51st Annual Christmas on the River Celebration: The final day of the 51st annual Christmas on the River lit up Demopolis, Alabama, in a festive glow. From November 24 to December 2, the event offered a delightful array of activities. The celebrations included the illumination of the love light tree, the public square, various concerts and parades, a barbeque championship cook-off, a 5k run, guided tours, and much more.
Christmas on the River has a rich history dating back to 1972, a story Mayor Woody Collins of Demopolis is well acquainted with. Reflecting on its origins, Mayor Collins shared, “My father actually saw a parade on the water up in Chicago. He was at a Motorola convention, being a Motorola dealer at the time. Mr. Webb saw it at Disney World. The two of them came back here and got to talk, and he said, ‘We got water. We got boats, we got lights. Why don’t we do something to my place?’ So they actually put together the first Christmas on the river, which was just a very, very, very few boats on the river.”
Over the years, the parade has evolved from a modest gathering to a grand spectacle, drawing residents who eagerly line up to witness the festivities each year. While it might seem that the distinctive feature of Christmas on the River lies in the aquatic events, Andy Renner, the chairman of Christmas on the River, believes there’s more to it.
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“It is such a well-attended event because we concentrate on local stuff, but it’s like a homecoming. Everybody invites their friends. I sat down tonight with a woman that’s from here, living in Orange Beach right now, and she brought four other people from Orange Beach up. And they’re like, ‘My gosh, this is wonderful.’ So it’s just an event where Demopolis says Merry Christmas,” expressed Renner.
The festive celebration culminated with a parade of Christmas floats on the river, accompanied by fireworks and music that added a joyous touch to each float.
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What is Christmas on the River in Demopolis?
Christmas on the River is a beloved week-long Christmas celebration in Demopolis, Alabama. The festivities include a variety of events throughout the week, ending with a dazzling nighttime parade of boats adorned with festive Christmas lights along the Tombigbee River. This popular event draws an impressive crowd of around 40,000 people to Marengo County each year.