Christmas will arrive a little early at Choccolocco Park this year, with millions of holiday lights, visits with Santa and even a chance to play in the snow — regardless of what Alabama’s weather has in mind.
Oxford’s Festival of Lights returns Nov. 20 for a six-week run through Dec. 31, combining its drive-through Christmas light show with an expanded collection of activities in Santa’s Village.
The holiday attraction begins with a drive of more than one and a half miles through illuminated displays and Christmas scenes. Visitors can then park and continue the evening in Santa’s Village, where activities will include free photos with Santa, Christmas movies, and music, food vendors, hot apple cider and gourmet fudge.
Children will also be able to drop their Christmas wish lists into a special mailbox for Santa.
Families planning a visit can save by purchasing tickets before the festival opens.
Throughout October, advance carload tickets for the Christmas Light Show are $15 as part of the festival’s Snowfall promotion. Anyone purchasing a ticket during October will also be entered into a drawing for a VIP Festival of Lights package.
“We want to give families an opportunity to plan ahead and save while also getting everyone excited for the holiday season,” Mayor Alton Craft said. “October is the best time to purchase your tickets and get ready for Festival of Lights.”
Beginning in November, regular admission will be $20 per car Monday through Thursday and $25 per car Friday through Sunday.
Snow tubing at Choccolocco Park in Oxford
Snow in Oxford
Snow will again be part of the celebration, but organizers won’t be depending on Mother Nature.
Santa’s Village will feature real snow produced using SnowMagic snowmaking equipment. The system freezes water into small snow crystals, allowing snow play and tubing even when temperatures are too warm for natural snowfall.
According to the City of Oxford, “Water is the only ingredient. No chemicals, snow additives or artificial materials are used.”
Visitors who want to add snow tubing, inflatables and skating to their evening can purchase wristbands. The first wristband is $20, with additional wristbands available for $10 each.
The Festival of Lights will open nightly at 5 p.m. from Nov. 20 through Dec. 31, with the attraction closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
Tickets can be purchased in advance at oxfordlights.com or at the entrance during the event.
The Festival of Lights is held at Choccolocco Park, 954 Leon Smith Parkway in Oxford, and is sponsored by First Bank of Alabama.
Whether it’s the downtown square, Lakeside Park or historic downtown, Pell City knows how to light up the season, and it shows from one end of the city to the other.
Various organizations, businesses and the city, itself, get into the spirit when the Christmas season arrives – putting on spectacular events guaranteed to make the holidays that much brighter.
Kicking the season off is Lights in the Park, a sparkling display of lighted holiday displays lining the road through the park.
Pell City Parks & Recreation Department is preparing for another year of incredible displays at the park much to the delight of young and old alike. Businesses, churches and other organizations build impressive displays and visitors come by the carload to see the magic of the season.
Registration is now open, so you better hurry before display set up Nov. 13-27. Official lighting begins Nov. 27 and will be up until Dec. 31.
Awards are back this year, so be sure to vote for your favorites!
Invest in the Magic
Pell City’s Lights in the Park
As the event continues to grow, the city has introduced a new Sustainability Initiative. This small change ensures a spectacular and reliable event that brings joy to the entire community for years to come.
Your contribution increases the number of lights in the park, either through your own display or by supporting the Pell City Parks & Recreation display.
Option A: Standard Contribution Fee: Pay a non-refundable $50 contribution fee at registration. This simple, one-time payment will be used by the Parks & Recreation Department to purchase new displays.
Option B: Direct Display Investment: Instead of the fee, you can submit a valid, dated receipt showing the purchase of at least $50 in new Christmas lights or display materials purchased within the last six months. This ensures your contribution goes directly into enhancing your own display, making the event brighter than ever!
AWARDS and RECOGNITION return in 2026!
In 2026, community displays will be judged on their creativity and quality, and special recognition will go to the winners. Not only will attendees of the 2026 Lights in the Park be invited to vote on their favorite displays, but a panel of independent judges will also be assembled to vote on several categories from among all participants.
The winners will be recognized in a variety of ways, which means it is more important than ever for your organization to be a part of this community event.
Judges will vote for “BEST OVERALL – JUDGE’S CHOICE”. There will be nine additional categories for the general public to vote on. Voting will be done by scanning a QR code and selecting one choice from the categories.
Voting begins the first lighting day of the event, Friday, Nov. 27, and ends at 9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 17. Signs with a QR code will be distributed throughout the park. Visitors will use their mobile phone cameras to scan the code, which takes them directly to the poll. Winners in each category receive:
Award signs placed next to each winning display, which will remain onsite throughout the duration of the event.
Winners will be recognized on the “The City of Pell City” Facebook page, as well as the Pell City Parks & Recreation Facebook page.
