LEIGHTON – Members of the LaGrange Living Historical Association invite Shoals citizens to kick off the holiday season by attending the annual celebration, “Christmas in the Country,” which is scheduled for the weekend of November 20-22 at LaGrange College Site and Pioneer Park. The park is located off AL Hwy. 157, 8 miles southeast of Muscle Shoals, near the Whiteoak Community and Leighton. A new log cabin is in place on Alabama Hwy. 157. The structure and a new sign will serve to draw motorists’ attention to the park and will make “Christmas in the Country” easy to find.

The historic “dogtrot” log cabin that serves as a welcome center, and several other log buildings, including a barn, corn crib, chapel, country store, and Bonner House Bed and Breakfast, will be decorated with Christmas trees and fresh evergreen boughs. In addition to interpreting the buildings and park, LaGrange volunteers will offer handmade crafts and baked goods for sale. Admission to the park is free, but donations received and proceeds from sales will benefit operation and maintenance of the LaGrange site.

According to Louise Lenz of the LaGrange Living Historical Association, preliminaries will begin on Friday, Nov. 20. There is a full schedule of activities planned for Saturday, November 21, from 10am-4pm and Sunday, November 22, from 1-4pm. Hayrides with Santa will take families to the antebellum cemetery that is part of the LaGrange complex. On Saturday only, a Civil War encampment staged by the 27th Alabama Infantry Regiment and other Civil War re-enactors will feature Civil War field music and demonstrations of musket firing. The musically gifted McCafferty Family from Lexington will be performing on Sunday afternoon.

Recent additions made to the park include a barber shop, an old time post office, and renovation of the old blacksmith’s barn. A working blacksmith will be on hand during the event. Postcards of LaGrange, featuring a special LaGrange postal stamp, may be mailed from the old post office. People visiting the event will have an opportunity to register for door prizes.

Among the dignitaries expected to attend “Christmas in the Country” on Saturday is U.S. Congressman Parker Griffin.

For more information about “Christmas in the Country”or LaGrange College Site Park, call LaGrange at (256) 446-9324. Visit www.recall-lagrange.00me.com.