Historic Downtown Opelika hosted its annual “Christmas in a Railroad Town” event on Dec. 10. The event, which has become an annual event for the last 20 years, features activities, food and live entertainment for residents of Lee County.
This year, there were several festivities including trolley rides, hot chocolate, gingerbread house contests and a storybook reading by the Opelika Theatre Company. Admission to the event was free, with select activities charging a small fee.
The event is also traditionally held during the same weekend as the Victorian Front Porch Christmas Tour and offers a wagon ride from Downtown Opelika through the front porch tour.
Several vendors were also in attendance, including Sweet Cheeks & Treats, which offers glow-in-the-dark cotton candy and face painting.
Alicia Ingram, owner of Sweet Cheeks & Treats, said this is her second year attending the event, and she makes a trip from Eclectic, Alabama, to participate in the festivities.
“I do events all over, mostly out of Pike Road, Troy, Alexander City and Wetumpka,” Ingram said, “When I saw they were having this event again I contacted them right away, and I want to keep coming back."
The night attracted members of all ages throughout the Auburn-Opelika community. Teenagers, families, college students and couples were seen strolling the streets of Opelika, hot chocolate in hand.
Crystina Waits, attendee of the event, said she was inspired to come to see the Opelika High School jazz band perform and support the high school art program with their exhibit at the event.
“I have loved walking around [downtown Opelika] and the environment,” Waits said. “We wanted to come and see the jazz band, and we knew some people performing.”
Throughout the night, several stores and restaurants in downtown Opelika stayed open later than normal, and some even offered free activities to event attendees.
Kimberly Burk, another attendee of the event, said one of her favorite parts of the night was the free admission to Rock ‘N Roll Pinball, an arcade and pinball lounge located in the heart of downtown Opelika.
“We have been coming to this event every year, and with three little boys we were excited to come this year,” Burk said.
Burk said that she works in downtown Opelika and was excited to see that the event would be returning this year.
“Before this year, our favorite part was doing the different activities and making Christmas ornaments,” Burk said. “But this year, we loved riding the train and playing free pinball and hanging out as a family.”
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Kara Mautz, senior in human development and family studies with a minor in journalism, is a culture writer at The Auburn Plainsman.