All winners will be recognized in December’s digital edition of Discover St. Clair Magazine and January’s digital edition of LakeLife24/7 magazine. Winners will be featured in the print edition of Discover in the February 2027 issue.
Christmas Tree Lighting
Heart of Pell City, a nonprofit promoting downtown, is assisting Pell City Chamber of Commerce to gear up for the community’s annual Christmas tree lighting. At 27 feet tall and fully decorated and draped in lights, it’s quite a sight to behold each holiday season.
Downtown businesses get in on the spirit by decorating windows and storefronts up and down Cogswell Avenue, adding to a festive atmosphere in the days leading to Christmas.
Decorations go up Nov. 27 in downtown businesses, and the lighting event is set for Nov. 30 at 6 p.m. at the courthouse square.
Christmas Parade
The Pell City Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade will return on Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. This year’s theme is Christmas at the Lake and local businesses, schools, churches, civic and community groups are expected to bring it to life with creative floats and decorated vehicles.
The parade lines up at Pell City High School and the route will take it down Cogswell Avenue in the heart of the historic downtown district.
As always, Santa – the guest of honor – will arrive by bright, red fire truck. In keeping with the theme, it promises to be a boatload of fun for the entire family.
Santa’s not the only one coming to town this holiday season. Talladega is readying for some holiday magic with two special events to highlight the Christmas spirit.
Breakfast With Santa
On Dec. 5 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., the Talladega Lincoln Munford Chamber of Commerce will host a special guest for Breakfast with Santa.
This free event for the whole family is filled with holiday cheer, delicious breakfast and a special visit from Santa Claus himself.
Sponsored by Coosa Valley Electric Cooperative, bring your appetite for pancakes and sausage. There will be bouncy houses and pictures made with Santa in the Caboose.
This special morning is the perfect opportunity for children to share their Christmas wishes with jolly old St. Nick and making new family memories that last a lifetime.
Red, White & Merry Christmas Parade
Don’t let this Christmas parade pass you by. It’s the largest parade in East Alabama with dazzling floats, festive lights, music and plenty of Christmas spirit to celebrate.
Mark your calendars for Dec. 7 at 6 p.m. for the Tree Lighting on the Square immediately followed by theTalladega Christmas Parade makes its way through historic downtown.
Pell City Rotarians are off and running with their plans to make the 2026 Jingle Bell Run the biggest, brightest, best one yet on Dec. 12 at Lakeside Park.
Now marking its fourth year, the Jingle Bell 5K, 10K & 1-Mile Fun Run/Walk has emerged as a growing regional contest, drawing runners from all over the state and beyond to its picturesque course through the park on the banks of Logan Martin Lake. It has become a community-wide holiday season tradition for the whole family and each year brings more and more incentives for runners to add to the excitement building around it. It is a run that makes a difference in people’s lives, benefiting worthwhile organizations throughout the community and has already raised well over $100,000 for the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Boys Ranch, The Arc of St. Clair County, Children’s Place Child Advocacy Center, Ann’s New Life and The WellHouse.
This year, they are running to make a difference for local veterans. The proceeds will go to help build an impressive working, handicapped accessible garden for veterans at the Col. Robert L. Howard Veterans Home — complete with an outdoor area with patio and pergola, water feature, flowers and plants.
Gardening at the Veterans Home is more than a pastime – it provides purpose, peace and connection, said Director Hiliary Hardwick. “By creating raised planter beds, an herb garden and a beautiful flower garden with water features, we will offer veterans of all mobility levels a place to grow, gather and thrive.
The 5K and 10K race starts at 8 a.m., and the 1-mile fun run/walk begins at 10 a.m. Register at runsignup.com by Nov. 30, and the cost for the 5K and Fun Run/Walk is $40, and the 10K is $50. After Nov. 30, each registration goes up to $45 for 5K and Fun Run/Walk and $55 for 10K.
Fees include a race T-shirt and swag bag, but registrants must submit all registration info by Nov. 30 to guarantee a T-shirt and swag bag.
Cash awards are:
5K – 1st place male/female $300; 2nd place male/female $200; 3rd place male/female $100
10K – 1st place male/female $400; 2nd place male / female $300; 3rd place male/female $200
Medal awards go to:
5K/ 0K – Top 3 male and female contestants in age groups 0-14; 15-20; 21-30; 31-40; 41-50; 51-60; 61-70; & 71+
Other awards will be given to best costumed runners and teams registering the most members. And, of course, the guest of honor will be Santa Claus from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
New this year is the “12 Days of Christmas” giveaway with major prizes awarded on Pell City Rotary Club’s Facebook page starting Dec. 1 and announcing prizes each day until the race. “The Grand Prize will be awarded the day of the race. Your registration is your raffle ticket, so sign up early to increase your chances of winning,” said Jingle Bell Chairman Whitney Bateman.
