BAY MINETTE, Alabama — The 33^rd annual Christmas Fest will take place this weekend in Bay Minette. The festival will be staged Friday and Saturday, featuring numerous arts and crafts vendors, parade, tree lighting, live entertainment, Kid Zone and much more.

Sponsored by the North Baldwin Chamber of Commerce, the festival vendor booths will be open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. This year's title sponsor is Windcreek Atmore.

Opening ceremonies will be Friday evening with the annual tree lighting and Santa’s big arrival. In addition to lots of candy, the jolly old elf will be tossing out hundreds of ping pongs as he makes his grand entrance. Of those, 100 ping pongs will be numbered and 100 prizes will be given away during the weekend.

This side of 49 will be the headliners performing at 6:30 p.m. Friday.  The entertainment stage will be filled with performances on Friday and Saturday by local groups such as dance teams, the Baldwin County High School Jazz Band, The Unknown Bluegrass Band, Oakwood Hand Bell Choir, MacCrossan School of Irish Dance and many more.

“Not only do we have live entertainment but this two-day festival is complete with arts and crafts vendors with everything from handmade hair bows to monogrammed gifts, Perdido Vineyards wine and vinegars to Bush Farm’s blueberries and satsumas,” said Ashley Jones Davi, NBCC executive director. Vendors will also be selling handmade soaps, woodworking, unique jewelry and lots and lots of good food.

In addition to numerous arts and crafts and food vendors, there will be games and fun activities and plenty of great entertainment to fill the weekend. There will also be a special children's area set up in Blackburn Park manned by volunteer groups. The Kids' Zone will offer the younger set some activities to enjoy during the festival. 

“We’ve really been able to grow the Kids Zone area this time around. We have a number of charity organizations that have asked to join the show this year with some really fun activities for the children,” said Kris Angelone, NBCC membership and project manager. There are a limited number of spots available and applications can be made through the chamber office.

The Chamber is selling a limited number of commemorative T-shirts featuring a design by Marlee Long of Bay Minette. The shirts are $12 for youth sizes and $15 for adults and will be available for purchase at the chamber booth.

Friday's activities will also include the annual “Bedtime Stories with Santa” at the Bay Minette Public Library. This free event kicks off around 6:30 p.m. and children can come dressed in their pajamas to hear a favorite Christmas story and to visit with Santa Claus.

The fun continues Saturday with more time for shopping at vendor booths, live entertainment, Pancakes with Santa, antique car show and the annual parade. Pancakes with Santa, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club, will be held 8 to 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church. Admission is $5.

The parade will begin 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Bay Minette Elementary School to Ninth Street to Hand Avenue to U.S. Highway 31 South to Pine Street, First Street then to Hoyle Avenue to Fifth Street to White Avenue to Sixth Street back to the school.

An antique car and truck exhibit will also be set up near the festival site and Angelone said there are already more than 20 participants registered.

Miranda Bounds with Dragonfly Photography will be on hand to capture Christmas Memories at the Rex Courtyard on Hand Avenue. Pictures with Santa Claus will be available from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday and 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday. Pictures without Santa Claus will be offered from 3 to 5:50 p.m. Friday.

For more information about these, or other related events, call the North Baldwin

Chamber of Commerce at 251-937-5665 or visit its website at northbaldwinchamber.com.