Enjoy A Classical Christmas When You Visit This Charming Small Town In Alabama
By Lisa Battles|Published December 20, 2023
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Lisa Battles
Author
Lisa has traveled the U.S. for over a decade, seeking out and sharing the stories of its most interesting places, people, and experiences. A journalism graduate of Auburn University, she has been a content strategist, editor, and writer for more than 25 years. Lisa has worked in community news, PR, and marketing with a focus on tourism, hospitality, and economic development. Besides following her curiosity around every corner, she's a devoted dog mom of two and advocate for animal welfare.
If you’ve dreamed of spending winter holidays in a quaint New England town, you may not believe you can find that vibe here in Alabama. If you need proof, a classical Christmas in Prattville, Alabama should be on your to-do list. Read on to see why we named it one of our best Christmas towns in Alabama.
First of all, Prattville and its community businesses and organizations have something going all month long in December. The packed calendar keeps Santa and Mrs. Claus hopping, however, there's always a pleasant spot to pause downtown.
The season kicks off with the community tree lighting ceremony, typically held on the final night of November. The tree towers over the city's beautiful Heritage Park near Autauga Creek downtown, illuminating a space that's a favorite year-round.
A family favorite is the ice skating rink perfectly positioned in the heart of all of the twinkling lights and festivities. The rink opens the same night as the tree lighting and operates most evenings through the end of December.
It seems like every foot of space is thoughtfully decorated — even the park fountain that's emblematic of the city's "Fountain City" moniker. Prattville once had many artesian wells and still has a handful where you can drink the water some believe to have healing properties.
From Heritage Park, you'll get an excellent view of the special decorations spanning the Autauga Creek dam and millpond. These features are adjacent to the town's historic cotton gin factory buildings. City founder and New Hampshire native Daniel Pratt was Alabama's first industrialist and established his business there in the mid-1800s.
Pratt and the early settlers who joined him brought their New England design sensibilities, which are evident in the city's architecture and enhance its charm. With that in mind, note that Prattville is just as lovely to explore by day. And by all means, do. While the downtown retail district is small, it's packed with cute shops and places to shop. There are several restaurants, too, and several food trucks set up during the holiday season.
Another delight – day or night – is the Autauga Creek Christmas Tree Trail. Like the other downtown decorations, the trees stay lit from early December through the first few days of January. While the skating rink closes at the end of December, you have a few more days into the new year to catch all of the light displays.
To check the city’s holiday calendar events, check out the Christmas in Prattville website. And why not make it an overnight holiday getaway? There are several highly-rated hotels in the area – at good value, too (no one minds a bit of extra cash for holiday shopping!).
Let us know if you’ve experienced the magic of a classical Christmas in Prattville, Alabama. We’d love to hear about your favorite attractions, shops, and events.
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