“This is an incredible opportunity for our community to come together for a good cause and make a difference for our veterans who have sacrificed so much in service to our country,” she said. “There are so many ways you can participate – as a runner, a walker, a sponsor or a donor – and we hope you will join us as we run to make a real difference.”
Race Day Agenda
7 a.m.-7:45 a.m. – Registration and Packet Pickup
8 a.m. – Opening ceremony and Start of 5K &10K Races
9:30 a.m. – 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk begins
10 a.m. – Awards Ceremony
Can’t Make It, But Want to Support?
That’s easy. Just go to runsignup.com and select the donate button. No contribution is too small.
Passing a dog and owner is not an unusual thing in most parks. Passing a parade of a dozen or more walking together might turn a few heads. It’s happening each week at Lakeside Park, and dog owners are happy for the opportunity to get their dogs out to walk and socialize.
Rya is five years old and is learning to trust people. She’s an American Staffordshire terrier and cattle dog mix that Jayden Hurt rescued when the pup was just a year old. A scar on her neck, likely from an imbedded collar before she was adopted, suggests her previous life situation was harsh and left her distrustful of humans and afraid of other dogs.
Pack walk organizer Cayleigh Payne and great dane Ellie
For more than a year now, Rya has been part of Pell City’s Sunday Pack Walks, a socialization project orchestrated by St. Clair County resident Cayleigh Payne. On this particular Sunday, 20 other dogs with their owners joined Rya and Hurt. The atmosphere was full of energy as the conversation among the humans mixed with the excited yips and yelps from the dogs.
Sunday mornings or evenings, depending on weather, the group meets at Lakeside Park near the Jerry Woods Pavilion. The time is announced on their Pell City Pack Walks Facebook page. They spend a few minutes greeting each other and the other dogs, then head out, letting the dogs dictate the pace. “Our pack walks are a great way to get dogs comfortable in controlled group settings,” explains Payne. “Dogs need socialization as much as we do. We humans may meet a new friend or learn a new training technique.”
“A pack walk is about teaching your dog to be calm around others,” adds pack participant Linda Wyckoff. She and her English creme golden retriever, Rosa, have been with the pack since shortly after it began. “This is a great environment for your dog to safely socialize,” she adds. “It’s not just interaction with people, but with the other dogs as well.”
Wyckoff credits Payne with providing the stability and dependability that have kept the group active as they enter their second year together. Payne’s Great Dane, Ellie, has become one of Rosa’s best friends. “Rosa has a lot of energy and needs a lot of friends,” says Wyckoff.
John Cristini and Mable
When her friend, Pamela Carden, recently adopted a new dog, Wyckoff immediately suggested Carden join the pack. Carden has a bit of a drive from Columbiana but says it’s totally worth it. Her new rescue, Abbie, a 14-month-old lab mix, is just beginning to interact with other dogs. “She’s spent her whole life in shelters,” notes Carden. “She wouldn’t even come around other dogs. Linda told me this would help, and it has.”
Dingo is a Dutch shepherd and Malinois mix. His owner, Isabella Grounds, brings him to the Pell City pack walk from their home in Moody nearly every week. “We started it because he was really shy,” she explains. “He was a year and a half old and would just cower behind me. Now he’s almost two, and he’s doing so well in his neutrality training. He doesn’t get scared.”
Payne says fearfulness, insecurities and reactivity are some of the issues some pet parents face. “I encourage everyone to advocate for their pets’ boundaries to keep everyone comfortable and safe,” she explains. “We’re thankful to have responsible dog owners in our pack.”
For four years, Hurt, a local animal trainer and Troy University student, has been patiently working with Rya. She has also been working with an animal behavioral training specialist. “These walks,” she says, “are helping her. She’s definitely opened up, especially to the other pack members who come more often. I’ve even noticed she’ll go up to some of the newer pack members and sniff them.”
Hurt adds that hanging out with fellow dog lovers has created friendship opportunities for her, too. “Definitely, Caleigh and some of the other pack members have become friends,” she says, adding, “I love to talk. We usually hang out after the pack walks and just talk. It’s been great.”
Jayden Hurt and her rescue Rya
Payne agrees. “I’ve made some lovely friends through the pack walk.” Payne, who also has two cats, started the pack walks after she moved to St. Clair County from Carrollton, Georgia. “My fiancé and I attended pack walks with our two previous dogs in Carrollton,” said Payne. “When we adopted Ellie, I decided to make a group for other dog owners to meet here.”
