Why this weekend is the most wonderful time of the year in Tuscaloosa

Can the first weekend of December feel like "the most wonderful time of the year," even without the Crimson Tide football team playing in the SEC Championship Game?

Well, this weekend will bring scary ghost stories at the Drish House and a tour of historic Tuscaloosa homes with tales of the glories of Christmases long, long ago. Just find some parties for hosting, some marshmallows for toasting and Tuscaloosa will seem a lot like that classic Christmas song crooned by Andy Williams.

Instead of watching Georgia play LSU on Saturday and moping about what might have been, here are some Tuscaloosa holiday happenings that will get your heart glowing with much mistletoeing so you can be of good cheer:

Hilaritas

The University of Alabama's School of Music will present "Hilaritas," at 7:30 p.m. Friday and  2 p.m. Sunday, at the Moody Music Building, 810 Second Ave. on the the UA campus. "Hilaritas" was created at UA in 1969 by Steve Sample Sr., then director of jazz, and Fred Prentice, director of choral studies, blending new and established jazz and pop arrangements of classical, standard and contemporary songs, sacred and secular, from the season. The name came from a Greek word translating loosely to "Live joyfully and be proud of what you are." Tickets, available online at ua.universitytickets.com, cost $15 for general admission, $5 for seniors and children and $3 for UA students, faculty and staff.

Movie at Midtown Village

Midtown Village, 1800 McFarland Blvd. E, will show the movie "Elf" on an inflatable screen at 6 p.m. Friday on the green between Barnes & Noble Booksellers and Panera Bread. Families are invited to bring lawn chairs and blankets to watch the free movie. If you can't make the Midtown Village showing, "Elf" will be part of the Junior League of Tuscaloosa's "Merry and Bright at the Bama Theatre" at 2 p.m. Dec. 17, followed by "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" at 7 p..m. Tickets for the "Elf" matinee are $12, and $15 for the evening "Christmas Vacation." To buy tickets, go to  www.jltuscaloosa.org/fundraisers/merry-bright-at-the-bama-theatre.

Christmas Candlelight Concert

The Stillman College Choir's Christmas Candlelight Concert will be at 6 p.m. Sunday at Birthright Alumni Hall, Stillman campus. Admission is free. The choir, featuring soloist Diva Hall, is comprised of music majors and non-music majors at the school and its repertoire includes a wide variety of secular and sacred songs. The Stillman College campus is at 3601 Stillman Blvd. in Tuscaloosa.

Santa in the Park

The inaugural Santa in the Park, featuring holiday lights, hot chocolate, popcorn and a visit from Santa, will be held from 6-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Lake Lurleen State Park, 13226 Lake Lurleen Road in Coker. Admission is $5 for adults and $2 for children. For more information, go to www.alapark.com/parks/lake-lurleen-state-park.

Cookies and Crafts with Santa

Shelton State Community College athletics will host Cookies and Crafts with Santa from 8 a.m. until 10 a.m. Saturday on the Martin campus, 9500 Old Greensboro Road.  Children 10 years old and younger can play games with doughnuts and drinks served.  Admission is $20 per child and $5 per adult.  All children must be accompanied by an adult.)  Space is limited to the first 100 registrants.  Register now at Cookies and Crafts with Santa.

Historic homes open house

Historic Tuscaloosa will present a holiday open house at five historic Tuscaloosa properties from 2-5 p.m. Dec. Sunday, with free admission. The event includes the Old Tavern, 500 Nick's Kids Ave.; Battle-Friedman Home, 1010 Greensboro Ave.; Jemison Van de Graaff Mansion 1305 Greensboro Ave.; Murphy Collins Museum 2601 Paul W. Bryant Drive; McGuire Strickland House 2828 Sixth St. For more, see www.historictuscaloosa.org/events-1/2022HolidayOpenHouse.

Ghost hunt

The Ghosts of Christmas Past Ghost Hunt will be from7-11 p.m. Saturday at the Drish House, 2300 17th St., Tuscaloosa. Admission is $50. Hosted by Southern Ghost Girl Tours and Paranormal Investigations. The Southern Ghost Girls hosted a Halloween ghost event at the Drish House, which was featured in Kathyrn Tucker Windham's book, "13 Alabama Ghosts and Jeffrey," under the title "Death Lights in the Tower." For more information, go to www.southernghostgirls.com.

Christmas shopping

The One-Stop Christmas Shop will be held for the 19th year from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday at Cypress Inn Pavilion, 501 Rice Mine Road, Tuscaloosa. More than 35 vendors in clothing and more, including hand-made works by local artisans. Free to attend, but donations and vendor fees will go to support the Tuscaloosa Metro Animal Shelter and other local animal-rescue efforts. Images of items for sale are available through the Facebook event page.

Pet Night on the Tinsel Trail

The Tinsel Trail, a display of more than 200 Christmas trees decorated by local groups, will have Pet Night from 3-6 p.m. Sunday at Government Plaza, 2106 Sixth St. People can bring their pets for holiday pictures and meet pet vendors from the area. Prizes will be awarded for best pet holiday costumes. Admission to the Tinsel Trail is free.

Also at Government Plaza, the Holidays on the Plaza portable ice-skating rink will be open this weekend. Daily passes, which include skates, cost $15. Hours will be 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For more information, go to www.holidaysontheplaza.com.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Why this weekend is the most wonderful time of the year in Tuscaloosa