Having an annual tradition like Christmas on the River is a part of what makes Demopolis special.

Having something that’s as highly regarded statewide as COTR is part of what makes us unique.

Drive by any Alabama Welcome Center and you’ll find, in some form or fashion, literature about COTR. It’s a talking point, a point of interest and a tourist drawing to the region.

The population of Demopolis will more than double Saturday when people from across the Black Belt, the region and the state flock to the riverbanks.

Festivities officially launched this weekend with the Demopolis Singers and the lighting of the Love Light Tree. They continued yesterday with the crowning of St. Nick.

Tonight, the Alabama Boy’s Choir will perform at First Baptist Church Sanctuary at 7 p.m. and tomorrow you can catch “A Christmas Story” in the Public Square at 5 p.m.

There is a laundry list of happenings over the next few days, all of which took many volunteer hours to put together.

Event organizers hit the books on the 2008 COTR shortly after tying the bow on the 2007 festivities.

We urge you to find your way to one of the events this week and see why so many people flock to this area to share a piece of the holiday spirit.

The best way to show gratitude is to pack the house.

There are seven days of festivities and fellowship and it would be a shame to miss out on any of them.