Local Family to Help Santa Light Birmingham Tree

» Sign up for the free daily Birmingham Patch newsletter and news alerts and like us on Facebook

The holidays officially kick off in Birmingham at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving Eve, Wednesday, Nov. 25, with the tree lighting ceremony in Shain Park.

After the lights are turned on, Santa will retire to his quaint home in Shain Park and set up shop in his quaint home for the season. Santa’s house will be open on weekends through Christmas.

Photos with Santa will be taken by members of the Birmingham Lions Club for $5, with donations going to Leader Dogs for the Blind.

Complimentary horse-drawn carriage rides will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis. A traditional favorite in Birmingham, the carriage rides will also be offered throughout the holiday shopping season. Here’s the schedule:

• Wednesday, Nov. 25, 6:30-8 p.m.
• Friday, Nov. 27, noon-4 p.m.
• Saturday, Nov. 28, noon-4 p.m. (Small Business Saturday)
• Friday, Dec. 4, 3-5 p.m.
• Saturday, Dec. 5, noon-4 p.m.
• Sunday, Dec. 6, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. (Winter Markt)
• Saturday, Dec. 12, noon-4 p.m.
• Saturday, Dec. 19, noon-4 p.m.
• The carriage boards at the corner of Henrietta and Merrill.

Birmingham has changed the branding of its downtown shopping district just in time for the holidays.

Formerly known as “Enjoy Birmingham NOW,” the shopping district is now known as the “Birmingham Shopping District, It’s All IN Birmingham.”

The idea is that Birmingham is a one-stop place, whether you choose to “dine IN Birmingham, celebrate IN Birmingham, shop IN Birmingham” or do anything else in the city, according to a post on the retail association’s Facebook page.

The new branding is already showing up on light-pole banners and other collateral material.

» Photos via Birmingham Shopping District, It’s All IN Birmingham