Event Info
At a glance, information about Christmas on The River at Ditto Landing.
- occurring daily and no admission charged
- Location: 293 Ditto Landing Road, Huntsville, AL
- December 1-31, 2023
- Stroll through the Christmas Card Lane with 4’ by 8” lit Christmas cards created by local businesses and patrons.
- Visit the indoor holiday model train display at Santa’s Depot
Christmas Card Lane Walking Nights
December 1st - 6th | 8th - 13th | 15th - 20th | 22nd - 27th | 29th - 31st
Time: 7am to 10pm
Ditto Landing - 293 Ditto Landing Rd SE, Huntsville, AL 35803
Christmas Card Driving Nights
December 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th
Time: 10am to 8pm
Ditto Landing - 293 Ditto Landing Rd SE, Huntsville, AL 35803
Holiday Market:
Date: December 9
Time: 10am to 4pm
Location: Market Day will take place at the State Docks - Ditto Landing - 293 Ditto Landing Rd SE, Huntsville, AL 35803
Reindeer Rails
Reindeer Rails is a model train display and village located in the South Harbor clubhouse. Each piece of the model train display has been purchased, donated, or borrowed to achieve a Christmas village reminiscent of a Hallmark movie.
Date: December 1st - 3rd | 7th - 10th | 14th -17th | 21st - 22nd | 28th
Time: 5pm to 8pm
Location: South Harbor Clubhouse - Ditto Landing - 293 Ditto Landing Rd SE, Huntsville, AL 35803
Holiday Fireworks by Redstone Gateway
(weather permitting) Celebrate the season with fireworks over the waterfront.
Date: December 8th & 22nd
Time: 7pm to 8pm
Location: Ditto Landing - 293 Ditto Landing Rd SE, Huntsville, AL 35803
Deck the Docks
Boats will line the ditto marina with lights and decorations for the holiday season
Date: 15th
Time: 4pm to 8pm
Location: Ditto Landing - 293 Ditto Landing Rd SE, Huntsville, AL 35803
Santa visits Christmas at the River
Date: December 2nd - 15th
Time: 5pm to 8pm
Location: Ditto Landing - 293 Ditto Landing Rd SE, Huntsville, AL 35803
Christmas on the River
Christmas traditions are the crux of holiday memories. Two had a half years ago; our customary Christmas traditions were significantly altered by an out-of-state move. I'd lived in my hometown for seventeen years of married life and in the same house for sixteen years of birthing and raising four kids, doing the same Christmas activities year after year.
Enter 2020; we moved to Huntsville in July, so I had to make all new traditions for our Christmas activities. If you're new to Huntsville or looking for a new practice to add to your trove of traditions, here is a new one this year; Christmas on the River at Ditto Landing.
If you're unfamiliar with Ditto landing, it serves as the front porch to the magnificent Tennessee River on the southern border of Huntsville. The backdrop of the tranquil mountain foothills mirrored over the river waters creates a visually stunning outdoor experience. Ditto Landing and I bonded when I was a new transplant, grieving a move from the Georgia coast. Like a good friend, Ditto was there to offer me a water fix when I was craving the movement of the ocean.
Christmas Card Lane
What is Christmas At Ditto? Imagine walking a greenway trail nestled along the Tennessee River, illuminated with festive lights. At the same time, nostalgic Christmas music plays as you wander past human-size Christmas cards artfully created by local sponsors. All with a picturesque backdrop of the Tennessee foothills. The greenway trail is the central part of this event and is festively called Christmas Card Lane featuring life-size Christmas cards.
The South Huntsville Business Association, Ditto Landing, and the Madison County Commission are working together to create South Huntsville's very own Christmas tradition. I suggest going when it's dark - the lights bring it all together. Our family enjoyed discussing the cards and the details of each one. We suggest catching a sunrise and a sunset on the magical Christmas Card Lane. Our kids ran and skipped while viewing the cards as the Tennessee River in the background created a serene holiday experience!
The Train Depot at South Harbor
The Christmas Card Stroll takes you from Ditto to South Harbor, where visitors can go into the clubhouse at the end of Christmas Card Lane and see the indoor holiday train display. The train display was a community effort from various locals and sponsors. County Commissioner Phil Reddick built the table - this is a community project, reflecting the teamwork of all involved.
Our kids were in heaven the minute we walked into the depot. They were mesmerized watching the trains start and stop and weave throughout the village.
Christmas at Ditto is perfect for outdoorsy exercise enthusiasts who want to combine aerobic activity with Christmas cheer. Come get your steps in and enjoy the Reindeer Rails model train display at the end. Train hobbyists will love seeing the collective effort of the community.
We enjoyed getting our daily walk-in with a lovely view all around while being enveloped in Christmas cheer. Our kids ran and played, and the train was a huge hit!
Need to know:
There are port-a-potties on the trail spread throughout the mile. I appreciated the thoughtfulness of having them all around for smaller children. The night we went it started raining, so pay attention to the weather, and bring an umbrella or a poncho. The walk is nearly a mile, so be prepared with walking shoes and
Christmas on the River after dark
We walked the trail before sunset, and when returning from the train depot at South Harbor, it was nighttime; we personally felt the Christmas lights, music, and Christmas Cards were a neater experience in the dark.
