Birmingham's Christmas Village Festival is underway at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex, filling the venue with more than 700 vendors selling holiday gifts, decorations, food and handmade items as the event marks its 45th year. The show continues through Sunday, giving shoppers a few more days to browse before it wraps up for the season.
The festival is underway at the BJCC, with more than 700 vendors, according to WBMA. Vendors offer everything from gifts to decorations to handmade goods, and Santa Claus is scheduled to appear daily at the festival for photos and visits with kids. As WBRC put it, the convention complex has been “transformed into a festive wonderland for the 45th year.”
Hourly Cash Drawings and a Daily Grand Prize
Shoppers can register for hourly drawings throughout the day, with festival guests eligible to win $25 in Merry Money that can be spent with festival vendors. One winner is drawn every hour during show hours, and the same report from WBRC notes that one lucky shopper also takes home a $100 grand prize daily.
The festival's charitable additions this year include a Festive Cheer booth added in partnership with Jimmie Hale Mission, which allows visitors to record encouraging messages for people in recovery. Make-A-Wish Alabama is also sponsoring a package check at the event.
Hours and Ticket Prices for the Final Days
Early Shopper admission is scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday through Saturday and 11 a.m. Sunday, giving early-bird attendees an extra hour of shopping before the doors open to everyone. General admission begins at 10 a.m. Thursday through Saturday and noon on Sunday, with both entry types running until 7 p.m. on weekdays and closing at 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Advance online adult tickets cost $18 plus a $1 service fee, while adult tickets purchased at the box office run $18. Online tickets for children ages 6 to 12 are priced at $5, with box office tickets for the same age group costing $7. Children age 5 and younger are admitted free at the box office.
Plan Ahead for Saturday Parking
Attendees heading to the BJCC on Saturday should expect a tighter squeeze than usual. According to the festival's show info page, Saturday parking was expected to be very limited because of a UAB football game taking place the same day, so early arrival or alternate transportation plans are worth considering for that final full day of shopping.
Full schedule details, including entry times and ticket pricing for each remaining day, are listed on the Christmas Village Festival website. With the event running only through Sunday, this weekend marks the last chance to catch the 45th-anniversary edition of the Birmingham holiday tradition.
