By Adam Smith

The North Jefferson News



The Gardendale Civic Center is getting into the holiday swing of things as they prepare for two popular holiday events this weekend.

On Saturday, Santa Claus will venture down from the North Pole to have breakfast with 300 children in the civic center’s exhibition hall at 8 a.m.

On Sunday, the civic center will host a free Christmas concert, sponsored by the Gardendale Arts Council.



Breakfast with Santa

This will be the third “Breakfast with Santa” event which will not only feature time with Santa, but will also feature a full breakfast including pancakes, sausage, eggs and juice. Tickets are $5 each. There is no admission for children 2 and under.

The event is sponsored by the Gardendale Rotary Club, Gardendale Civitan Club, Danny Hearn of Southwood Construction, Danny Christmas with Christmas Electric and Kathy Rodgers-Smith with Mary Kay Cosmetics.

Organizer Georgiann Pickens came up with the idea after spending time at Rosemary Beach with her family during the holidays.

“They did the event on a smaller level and sold tickets for $25, but they didn’t offer nearly as much as we do,” she said. “We just decided to sell the tickets for a lower price and include more people.”

In addition to breakfast, children will have the chance to work on hands-on crafts like Christmas ornaments and door banners. The Magic Town Clowns will also be on hand twisting balloon animals and painting faces.

Pickens said the event gives the civic center, which has numerous programs and events for adults, a way to reach out to children in the community.

“It’s good to keep children involved in the things we do at the civic center, because other than basketball, there’s not a lot for the children,” she said.

The morning’s big attraction will be Santa Claus himself, scheduled to arrive at 9 a.m. Before his arrival, those in attendance will hear a reading of “The Night Before Christmas.”

After Santa arrives, children will also have the option to have photos made with Santa. A professional photographer will be at the event and can provide parents with a five-by-seven photograph and four wallet-sized photos for $20.

The event is also being used to help other children at Christmas. Those who attend are invited to bring an unwrapped toy that will be given to patients at Children’s Hospital.

Tickets for “Breakfast with Santa” can be purchased at the Gardendale Civic Center.



Christmas Concert

The annual Christmas concert is considered a “free gift” to Gardendale’s residents from the city’s arts council, according to a press release. The council has hosted the event for more than 10 years.

The free concert will take place in the civic center exhibition hall at 3 p.m. and will feature the Birmingham Community Concert Band under the direction of maestro Spencer Shaw.

“The quality of performance by this group of approximately 40 musicians is unsurpassed,” said arts council chairman Larry York. “All the musicians are volunteers and perform for their love of music.”

The performance will last about an hour and will include holiday songs “O Holy Night,” “Sleigh Ride,” A Christmas Festival,” “The Nutcracker Suite,” “Carol of the Bells” and “Silent Night.”

For more information on these events, contact the civic center at 631-5679.