Lights Up starts Christmas season at the Summit

The snow was artificial but the Christmas spirit was real as the Summit kicked off the holiday season with its Lights Up at the Summit event on Friday night.

The evening started with a Christmas parade that wound through the parking lots from Barnes & Noble to the Carmike Cinema. Classic cars, fire engines, homemade floats and the Mayfield Dairy cow statue joined the parade along with Boy and Girl Scout troops, Vestavia Belles, the Oak Grove High School band, stilt-walking elves, cartoon characters, UAB cheerleaders, Red Mountain Theatre Company, the Alabama Ballet and other groups.

Santa Claus, riding a fire engine turned into a sleigh, held the place of honor at the end of the parade. In addition to candy and mini ice cream sandwiches thrown to the crowd by parade participants, other entertainment included a balloon artist, Santa photobooth at Swoozie's and samples of cider and cookies from Trader Joe's.

The Summit Christmas tree was lit for the first time following the parade and artificial snow floated over the crowd as Santa greeted children. A concert by Jackson Capps and an after-party closed out the evening.