Historic Tuscaloosa Invites Community to Free Holiday Event

Kick off the holiday season with Historic Tuscaloosa's annual Holiday Open House. The event opens the doors to five historic properties on Sunday, December 6, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The community is invited to this free event to enjoy an afternoon of holiday activities, music, and historic exploration.

“Our Holiday Open House is a wonderful way to celebrate the holiday season while inviting the community into these historic spaces,” said William Hawkins, Executive Director of Historic Tuscaloosa. “Whether you have visited our properties many times or are discovering them for the first time, we hope you will join us for an afternoon of history, music, family activities, and holiday cheer.”

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Enjoy holiday décor and children’s activities, live music, photos with Santa, and free museum access. Guests of all ages can take in the seasonal festivities while discovering the history and charm of some of Tuscaloosa’s most beloved landmarks.

Recommended Route for Visiting All Five Properties

To help visitors make the most of the two-hour event, Historic Tuscaloosa recommends visiting the properties in the following order:

1. Old Tavern — 500 Nick’s Kids Avenue, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
2. McGuire-Strickland House — 2828 6th Street, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
3. Murphy Collins Museum — 2601 Paul W. Bryant Drive, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
4. Battle-Friedman House — 1010 Greensboro Avenue, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
5. Jemison–Van de Graaff Mansion — 1305 Greensboro Avenue, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401

PRO TIP: “This suggested route is intended to help visitors explore all five historic properties while minimizing unnecessary backtracking. Guests are encouraged to allow time for travel between locations, check parking availability, and plan their visits accordingly,” said the press release. “Those hoping to visit all five properties should consider keeping each stop relatively brief.”

“Holiday Open House is one of those events that really captures what makes Historic Tuscaloosa special,” said Sarah-Katherine Helms, Event & Digital Media Coordinator for Historic Tuscaloosa. “One of my favorite parts of the Holiday Open House is reaching out to couples who have celebrated their weddings with us and inviting them to come back. It is so special to think that they can walk through the doors again, reminisce about their wedding day, and create new holiday memories in a place that already holds such meaningful memories for them. These properties are more than historic landmarks; they are part of people’s personal stories, and I love seeing those connections continue through the years.”

Community members can enjoy the Holiday Open House at no cost, with donations encouraged to support Historic Tuscaloosa’s ongoing efforts to preserve and care for the city’s historic properties for generations to come.

“Events like the Holiday Open House allow us to share these properties with the entire community,” Hawkins said. “Preservation is about more than maintaining buildings. It is about making sure the stories, traditions, and places that help define Tuscaloosa remain part of our community for generations to come.”

For additional information, visit the Historic Tuscaloosa Holiday Open House Facebook event page or contact Historic Tuscaloosa at (205) 758-2238.