A Mountain Christmas: Tree Lighting, Annual Art Crawl, and a Full Day of Holiday Magic

On Saturday, Dec. 13, at 5 p.m., Mentone will shine bright as the town gathers for the 7th Annual Mentone Community Tree Lighting at the corner of Highway 117 and 89. But the tree lighting is just the beginning — or rather, the sparkling finale — of a full day filled with art, music, food, and festive fun.

A Night of Music & Memories

This year’s musical performances promise to fill the air with heart and harmony, featuring the Mentone Ukes, the Mentone Springs Youth Choir, and the Mentone Community Chorus, a Northeast Alabama Community College choral group. The music will take place at the Linger Longer Pavilion to give families room to gather, sing, and celebrate.

To make the evening even more special, Santa will greet visitors inside the Mentone Inn for an open house, with hot chocolate, cookies, and a cozy Christmas atmosphere.

Art Crawl

While the tree lighting is the day’s crown jewel, the hours leading up to it are just as magical. Beginning in the morning, Mentone will again host a town-wide Art Crawl from 10 a.m. till 4 p.m. Shops, studios, and gathering places open their doors to celebrate Mentone’s artistic heart. Visitors can explore studios, meet artists, make ornaments, enjoy refreshments, discover gifts, and soak up the atmosphere before heading to the tree lighting.

Meet and watch the creative process of local artists, including Jeremy Clark of Clarkworks; Carla Johnson with Debra Foster; Meg Tannehill Justice; Lydia Randolph; and Magnolia Rose. A stop at Bee on the Brow will offer breathtaking views, holiday decor, and artwork by Lisa Sulkosky.

Holiday specials, open houses, demos, and unique finds await at:

• Groovy Goat – kick off your crawl with a fun, eclectic shop.
• The shops at Log Cabin Village – Mentone’s iconic shopping village, a must-see!
• Hummingbird at Loom – handmade shawls, ponchos, and handcrafted wood furniture.
• Mentone Arts Center – warm open house with featured artists and holiday cheer.
• Mentone Market – bustling with Christmas feels, local goods, and select art pieces.
• Rocky Top Pottery – handcrafted pottery with that Mentone mountain charm.
• Artisans – a welcoming shop across from Mentone Market.
• Little River Hardware – make your own hydro-dip ornament.
• Moon Lake Trading Co. – festively featuring an artist at work, plus Seabolt’s Taco Truck.
• Coming Up Violets – ornament-
  making activity for all ages with Amanda Grace.
• Faith & Mustard Seed – gifts ranging from meaningful to whimsical.
• OtherWorld Gifts – you might catch Bill 3D-printing treasures.
• The Mentone Shop – newly opened and featuring “all things Mentone.”
• Little River Art Gallery – Layne Stone will be weaving baskets onsite. Plus warm cider.
• The Gallery by Andiamo – always inspiring, always beautifully curated.
• Need Something Framed? Cloudland Framing – Mentone’s only frame shop, conveniently located on Moon Lake Campus.
• The Rabbit Hole – an adventure in deliciousness and great gifts awaits!

Delicious Ways To Fuel Your Crawl

Grab something to sustain you as you meander through town. The following eateries will be open during the crawl hours:

• Moon Lake Kitchen: coffee & beignets from 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 – 4 p.m., with regular lunch service from 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
• The Hatter Cafe: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., 5 – 8 p.m.
• The Wildflower Cafe: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., 4 – 8 p.m.
• Elevation Bistro: 4 – 8 p.m.
• Seabolt’s Street Tacos (weather dependent): 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

December 13 captures everything Mentone does best — creativity, community, hospitality, and holiday cheer. See you there!