This year marked the 75th anniversary of the Christmas Knights and Knighties dance, held on December 20 at the Fairhope Civic Center. Generations of local ladies have taken on the fun task of entertaining their friends in a formal and festive way to ring in the Christmas season and this year’s party proved to be the best ever.

Legend says the club began when several women from Fairhope met at the Fort Riel Armory in the late hours of a cold evening in December of 1939 to decorate an outdoor Christmas tree as a surprise for the soldiers and neighbors. Supposedly, the ladies tip-toed through the streets in their nightgowns, thus becoming known as the “Nighties.”

This evolved over the years to “Knighties” and of course, every proper Knightie needs a proper “Knight.”

Helen Rivenbark, who has been a member since 2006, and served as this year’s President, said the tradition of the organization is what makes the club and dance so special for her. “Even though the style of music may have changed over the years, the same Christmas spirit of the original group of ladies remains the same.”

The popular group is limited to 35 members, who nowadays wear matching Santa dresses, fluffy hats and sporty white boots (which are perfectly proper in the winter according to the North Pole rules and regulations fashion handbook). Each member and her date invite four couples to join the festivities at their individually decorated tables and dine on delicious food, also prepared by the members. 

To celebrate the milestone 75th anniversary, a “Tiffany & Co.” theme was spectacularly carried out at the Fairhope Civic Center. Vice president and this year’s Dance Chairman Lisa Preister chose the iconic store’s signature Tiffany blue color to accent twinkling white Christmas trees.

After a cocktail hour consisting of beautiful music by Robert Sully, an outstanding musical and ballet presentation was performed for this year’s guests by members of the Frozen Tea Party troupe. The guests spent the remainder of the magical night dancing to the music of the “Cool Rays”band.

With their warm holiday spirit and charming traditions, The Christmas Knights and Knighties are excellent ambassadors for the North Pole, south Alabama and all points in between.