The pack walks are designed to be a fun activity for both the humans and their pups. “We always hear lots of chatter and laughter between the walkers,” Payne reflects. “And when our loop around the park is complete, and we’ve taken our group photo, a few of us tend to hang around talking, showing off training progression, and taking more photos.”
“When people at the park see us, we often hear, ‘What’s going on?’ or ‘That’s a lot of dogs!’,” Payne laughs. “I try to invite everyone that we pass that seem curious. Maybe it’s been a busy week and you’ve needed a calm, relaxing walk around the park. Pack walks are great for that.” They may be a motley crew, but these pups and their owners are happy to be outside and enjoying the friendship of other canines and their companions. l
Editor’s note:More information on joining the Pell City Pack Walks, check out their Facebook page.
If Boo Bash on Logan Martin were a song, it would top the charts year after year.
You would think one year could not outdo the one that came before it, but you’d be wrong. More imagination. More creativity. More smiles and laughter all around – that’s Boo Bash in perfect pitch once again.
October’s edition was threatened by severe weather for days leading up to the Saturday event, but Mother Nature apparently didn’t want to disappoint, and the rains held off. Organizers adjusted the hours, and it was smooth sailing from there.
This dock-to-dock trick-or-treating by boat and on land at Lakeside Park’s “Boo Slough” launched four years ago when Pell City lakeside residents Sonya Hubbard and Kelli Lasseter turned a ‘what if’ into a ‘must have.’
From its fledgling beginning with a few boats and Boo Stops (decorated docks) with treats distributed for kids, adults and pets, it was well on its way to one of the most anticipated events on the lake.
It draws not only the lake community together, it lures Boo Bashers from all over the region to Logan Martin – even from out of state. It attracts TV, newspaper and magazine coverage. And revelers fill Facebook and Instagram pages with post-Boo Bash photos and videos recounting one heck of a good time.
“Boo Bashers have rated us 4.9 stars so far,” said Lasseter the day after. They track the feedback through surveys to improve year after year.
By the numbers, registered boats were at 199, but it is estimated 225 took part with over 1,500 Boo Bashers on board. There were 73 registered pier hosts – Boo Stops – but more participated without registering.
“On average, there were 5 adults, 3 children and 1 pet per boat. We call them our Boo Bashers,” Lasseter said. “The total numbers registered were 925 adults, 600 kids, and 125 pets. These are about the same as 2024 numbers when Boo was held on Saturday. Last year’s numbers far exceeded this year’s, but this year was probably the best event yet.”
The northern most point in Ragland more than tripled the number of boats they saw last year, and “our overall participation from registered Boo Stops in that area quadrupled,” she added. “Angler’s Pointe was a big reason plus Blue i Bistro and Bikini Buddy sponsoring host piers at Fireball Flats.”
Sponsorships grew this year, raising money to benefit Logan Martin Lake Protection Association and its lighted buoy placement program that has seen more than 100 lighted buoys and bridge marker reflectors installed to make the lake a safer place.
And when the day was done, the after party at The Tiki Hut drew huge crowds for the awarding of trophies provided by Angela Henson of Bikini Buddy.
And the winners in BoatDecorating are:
Under the Sea – Best Theme Boo Cruiser
Logan Martin Graveyard of Scallywags (Pirate Ship) – Best Full Deck Spectacle Boo Cruiser
Grease – Best Crew Boo Cruiser
Nauti Tiki – Most Creative Boo Cruiser
Waffle House – Honorable Mention
Winners in dock decoratingby region were:
Lower Lake – Davey Jones’ Locker, winner, Fear the Pier/The Zoomies, runner-up
Middle Lake – Little Dock of Horrors, winne, Welcome to Whoville, runner-up
Upper Lake – Have No Fear – The Superheroes are Here, winner, Andy’s Toy Dock and Dead Ball, runners-up
The most fun you can have on Logan Martin Lake all year
Story by Roxann Edsall Submitted Photos
It’s grown faster than kudzu on an abandoned hillside, but this growth has been far more welcome. Boo Bash on Logan Martin, the annual dockside trick-or-treating event, has exploded in popularity since its inception in 2022.
From 140 little goblins and their adults the first year to last year’s impressive 2,300 trick-or-treaters, it is clear the event is one people don’t want to miss. Mark your calendars now for Oct. 3from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
There have been a few changes since the first year, and still more are in store for next month’s event. There will be trophies this year for first, second and third place in the pier decorating contest and for the costume contest.
Ghostbusters to the rescue
Each pier will be assigned a number at registration to display on their pier or dock so that judges will be able to record their evaluations. “Angie Henson, who is the owner of Bikini Buddies is donating the trophies, said organizer Kelli Lasseter. “I’ve seen her concepts, and they’re really cool.”
