South Huntsville Seeks New Tradition With Christmas on the River

Downtown Huntsville has upped its Christmas celebration game in recent years with the Tinsel Trail and Skating in the Park at Big Spring.

Now, the South Huntsville Business Association, Ditto Landing at the Tennessee River and the Madison County Commission joined forces to start what the trio hopes will become a new holiday tradition.

The inaugural “South Huntsville’s Christmas on the River at Ditto Landing’’ will launch Dec. 2 and run through Dec. 23. Admission is free. 

Visitors will have the opportunity to:

• Stroll through Christmas Card Lane featuring 4×8 lit Christmas cards
• Visit the indoor holiday model train display at Santa’s Depot
• Buy their tree at the Tree Farm
• Attend special weekend events in addition to the designated walk thru, drive thru and pet-friendly nights during the week.

According to Ditto Landing Executive Director Brandi Quick, the event is inspired by Christmas’ of Huntsville’s past.

Christmas Card Lane is a throwback to what once was an annual destination for city residents to drive slowly on Holmes Avenue to view the cards displayed by homeowners in their front yards.

“If you’re a Huntsville native you’ll remember Christmas Card Lane, which (ours) is going to be on the greenway along the river,’’ Quick said. “It goes between Ditto Landing and East Harbor, which is about a mile along the greenway. We’re inviting sponsors to decorate a 4×8 sheet of plywood that we’ll provide for it to be a Christmas card for their family, their organization or their company.

“They can design that card and we’re going to display it and we’ll have the greenway lit. There’s no charge for people to come down and walk through the greenway and the sponsorship is $200. So it’s really affordable and we just want people to come and walk along the river and enjoy their Christmas and have a good time.’’

The second component of Christmas on the River is the model train fashioned from the one that was once a staple at hobby shop Southerland Station, then-located on Governors Drive in the medical district, which had art supplies and what Quick called “traditional toys.’’

“It’s inspired by Southerland Station and when they used to have the model train set up with all the village pieces and the trains going through the village,’’ Quick said. “We are doing that as well. We’re going to do that at our clubhouse at East Harbor and we’re partnering with the Rocket City Model Train Club. They’re helping us with the train.’’

The third main feature is tree lots.

“Think of your Hallmark movie Christmas tree lot,’’ Quick said. “You know, the lights are strung up and people come in and purchase their live Christmas tree. The Sea Scouts will be running that and it’ll be a fundraiser for them. Sea Scouts are like Boy Scouts on water.’’

The greenway is asphalt so wheelchairs can easily travel the route. Some nights, typically Friday and Saturday, a shuttle service will run between Ditto Landing and East Harbor for anyone who wishes or can’t walk the trail.

Other events include pet-friendly weeknights; food trucks; a to-be-announced Market Day for vendors to set for shopping; and Deck the Dock, where boaters can decorate their boats for viewing on the public side of the harbor.

“We’re trying to create a family tradition-type event in South Huntsville,’’ Quick said.

For Christmas card registration visit dittolanding.org/events.