By J.R. Tidwell / Editor

Now that Thanksgiving has come and gone, the Christmas season is upon us.

Holiday-related decorations have gone up in multiple locations around Clanton, and many establishments are hosting Christmas-related events to coincide with the celebration.

Senior Connection will get things started with a community open house on Monday, Dec. 3, from 5:30-7 p.m.

“We started (that event) when we first moved here,” said director Vanessa McKinney. “Everyone will bring a dish, and we’ll have finger foods. It’s free and open to the community. We’ll have Santa here and some entertainment. We will let everybody come in and see what Senior Connection is all about.”

Senior Connection is located at 304 Park Plaza near Fred’s.

Yellowleaf Creek Mill, located at 1321 CR 249 in Clanton, will be having a Christmas open house on Tuesday, Dec. 4, from 6-8 p.m.

The Chilton County Chamber of Commerce will be hosting an open house on Thursday, Dec. 6, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“Everyone is welcome,” said Chamber director Francine Wasden. “A lot of people haven’t been to our office in awhile, and we’ve made some changes. We hope everyone will stop by.”

The Chamber is also hosting a holiday shopping event in downtown Clanton that day in conjunction with multiple businesses in the area.

The event will last from 3-8 p.m. on Dec. 6.

“It will be a great night to get together and do some holiday shopping,” Wasden said. “All the shops downtown will be open late. I’m thankful for our members doing this.”

Santa Claus will be at Elizabeth Hall from 5 to 7 p.m. that night. Wasden invites parents to bring their children and cameras and take photos with Santa.

Real Estate Associates is hosting its annual Christmas party on Tuesday, Dec. 11, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event is free, though attendees are asked to RSVP by Dec. 1.

“We invite all our clients and local community officials to come join us,” said broker Diane Knight. “We have a buffet-style meal. We usually have 200-250 people that come through during the event. We will be giving away some gifts through drawings. It’s good to get everyone together.”

Knight said that a lot of the food, which includes desserts and drinks, is homemade because the business members “all enjoy cooking.”