The boat decorating contest from last year will be back again by popular demand. Once again, boats will need to register for that competition. Judging will be held at Lakeside Park.
This year, a costume contest will be held following Boo Bash at an after party at Tiki Hut, which will host a live band. Tiki Hut, which normally closes for the season after Labor Day, will be decorated for the event with a 28-foot pumpkin perfect for photo ops. “We get a lot of families coming in after Boo Bash,” said Michael Emerick, Tiki Hut manager. “Many of the kids have come out of their costumes by then and go swimming or to the play area.”
In their third year as title sponsor for the event, Tiki Hut helps to promote the event and its mission to help fund lake safety measures through Logan Martin Lake Protection Association (LMLPA). “It’s a good way to give back to the lake,” adds Emerick. “It gets families together to do something different on the lake and makes the lake a safer place with the LMLPA donation.”
Through sponsorships, Lasseter, co-organizer Sonya Hubbard and their “Boo Crew” are able to make significant contributions to LMLPA, which the organization uses to purchase lighted buoys to place in shallow or hazardous spots in the lake. Last year, Boo Bash presented LMLPA a check for $12,000 for their lighted buoy program.
The partnership with LMLPA began in 2024 after Lasseter met Blair Goodgame. “Blair was just phenomenal in helping us to come up with a solid marketing plan and how to partner with the city.” Goodgame connected Lasseter and Hubbard to Jeff Thompson, Pell City’s Community Engagement and Special Projects manager.
From that meeting came the addition of the Boo Slough at Lakeside Park, enabling those who either don’t want to get on the water or do not have access to a boat the chance to participate in Boo Bash. “Pell City really puts their resources into supporting Boo Bash and LMLPA,” said Lasseter.
The idea that developed into Boo Bash began five years ago when Lasseter and Hubbard were reminiscing about fun times they’d had years ago at a large neighborhood Halloween event in Leeds. They wondered if such a thing might work on the lake. “We were like, I wonder if people would want to do that by boat and maybe decorate their piers,” explained Lasseter.
After floating the idea on Facebook and getting a positive response, they got to work planning. Boo Bash was an instant hit. “I’ve heard of people bringing groups out on their boats to participate,” said Lasseter. “I’ve been told stories of families coming in from out of state for this and to spend the weekend with their family. There are some places that have community piers and potlucks.”
Community is why the Boo Crew works so hard to put on Boo Bash and it’s the very reason it works. “I think people up here enjoy a fun time on the water,” Lasseter adds. “They enjoy being around each other. I think we’re all about community. It’s part of the culture of Logan Martin Lake.”
Floating tiki bar
It takes many in the community to make Boo Bash happen. Lasseter credits the many pier hosts, sponsors, and volunteers who make it work. Volunteers, she emphasized, are the only way they were able to make it past year two. “Without them, we would have had to stop,” she admits. “We have so much gratitude for everyone who is providing their resources out of pocket to bring this event to the community.”
“And when you hear a child say something like ‘this is the absolute best day of my life,” that’s not because of Kelli Lasseter or Sonya Hubbard or LMLPA or the city,” says Lasseter. “That’s because of our pier hosts creating such a memorable event.”
Pier hosts decorate their boathouses or docks in a Halloween theme and hand out treats to children on visiting boats. Often there are treats for boat dogs and for adults onboard. Getting the treats onto the boat takes a particular skill set or a specially designed “conveyance device” like a long-handled pool net.
There were 80 pier hosts for last year, down slightly from the year before. Two volunteers are specifically working on increasing the number of pier hosts, particularly in the upper end of the lake closer to Riverside and Lincoln. In response to feedback from pier hosts, the event time has been condensed to three hours, rather than four.
As with any event on the water, safety is a huge concern. Organizers have requested additional presence from ALEA to patrol the waters during the event. “Safety is absolutely number one,” stresses Lasseter. “If something happened connected to this event, there’d be no more Boo Bash and, you know, it would be devastating.”
The Boo Crew is excited to put the final touches on Boo Bash 2026. As it grows, Lasseter stresses that they want to maintain the integrity and spirit of the event – creating a joyous event for children, families and pets. It’s a chance to have fun with lake community and to enjoy a “last hurrah” for the lake season.
A new sentinel stands watch over the waters of Logan Martin Lake. Weighing in at just over 100 pounds, this guardian of the waters illuminates a danger lurking below the surface, a danger that could put lives and property at risk.
This new harbinger of hazards is the 100th lighted buoy installed by members of Logan Martin Lake Protection Association (LMLPA).
In a 2024 report, the most recent statistics from the U.S. Coast Guard show collision with a fixed object, above or below the surface of the water was the number one reason for boating accidents nationwide, with grounding being third on the list.
