Southern States Section Sparkling Holiday Getaway by Robin O’Neal Smith P. 72

oley, Alabama is a small, charming town with an adorable downtown area.

This charming Gulf Coast town is teeming with festive cheer with white lights blanketing the Heritage Park. From the magnificent live trees draped in sparkling white Christmas lights to the quaint downtown lined with shops and restaurants, community activities, and a hometown parade, Foley is sure to put you in the mood for the holidays. Visit Foley and Visit OWA provided hosted visits and experiences. All opinions are my own.

Heritage Park is in the center of Downtown Foley, and just like in Christmas movies, it is where the community gathers the first weekend in December to celebrate the upcoming holidays. Christmas in the Park kicks off the weekend on Friday. The park shines bright with all white lights at every entrance and throughout the park. Music plays in the background, and everywhere you look, there are sparkling and twinkling lights. Lights in the shape of a snowflake as you enter the park. Lights in the form of angels around the fountain, lights in the shape of stars near the town clock, lights hanging from the branches of a gigantic tree in the corner of the park. The mayor talks to the people attending the event in a large pavilion painted white with white lights, and other festive decorations. Contest winners are announced and Santa arrives to visit the children. Tree Lighting Foley has a countdown to light the giant Christmas Tree in the park as the entire community watches. The tree is decorated in thousands of glittering white lights with red and gold ornaments.

The Annual Foley Christmas Parade starts the day on Saturday. The parade lasts approximately forty-five minutes and includes everything from marching bands, twirling groups, fire trucks, floats, tractors and wagons, and more. When we visited, we were fortunate to watch the parade from the balcony of the Hotel Magnolia.

After the parade, everyone gathers in the park again for the Let It Snow Celebration.

This event has a variety of fun activities for the kids to participate in, such as crafts, face painting, photos with a mermaid, a petting zoo, and festive hair styling. You don’t expect to see snow in southern Alabama, but at the Let It Snow Celebration, they created snow and the kids loved it! They had artificial snow machines running throughout one area of the park where kids could enjoy the snowflakes.

What better ways to celebrate the holidays and enjoy all the lights than hopping on a train for a ride around the festive park. Passengers young and old enjoy the ride and looking at all the lights.

Another highlight you don’t want to miss when visiting Foley is the Foley Railroad Museum and Model Train Display. Both are housed in a train depot built-in 1909. When you visit the museum, you can enjoy the memorabilia, tools, and photos that document the town’s history and the role the railroad played in its development. Outside you can view some restored train cars. Within the same building, a gigantic Model Train exhibit is displayed. Train lovers will enjoy this expansive layout and over a quarter of a mile of track. Dedicated volunteers have put this showcase together and continue to operate it. The gorgeous Hotel Magnolia in downtown Foley is right across the street from the Heritage Park, where the Christmas celebrations happen. There is a large wrap-around porch and you can view the lights from the balcony. The outside of this Bed & Breakfast looks like it is the star of a Christmas movie with garland, wreaths, lights, bows, and sprays. In keeping with the season, the dining, living, and hallway areas are embellished for the holidays with festive trees, lights, and decorations. Even if you don’t leave the hotel, you will feel like you are living a splendid fairytale just staying in this adorable B&B where the owners treat you like relatives.

Foley is full of fun things to do. If you are there to see the lights then the Trim A Tree Annual Event will be happening. Great place to buy unique gifts and tree ornaments. Nearby OWA Amusement Park has fantastic decorations of their own and organizes fun activities. You can view their musical christmas tree with lights set to the music, participate in some craft activities, watch the YMCA Elf Ride Parade, enjoy brunch with Santa and take in some excellent entertainment at the OWA Theater. Nearby Graham Creek Nature Preserve includes over 500 acres of nature to explore. Keeping with the holiday theme, they have created a lighted Christmas Trail through the preserve. Great Photo Opportunities There are outstanding photo opportunities in downtown Foley along the street and in the Heritage Park.

There are plenty of small towns in Alabama that have a charm all their own, but Foley has something special. The city is an ode to Christmas with its friendly people, gorgeous decorations and twinkling lights everywhere you look.

LITTLE ROCK - See the Zoo in a whole new light as you enjoy one of the largest lighted experiences in the nation featuring handcrafted silk-covered lanterns aglow with more than 50,000 LED light bulbs. There will be more than 40 lighted displays artfully placed throughout zoo grounds featuring a Tranquil Forest, Dinosaurs, and Arctic Animals.

Embark on a journey along the Zoo path as you stroll alongside dramatic cultural displays celebrating the rich heritage and craftsmanship of lantern artisans. Dramatic corridors illuminate the way on a magical journey past colorful peacocks, slithering serpents, and a beautiful African savanna. Larger than life mushrooms beckon you into a pre-historic world where Dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Kids (or kids at heart) can become part of the magic while swaying on our glowing moonlight swings or stepping on led steppingstones for some whirling, twirling fun. The wonder of GloWILD is sure to create glowing smiles and bright memories for guests of all ages.

Take home memories from the Safari Trader Gift Shop. Interact with activities and crafts at education tables in Cafe Africa on Fridays and Saturdays. Enjoy food or a drink at the Café Africa or the S’mores station. We will have hot chocolate, apple cider, canned beverages and adult beverages.

GLOWild is a rain or shine event. No refunds, rain checks or exchanges are available for this important fundraiser. When purchasing tickets online, make sure your email is correct to receive your tickets. Some lanterns feature flashing lights that may cause seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy. Tickets are $20 for ages (3 years old and up); two and under are free. Parking is free during GloWild. The train and carousel tickets are $3 extra. For more information, visit online at https:// www.littlerockzoo.com/