FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Karen Beasley, Director of Marketing & Communications
Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association
PHONE: 256.350.3500 / 800.648.5381
EMAIL: karen@northalabama.org
Celebrate the Holidays German-Style
Decatur, Ala. (November 14, 2023) – The city of Cullman offers a different twist on the holiday season and invites local and visitors to join in paying homage to the city’s German heritage beginning next month. Christmas in Cullman features an assortment of German-themed events and attractions including the tallest Weihnachtspyramide on display, Christkindlmarkt, German food and popular holiday traditions such as ice skating, the downtown Christmas parade and ceremonial lighting of a massive tree at the conclusion plus so much more.
The must-see attraction during Christmas in Cullman is the towering Christmas pyramid. At 30 feet tall, the Cullman Christmas pyramid is the tallest structure of its kind in the United States. Located next to the Cullman County Museum, the carousel-like pyramid will be lit the day after Thanksgiving, Nov. 24, 2023, at 6 p.m., and will stay lit until after the new year. Known in German as Weihnachtspyramide, it is a traditional German decoration of wooden figures that represent different symbols and seasonal elements. The Christmas pyramid in Cullman has six tiers, each one featuring a different scene including one that will pay tribute to the local law enforcement, first responders, as well as everyday citizens.
The Cullman Christkindlmarkt takes place from Nov. 24 to Dec. 24, 2023, every Thursday through Sunday in Depot Park and features a host of local vendors set up German-style in small wooden tents. The market is a great opportunity to find German ornaments, unique gifts and other handcrafted goodies and treasures. Hours are as follows: Thursday 4:00 - 9:00 p.m., Friday 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m., Saturday 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m., Sunday 1:00 - 8:00 p.m. and Christmas eve 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Admission is free.
The downtown Christmas parade and the lighting of the city’s 42-foot tree are set to take place Dec. 1. The nighttime Christmas parade kicks off at 6:00 p.m. at the Busy Bee Café, traveling down 1st Avenue and ending at Depot Park. The tree-lighting ceremony will take place at Depot Park immediately following the parade and includes other festivities such as music, crafts for kids, pictures with Santa and more.
Adding to the festive fun is music by Good Bellows, specializing in traditional polkas and waltzes. They take the stage Dec. 1 at 12 p.m. with additional times to be announced. There will be three opportunities to hear Music City Strings, one of the top educational string-performance ensembles in the country. Performance times for the Music City Strings are set for Saturday, Dec. 16 at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 17 at 3 p.m.
For more information on Christmas in Cullman events, call (256) 734-9157 or visit www.christmasincullman.com. For up to date information, follow the event page on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ChristmasinCullman.
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About Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association (AMLA)
AMLA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion and development of the $4.3 billion North Alabama travel industry within the 16 northernmost counties of the state. It is supported by 500-plus members consisting of chambers of commerce, Convention & Visitors Bureaus, attractions, campgrounds, festivals, communities, golf courses, restaurants, accommodations and vendors. Counties included within the AMLA region are Blount, Cherokee, Colbert, Cullman, DeKalb, Etowah, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan and Winston. Additional information on North Alabama destinations, accommodations and special events is available by calling 800.648.5381, by visiting www.NorthAlabama.org and by following us on social media @VisitNorthAL.