Buoy 100 is marked July 7, 2026 with all the signatures underneath that
The report showed there were 17 incidents of collision with a fixed object and 12 grounding incidents in Alabama. Because of statistics like these and wanting to make every effort to increase safety on Logan Martin, members of LMLPA began working on a project to replace old safety buoys with lighted ones that could be seen both day and night.
The project began in 2019 as members began raising money to purchase the buoys, solar light kits, cables, hardware and cement anchors. Their goal was to raise enough cash to install 100 lighted buoys. The process has been lengthy, and the costs have risen each year. It costs LMLPA almost $800 per buoy installed.
“We have been fortunate to have a lot of these buoys sponsored by individuals, groups, or grants to help us cover the cost,” said LMLPA President Neal Stephenson. “People can sponsor a buoy online at www.lmlpa.org. Click on the dropdown ‘What We Do’ tab and go to buoy installation to donate.”
This is the third year in partnership with Boo Bash on Logan Martin. Since 2024, the organizers of Boo Bash have made LMLPA the beneficiary of the sponsorship funds that exceeded the cost of putting on Boo Bash, giving the lake protection association a much-needed financial shot in the arm.
“Our partnership with Boo Bash has been a great experience, and it provides an opportunity to support our programs at LMLPA while having fun trick-or-treating on the lake,” said Stephenson. “The event has sponsored thousands of dollars for the buoy program.”
Dee Parsons and David Carboni were on the crew to set buoy number one and again on number 100. Carboni believes it’s the most instrumental thing being done for lake safety. “Before this, people were just dropping pins and sharing locations of dangerous places on the lake,” said Carboni. “Now we have these lighted safety buoys with GPS locations.”
Parsons echoes the appreciation for GPS locating, as it makes the buoys easier to reposition when they drift away from the hazard they were intended to mark. He’s grateful to have been a part of the process from the beginning. “It makes me happy to have been involved in all 100,” said Parsons. “It has boosted morale [for LMLPA] because members are excited about what’s going on.”
Randy Sparks is the buoy boat captain and oversees the program for LMLPA. He describes the process involved in getting new buoys ready to launch. “All have to be drilled and fitted for lights. We add the lights and get them on the boat and take them to the predetermined place,” Sparks said. “Then we measure the depth of the water there and cut a piece of stainless-steel cable to fit that depth with a foot extra for each end and an extra five feet of cable to make sure it doesn’t float off.
“We attach it to a five-gallon bucket of concrete provided by Alabama Power with a stainless-steel eye bolt,” he added. “Then we drop the buoy and anchor bucket together off the side of the boat. We get the GPS coordinates, so we know exactly where it is located, and we log them into Navionics, and we let the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) know where they are.”
For hazard buoy locations, the LMLPA team identifies a hazard using personal experiences, feedback from boaters and property owners, and direction from ALEA. Those hazards could be old roadbeds, subsurface rocks, boulders or shallow places or points that come out into the lake. “When we identify these,” explained Stephenson, “we drop those buoys to let boaters know of the hazard, so they won’t get hurt or damage their boats.”
They put out both hazard buoys and no-wake buoys, but the second type is strictly regulated by ALEA. “We always have everyone wanting us to put no-wake buoys out, but we can’t do that unless ALEA directs that,” Sparks noted. Those wanting no-wake buoys need to contact ALEA to get that approval. If approved, LMLPA can put that location on the list for future buoy placement.
Sparks also explained why having launched 100 buoys, there are actually fewer than that in the water right now. “Some of the older ones have had to be pulled out because they are no longer functioning. Sometimes they float off or get damaged.
“We just ask that people be respectful of the buoys,” he added. “We’re a nonprofit, and we’re trying to make the money raised go as far as possible. We have a phone number on each buoy, so if something happens to damage it and someone finds it, they can call us and we can get it back. Then we evaluate it to see if we can fix it or reuse it or if it just needs to be replaced.”
Bud Kitchin is a former LMLPA president and has been involved in the buoy project since its inception. “The thing I’ve learned since starting this project,” said Kitchin, “is that the lifespan of a buoy is not five years like we originally thought. It’s more like two to three years. LMLPA will always be raising funds to support this program and keep Logan Martin Lake safe.”
Bridge marker project underway, too
In addition to replacing buoys and adding new ones, LMLPA has added another safety-inspired project this year. They are installing reflective bridge caution signs on the pilings for all the bridges that go over Logan Martin Lake. Their goal is to get signs on all of the bridge pilings in the next couple of years, a goal that will require them to purchase and install 100 signs.
