1pm. This event is always a highlight of the year for the Dawes Community. Make plans now to join us and be sure to share with your friends and contacts.

Join us for our award-winning Colonial Christmas at Fort Conde! Step back in time to celebrate the holidays with Colonial horse-drawn carriage rides (while tickets last)! We will also be serving apple cider and hot chocolate, and will have a Christmas craft and other holiday festivities inside the Fort, including a photo opportunity with St. Nick himself! Attendance is FREE for the Colonial Christmas activities inside the Fort, but timed tickets are required for the Carriage Rides. Carriage Ride tickets are $5.00 each. Please check in 15 minutes before your carriage ride, or your spot may be forfeited. No walkup tickets will be available — they must be reserved in advance.PURCHASE TICKETS FOR DEC. 9th: https://sales.historymuseumofmobile.com/calendar.aspx?eid=97 No refunds for advance tickets will be given under any circumstances, including in the event of inclement weather.

We are excited to announce a brand new Mobile Ballet event! Mobile Ballet invites you to experience the magic of The Nutcracker in a whole new way, at a spectacular event that promises to be a cherished memory for the whole family. Meet cast members from The Nutcracker, including Clara, the formidable Mouse King, and the enchanting Sugar Plum Fairy! Enjoy a delicious seated brunch, hear the story of The Nutcracker, have fun with photo opportunities with your favorite characters, and discover unique items for your holiday shopping at our silent auction.

oin us for a magical Winter Wonderland experience at MAX3 Martial Arts! This family-friendly event on Saturday, December 9, 2023, from 11 am to 1 pm, is the perfect way to dive into the holiday spirit just before the Dawes Christmas Parade. 🌟 Highlights of the Day: Free Photos with Santa and The Grinch: Capture fun memories with Santa and the mischievous Grinch. Indoor Snowball Battles: Engage in playful snowball competitions, safe and fun for all ages. Martial Arts Skit – ‘Team Santa vs. Grinch Squad’: Watch an exciting martial arts performance where Team Santa saves Christmas! Crafts, Hot Chocolate, and Cookies: Enjoy delicious treats and engage in creative craft projects. Board Breaking Station: Test your skills and have a blast at our board-breaking activity, suitable for all ages. This event is about bringing our community together. Whether you’re a MAX3 student or just looking for a fun family outing, our Winter Wonderland has something for everyone. End the event on a high note and join the community to watch the Dawes Christmas Parade at 1pm. Let’s kick off this holiday season with joy, excitement, and celebration at MAX3 Martial Arts! Limited to the first 200 families who RSVP…Get your FREE tickets at www.WestMobileChristmas.com

A Charlie Brown Jazz Christmas returns December 9th featuring Kermit Ruffins! Tickets on sale Friday, 10/20 at 10AM at the box office or bit.ly/cbjazz23 A portion of the proceeds benefit the Child Advocacy Center of Mobile.

Ho ho ho! Santa Claus is coming to Surge Entertainment for Breakfast with Santa! Join us for a jolly good time on the first 3 Saturdays of December from 8am – 11am. Enjoy a delicious breakfast selection, get a $5 game card to play your favorite games, and best of all, take FREE pictures with Santa himself! Don’t miss out on this festive event that’s fun for the whole family. No tickets or reservations required. Let’s make some merry memories together!

Saraland’s 55th Annual Christmas Parade will be on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023, at noon along Highway 43. The theme is “A Beary Merry Christmas.” Take the family and join the fun!

Friday, December 15th

Come experience the sights and sounds of Bethlehem on the night the world forever changed. Walk through our Live Nativity and see a live portrayal of the events surrounding Jesus’ birth. Enjoy FREE hot cocoa and cookies as our guides take you back to Bethlehem to witness biblical characters and live animals. December 15&16 6-8pm at College Park Baptist Church.

Saturday, December 16th

Ho ho ho! Santa Claus is coming to Surge Entertainment for Breakfast with Santa! Join us for a jolly good time on the first 3 Saturdays of December from 8am – 11am. Enjoy a delicious breakfast selection, get a $5 game card to play your favorite games, and best of all, take FREE pictures with Santa himself! Don’t miss out on this festive event that’s fun for the whole family. No tickets or reservations required. Let’s make some merry memories together!

Join us for a polar exploration at our Christmas at the Exploreum Event on December 16th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Learn about the science behind the coldest places on Earth with chilling demonstrations and hands-on learning opportunities such Colder than Ice, Liquid Nitrogen Science, and a number Antarctic engineering challenges. Plus a few surprises in the mix! FREE for Exploreum members and General Admission for non-members.

December 16 at 7:30pm December 17 at 2:30pm Celebrate your holidays with the Mobile Symphony! Our annual holiday concert is a Christmas tradition for families all across the Gulf Coast. Conductor Robert Seebacher, vocalist Kevin Thompson and Mobile’s Singing Children join the orchestra for the Gulf Coast’s best Christmas concert featuring Festive Sounds of Hannukah, It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch, Sleigh Ride and of course the Christmas Sing-a-long, a Mobile Symphony tradition. Tickets are $20, $27, $36, $49, $72 and $96 and can be purchased online at www.mobilesymphony.org, by phone at 251-432-2010, or at the symphony box office, 257 Dauphin Street. Tickets are not available at the Saenger box office. Student tickets are $10. More details at www.mobilesymphony.org.

Hosted by the Historic Mobile Preservation Society, the third annual Holiday Homes Tour will take place on Saturday December 16, 2023, and will feature four historic homes along Government St. and in the Oakleigh Garden District. The tour will also feature All Saints Episcopal Church at the corner of Government and S Ann St. Each location will be beautifully decorated for the holidays, including the garden next door to 1070 Government St. Doors will open at 11 a.m. and close at 5 p.m. Live music and refreshments will be featured at The Historic Oakleigh House all day and there will be a variety of vendors including So Jam Delicious and Dog Days Barkery. Tickets include a tour of the house and admittance to Candlelight Christmas at Oakleigh that same evening from 5pm-7pm.

Come experience the sights and sounds of Bethlehem on the night the world forever changed. Walk through our Live Nativity and see a live portrayal of the events surrounding Jesus’ birth. Enjoy FREE hot cocoa and cookies as our guides take you back to Bethlehem to witness biblical characters and live animals. December 15&16 6-8pm at College Park Baptist Church.

Sunday, December 17th

Join us for our Annual Christmas Parade starting at 2:00 pm in front of WC Griggs Elementary School. THS Band, ROTC, Sheriff’s Department, lots of floats and of course Santa Claus. 

December 16 at 7:30pm December 17 at 2:30pm Celebrate your holidays with the Mobile Symphony! Our annual holiday concert is a Christmas tradition for families all across the Gulf Coast. Conductor Robert Seebacher, vocalist Kevin Thompson and Mobile’s Singing Children join the orchestra for the Gulf Coast’s best Christmas concert featuring Festive Sounds of Hannukah, It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch, Sleigh Ride and of course the Christmas Sing-a-long, a Mobile Symphony tradition. Tickets are $20, $27, $36, $49, $72 and $96 and can be purchased online at www.mobilesymphony.org, by phone at 251-432-2010, or at the symphony box office, 257 Dauphin Street. Tickets are not available at the Saenger box office. Student tickets are $10. More details at www.mobilesymphony.org.

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