It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas around the area with trees and decorations going up, lights coming on at night, and live reindeer out and about. Wait! Reindeer? Yes, reindeer, but only at the Orange Beach Christmas show.

 The Christmas Show is the main part of a whole weekend of Orange Beach Christmas events. The weekend kicks off on Dec. 9 with sleigh rides through the trail at Gulf State Park from 4:30 to 9 p.m.

 Then, the Christmas Show takes over the Wharf from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Dec. 10 and 11. The two-day Christmas show is chocked full of as many Christmas-themed events as you can think of.

 First of all, the Wharf will be decorated “like it’s never been seen before” with trees, lights, candles, wreaths, etc. according to Rob Lynch, with Odyssey Events, the official events and promotions company for the Wharf.

 A tree-decorating contest will be going on throughout the days so visitors can watch the participants scurrying about decorating their trees.

There will be a section of arts, crafts and gifts to browse through. Art from local elementary school students will also be on display as a part of an art contest with winners chosen and prizes given out.

  Santa Claus will be available for visits with children to learn what they are wanting for Christmas and for pictures. He’ll also have some special guests with him, which so far seem to be the main draw of the event out in the community, according to Lynch.

 These special guests are actual reindeer, also known as Rudolph, Donner and Blitzen, that will be available for petting and pictures.

 “I never realized what an effect that would have. It’s a really cool thing,” Lynch said.

Those that attend Saturday’s event will also receive VIP passes to the Orange Beach boat parade that night at 8 p.m. The parade starts at Lulu’s and heads to Zeke’s Marina, but will pass right by the Wharf. These VIP passes give access to bleacher seating on the lawn at the Marina.

Tickets for the event are $4 for adults. Children get in free and parking is also free. All money made on the event will go back to the Education Foundation to help buy Mac books for the elementary school students in Orange Beach

 The plans for this event came about as a way to bring a community Christmas event to the area, the likes of which haven’t been seen here in some time.

 “There was a need for a true community Christmas show and that’s what this is,” Lynch said. It involves all parts of the community from the vendors and the tree decorators to the children doing the art and the schools. “It really is a community event, but that’s what makes it so special.”

 Lynch is hoping to see lots of families come to the event and enjoy what they’ve planned, especially the reindeer and the art, together. He believes this event is unlike any other in the area and possibly the region and is exactly what the people of the area are looking for.

 Besides the Christmas party, the company has a number of events planned coming up in the next few months as a way to boost the facility and the area. There’s a New Years Eve show, a boat show and a winter concert series planned. Keep an eye on http://wharfresort.com/ for more information.