Christmas on the River is known for bringing people from all over the nation to enjoy Demopolis’s annual holiday festival, and this year was no different.

A recreational vehicle club from Mississippi heard about the festival and decided to spend most of the week in Demopolis, camping at Foscue Park.

“We were camping at Timming’s Ferry campground, and I was in the office talking to the attendant, and I just happened to see the brochure,” said Geraldine Burns, this year’s president of the group, the Mississippi Travel Trailer Club.

“I asked her about it, and she told me a little bit about it. I thought it would be a fun thing to do.”

Most of the group arrived in town on Dec. 1, and were able to enjoy the handbell choir and Alabama Boychoir at the First Baptist Church that night.

The rest of the group arrived on Dec. 2, and they all took in the living Nativity at the Demopolis Civic Center that night.

“We’ve got 40 people here,” said Geraldine’s husband, Hayden. “We’ll go back home Sunday morning.”

Although it was the first trip to the festival for most of the group, they were able to get more information about Demopolis before they came to Christmas on the River.

“I’ve talked to several people who know people who have been here or had been here themselves, and they really like it,” Geraldine said. “They said it was a fun time – good, family-type entertainment – so we decided to come check it out!”

Hayden said he called the Demopolis Area Chamber of Commerce and also spoke with Chamber president Ray Saliba and got additional information from him.

Part of the fun and excitement of Christmas on the River is the fact that people come from all over to see what the town has in store.

It’s a good thing the town puts on its finest, because company is always coming.