By PHOEBE DONALD ROBINSON / Community Columnist
Before the SEC championship game, come to Columbiana and get in the holiday spirit by visiting the Christmas Tour of Homes and the Shelby County Christmas Artist Market on Saturday, Dec. 6.
The Tour of Homes, sponsored by the Columbiana Beautification Board, will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the SCAC Christmas Artist Market will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Come have a holly, jolly, trolly Christmas in Columbiana before the big football game!
The five tour homes are diverse in appearance but equally beautiful.
Bonnie and Bill Lewis will showcase their family-owned Lewis Lake Vineyards and Winery at 1075 Chelsea Road in Columbiana.
Jennifer and Craft Maier’s two-story craftsman home at 943 Ferry Road (Highway 28) in Columbiana will feature Craft’s Santa Claus collection and Jennifer’s heirloom “HMS Prince” ship model made by her father.
Kelly and Walker Burley’s new home is located on 10 acres at 6317 Highway 51 in Wilsonville and will be featured in Southern Living in 2015.
Erica and Sean Ryan own the Claddagh Farm Alabama located at 5562 Highway 55 in Wilsonville and houses a wide range of animals including donkeys, goats and llamas.
Joyce and Larry Black, members of the Hallmark Tree Trimmers Club, will feature 40 theme-decorated Christmas trees at their home located at 444 Shelby Springs Farm in Calera.
Tickets are $10 in advance and can be purchased at Busy Hands, Columbiana Barber Shop, Davis Gift Shop, Main Street Florist, and Dale’s and Seventh Heaven Beauty Shops. Tickets will be $12 day of tour at participating houses.
The tour is the main fundraiser of the Columbiana Beautification Board, one of the most active boards in Columbiana’s community.
Members are Loretta Argo, Nena Atchison, Helen Gibson, Becky Moore, Stancil Handley, Jennifer Maier, Ouida Mayfield and Pam Oliver.
Money raised by the tour is given back to the community in projects such as: city welcome signs restoration; Boy Scout gazebo restoration; Eagle Department and Columbiana Leader stores murals; city lamppost banners; downtown roof white holiday lights; three planters at corner of Main and College; fall and Christmas downtown decorations.