In 2017, two people were seriously injured when their boat struck the piling of Riverside’s railroad bridge in the dark of night. Protecting boaters from just such nighttime dangers is the reason LMLPA is making the bridge safety sign project a priority. “Safety is our primary mission,” Stephenson said. “These signs are fluorescent yellow and are reflective in low-light conditions. We want to make the lake safer for all.”
The signs will be placed on the upstream and downstream sides of the Riverside Railroad Bridge, Highway 78 Bridge, Stemley Bridge, Renfroe Road, Choccolocco Creek and Poor House. The cost of $80 per sign takes care of materials needed for installation. The labor is provided by volunteers, who plan installation runs every two weeks.
Installing the bridge signs comes with an interesting challenge, according to Parsons. “The problem is that the current runs. So, on one side, it’s easy. On the other side you’re constantly having to push away from the piling.”
In addition to the lighted buoy and bridge reflector sign programs, LMLPA runs a water testing program to monitor the safety of the lake and runs the annual lake cleanup effort each spring. They also offer educational and community outreach programs.
Membership in the organization helps pay for projects and provides additional hands to manage those projects. For more information, check them out at www.lmlpa.org.
A day of fun and entertainment on Logan Martin Lake
Playing for the crowd
When the gates open at Pell City Lakeside Park Sept. 19, Lakeside Live will welcome thousands to a brand new year and a fun-filled, music-packed day on the shores of Logan Martin Lake. It’s actually a host of events all rolled into one special day from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
It’s a music festival featuring all genres. It’s a massive car show. It’s rides and games for the kids. And it’s a classic competition pitting police against firefighters in Battle of the Badges. Food trucks and vendors of all types line the grounds of the park offering their specialties for all to take their pick and enjoy.
Lakeside Live has become a Logan Martin tradition created by the Five19 Foundation and presented this year by Union State Bank and dozens of other sponsors.
So, join the fun. It’s free admission and a family friendly day to remember.
Story by Paul South Photos by David Smith Courtesy of Birmingham Sailing Club
As fall approaches, bringing with it cooler winds sometimes brisk or minutes later a weak whisper, the Birmingham Sailing Club has charted a course for a busy schedule.
And as the days in 2026 dwindle down to a precious few, Logan Martin Lake gives sailors a unique challenge.
“The winds can shift quite a bit,” Birmingham Sailing Club Commodore Richard May said. “They can shift 90 degrees or 180 degrees at times. You can have gusts you have to deal with. The shifting winds and gusting winds are a problem – and sometimes no wind.”
Competition, fun and making a difference
Leading off this fall for the club is September’s Leukemia Cup Regatta. The event actually began on Logan Martin at the old Marina Bay Yacht Club, which later merged with the BSC in the late 1990s. The event is a major fundraiser for leukemia research that blossomed into a national event.
“It started here on our lake and then it became a national event all over the country,” May said. “After COVID hit, a lot of clubs stopped doing it, but we decided to keep doing ours. (Blood Cancer United, the former Leukemia Lymphoma Society) is glad to get the money.”
The fundraiser is fueled by member donations, live and silent auctions.
Enjoying the sail
The regatta began at Marina Bay to honor a member who died from the dreaded disease. This year’s Leukemia Cup Regatta is set for Sept. 12 at the club.
While it just passed, one event that deserves mention, the Rock, Paper Scissors Regatta for youth sailors was held on Aug. 29-30, attracting some 50 sailors and their parents, the club’s future generations. There’s also a post-race rock, paper scissors game.
“It’s truly a nice event,” May said. “The kids have a really good time.”
Here’s a look at other fall and winter events:
Fall Adult Learn to Sail: One of the club’s major initiatives is to grow the sport of sailing through instruction. On Sept. 19-20, adults can learn to sail. The course combines classroom instruction and time on the water. UAB professor Jack Rogers teaches the class.
Moonlight Cruise: On Sept. 26, the club hosts an evening cruise, an event as much social as sailing. The informal cruise, featuring many of the club’s keel boat sailors go out late in the evening and sail together in an unofficial club event.
Great Pumpkin Regatta: Good grief, Charlie Brown! On Oct. 17, Thistle class sailors from across the Southeast and beyond come to the lake to compete in the annual event. A Thistle is a high performance, one-design boat that’s considered “fun, fast and responsive,” according to the Thistle Class Association.
“We have a circuit of all the clubs in the Southeast district, and they’ll travel to the different regattas and compete against each other,” May said. Clubs like the Lake Lanier Sailing Club, the Atlanta Yacht Club and Muscle Shoals Sailing Club are among expected competitors. All are part of the Southeastern Thistle District.
Sailing teams up with succulent culinary delights on Nov. 14 when the club hosts its Oyster Roast-One day Regatta.
