2021 Polar Express On Main Arrives in Madison with 1st Annual Wassail Fest Sponsored by Downtown Merchants

The 2021 Polar Express Christmas on Main pulled into historic Madison Station in downtown Madison Thursday night with holiday festivities to kick off the Christmas season. 

Presented by the City of Madison and the Madison Station Historic Preservation Society, the excitement was palpable as children “oohed” and “ahhed” at the shimmering lights of the Tinsel Trail followed by the annual lighting of the big downtown Christmas Tree in the city square.

As part of the Polar Express holiday event, dozens of Madison businesses and nonprofit organizations purchased and decorated Christmas trees in their name. They stand along a walking Tinsel Trail lining Main Street. Several prizes will be awarded for the most creative.

The lighting of the trees is part of the Polar Express Christmas on Main celebration, along with the lighting of the big City Christmas tree in the city square.

The children’s Lantern Parade sponsored by the Madison Arts Council and the impassioned reading of the award-winning Polar Express Christmas story sponsored by the Madison Public Library in front of The Shops on the west end of the city square, drew hundreds of delighted kids.

Stephon Matuschewitz and his aunt Jennifer brought their puppy Mandy to enjoy the storytelling. “This is the first time we have been here and our first Christmas in Alabama,” Aunt Jennifer she said. “We just moved here from New Jersey because we wanted a change in atmosphere, a small town, and it is very nice.” 

According to Meghann Delashaw, owner of South & Pine Home and Tiny Pines Children, 14 downtown Madison merchants got together at the last minute and came up with the idea for the 1st Annual Wassail Fest. 

Merchants served up their own special wassail recipes to the hundreds of families who strolled the downtown square shopping and listening to Christmas music by the Madison Community Orchestra. People could then vote for the best recipe overall.

Delashaw said she decided to do something different in that her wassail recipe is best served cold.

Others pulled out all the stops.

Owners Ronnie Williams and his sister Sharon Dinkel at Madison Station Antiques served two family recipes brought back from a recent family trip to Germany – one an alcohol-based mulled wine wassail and a low-octane spiced wassail. 

When asked what they win if selected as the best, Williams laughed, “Bragging rights!”

“I am so far thrilled with the turnout,” said Delashaw. “We didn’t know how the Wassail Fest would go being the first year and a last-minute addition to the Tinsel Trail, but so far we have had a lot of traffic.”

Most merchants stayed open late until 8 p.m. entertaining customers with cookies and holiday snacks as well as the wassail.

Families can come walk the Tinsel Trail and view the trees though New Year 2022.