On Dec. 5, community members from across the Opelika and Auburn area congregated in downtown Opelika to celebrate the approaching holidays at Snopelika. A tradition for people of all ages, the event consisted of the Whoville-themed Christmas parade, tree lighting, artificial snow, food trucks and more.
On Nov. 21, locals flocked to the Railroad Avenue Historic District in downtown Opelika to enjoy the final Food Truck Friday of the 2025 season. The event featured over a dozen food trucks with a wide variety of different cuisines, giving visitors the opportunity to both try new foods and support local businesses.
On Aug. 19, 2025, the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Arts opened its exhibit "Women Artists in Ascendance" to the public. The exhibit showcases artwork from notable women artists of the 20th century whose contributions have largely gone overlooked. The exhibit is one of four on display, exploring the idea of American art and who gets to define what that means.
On Nov. 11, the University Program Council (UPC) hosted its annual War Damn Coffee Jam. The event, held directly in front of Samford Hall, ran from 7 to 10 p.m. and offered Auburn students a fun break from studying. Attendees enjoyed the changing weather with free refreshments from local vendors, music from local bands and the company of fellow Auburn students.
On Nov. 2, Sam Hendrix, a local author and historian, led a walking tour around what used to be known as "Faculty Row." Beginning at Auburn Oil Co. Booksellers, Hendrix discussed his in-depth research into the notable figures of Auburn University throughout the 19th and 20th century while leading attendees to locations connected to those faculty members.
On Oct. 23, the University Program Council (UPC) hosted its annual event Haunting on the Plains on the Campus Green. The event offered the large turnout of eager Auburn students the opportunity to get into the Halloween spirit with free food and drinks, music, pumpkin painting, a haunted house, a corn maze and a costume contest.
On Oct. 21, 2025, at 10 a.m., the Alabama Public Library Service (APLS) board held a contentious public comment hearing on LGBTQ-related topics in the children’s section. The change to the code would deem any material that “promotes, encourages, or positively depicts transgender procedures, gender ideology, or the concept of more than two biological genders” as "inappropriate" for minors. According to the contested proposal, libraries would have to have to move all material that “promotes, encourages, or positively depicts transgender procedures, gender ideology, or the concept of more than two biological genders” to the adult section. The proposed rule change provides an exception regarding “age-appropriate materials regarding religion, history, biology, or human anatomy.”
On Oct. 15, 2025, the preliminary hearing for the murder of retired Auburn University professor, Dr. Julie Gard Schnuelle, was held at the Lee County Justice Center. The hearing determined that there was enough evidence against the accused, Harold Rashad Dabney III, to move to a grand jury. While the case is still in its early stages, lots of new information surrounding the case emerged in the hearing.
On Oct. 3, the annual Haunted Auburn Walking Tours returned for the 13th year in a row. The tours are the ideal way to learn about paranormal events that have happened around some of Auburn’s most iconic landmarks.
