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The Cedars will be offering a new holiday attraction during Christmas on the River and throughout the entire Christmas season.

Richy and Tiffany Naisbett with their historic home are launching the inaugural Glitter & Glow at The Cedars as a way to help share their venue with the community.

The event kicks off on Friday, Nov. 29, and continues each Thursday through Saturday through New Year’s Eve. Gates will be open nightly from 6-9 p.m. with the exception of Friday, Dec. 13, when it is closed for a private function.

Tiffany said they were looking for a way to continue to share The Cedars with Demopolis and Marengo County. In early 2019, they began restoring the original home of Nathan Bryan Whitfield. Renovation was completed on the home in 2020.

The home and event space were opened as an event venue for private events such as birthday parties, weddings, company parties and overnight stays. However, Richy said there are still many who have never been to the property or are even aware of its existence.

“We wanted to find other ways to invite people here,” Richy said.

One type of attraction that interested them was to create a drive-through Christmas light display.

“I’m from Arizona, and I have seen many of these kinds of light displays in the middle of a parking lot,” Tiffany said. “But I haven’t seen any on grounds that have the natural beauty of this place. So, we felt like this was a great opportunity to expand the local Christmas activities and help people find out more about us.”

This “new family tradition” will feature all kinds of lighted trees, unique displays and other decorations all over the grounds of The Cedars. They will have a number of hidden “Easter eggs” for people to find.

“We have a Bigfoot hidden among the displays,” Richy said. “We have several other things for people to watch for as they take a ride through the grounds. We hope everyone will take their time driving through the show, taking it all in and letting them feel the spirit of Christmas.”

Tiffany said they also wanted to help offer more attractions during the Christmas on the River event.

“We are so excited to see all of the new things the Demopolis Area Chamber of Commerce is doing that we wanted to be a part of it too,” Tiffany said. “So, this is one way we can be a part, by offering the light show.”

The Naisbetts are also partnering with Gaineswood during Christmas on the River. On Friday, Dec. 6, for one night only, anyone can take the Gaineswood Candlelight Tour, enjoy the Glitter & Glow at The Cedars and take an exclusive tour of The Cedars Whitfield family farmhouse, which will also be decorated for Christmas.

Tickets for this partnered event are $20 and must be purchased at Gaineswood. All proceeds will go toward Gaineswood, which was the home of Whitfield’s grandfather and Civil War General Nathan Bryan Whitfield. The Cedars will also extend its hours to 10 p.m. on that night.

“Because of how The Cedars is connected with Gaineswood, we wanted to partner with them for this special event as a way to give back to them,” Tiffany said.

Due to the narrow driveways around the farmhouse, The Cedars is limiting the vehicles to cars, pickup trucks with no one riding in the truck beds and SUVs and vans with no more than three rows of seating.

Tickets to the Glitter & Glow at The Cedars are $20 per carload, and they will be available between 6 and 9 p.m. each night they are open. At the end of the light show route, they will offer refreshments where visitors can enjoy hot chocolate, popcorn and a selection of holiday snacks served by “our cheerful elves at the elf snack shack.”

“It’s a perfect way to keep your spirits high and your energy up as you head out for holiday festivities,” Tiffany said.

The Cedars of Alabama is located at 21765 Hwy. 80 W in Demopolis. For more information, call 334-654-4556, email info@cedarsofalabama.com or log on to www.cedarsofalabama.com.