The Great Scot Regatta: On Oct. 24-25, the Great Scot Regatta launches its annual race, sanctioned by the Flying Scot Association. The Flying Scot class is a 19-foot, one-design boat designed in 1957. Considered virtually unsinkable, the craft is perfect for novice sailors.
And ending the calendar year with something merry and bright, the club hosts its annual Christmas One-Day Regatta on Dec. 12.
A storied history
As the club notes on its website, before 1960, sailing was a passion for only a handful of enthusiasts from the Birmingham area, willing to travel for hours searching for fair winds
and following waters.
Hiking out during race
But Alabama Power’s construction of Logan Martin Dam sparked a sea change in sailing’s fortunes in the Birmingham area, thanks to Thistle Class sailors Sam Caldwell and Herb Hagler.
With Alabama Power maps in hand, Caldwell combed St. Clair County’s backroads, searching for a place for the new Birmingham Sailing Club. He found the spot in Vincent near the dam on the St. Clair County side of the lake. The purchase was completed in December, 1962.
The club was incorporated in June, 1963, with 44 charter members. Construction on the clubhouse, ramps and docks began in late 1963, and the club’s first boats launched on July 16, 1964.
Since then, the club has not only been home to recreational and competitive sailing, but its membership has made its mark in regional and national racing.
“All of the current members really appreciate those founding members, the way they set the club up and bought the property outright,” May said. “There’s hardly a year that goes by that people don’t express their gratefulness to those founding members that conceived of the club.”
An annual Spring race – The Caldwell Cup Regatta – is named for Sam Caldwell, who died in 2012.
Fifty-year members
The Caldwell Cup is not the only homage to the club’s founder. His children come to the regatta annually. And in a bit of sailing serendipity, two 50-year members – Stan and Donna Graham – bought Caldwell’s Thistle, keeping it in the family, so to speak.
The couple fell in love with the sport thanks to a Learn-to-Sail class at UAB, and field trips to the Birmingham Sailing Club turned a spark into a flame.
“By the time of the field trips to the club, we had already bought a boat,” Graham said. “It was Sam Caldwell’s Thistle, 2416.”
But the lure of sailing may have been cast by Graham’s father, years before.
“When I was growing up, my Dad told me I needed to find a hobby that I could participate in my whole life. You play football, and then that’s over. You play tennis, and you get old and can’t do that anymore Doggone, this sailing just got me,” Graham said.
The couple, now Flying Scot sailors, would spend Saturdays at the club practicing techniques found in sailing publications.
Family fun
“We would practice all the time, when it was just me and her,” Graham said. “Not many spouses could get along well enough to be in a small boat and be competitive. Donna and I would get into small skirmishes, but we sailed hard.”
So in love was the couple with sailing that they’d pitch a tent near the clubhouse on weekends and spend the night, readying for Sunday races. And post-race, Graham kept a diary of each race.
The club has a proud tradition of competitive sailing.
“You look back over the (history of) the Southeast District that we were in, a lot of Birmingham sailors were champions of the Southeast District. So when we would go out on Sunday, we were racing against some of the best people in the Southeast. You had to get better, or go home,” Graham said. “And we got better.”
The couple took a few years away from sailing after the birth of their daughter, Laura. Years later, while taking graduate courses at UAB, the daughter took up sailing. So a family tradition continues.
“Laura was like a little bird, came back to the nest, the Birmingham Sailing Club. That brought us back,” Graham said.
A strong bond
The sailing community has a strong sense of camaraderie. This year, Birmingham’s sailing community, as well as the legal community, suffered a terrible loss when past BSC Commodore Bill North, a Jefferson County prosecutor, passed away over the summer.
“He was a great guy,” May said. “We will really miss him. He was a friend. It’s hard to believe (he’s gone), actually.”
With North’s loss, the year’s events take on added significance, May said.
“I think so,” he said. “We had a long-distance race called the Firecracker. There were a lot of people that were there. You could kind of tell there was a little more meaning to the get-together after the race.”
Across the club’s more than 60 years, a common theme rings like a bell down through the years.
“Just how much fun sailing and the camaraderie with other sailors that there is,” May said. “We go out and compete hard against each other and talk about it and have a good time. It’s a nice relationship.”
He added, “Sometimes we’ll be sailing against each other, and then we’ll be sailing with each other.”
For Stan and Donna Graham, it all goes back to their first boat, Sam Caldwell’s Thistle. Graham now finds and repairs old boats to help newcomers bitten by the sailing bug as he and Donna were a half-century ago. It’s an example of how the club warmly welcomes newcomers to the sport.
“If we had not found Sam’s boat, we might have lost interest,” Graham said.
