We meant to be gone by now, but the wind and weather forecasts kept us in limbo. Good thing, because we got to attend the annual Fairhope Christmas Tree Lighting on Thursday. We planned to walk the mile or two to and from the lighting ceremony, but met Gary at the Fairhope Yacht Club on our way out and he graciously offered to drive us to and from. His son was playing trombone in the Fairhope High School band at the lighting. It was beautiful; there were children in butterfly costumes and Santa hats, there were people strolling around, there was music from the choral society and the band, there were young ladies in antebellum costumes, there was a collection for the local Food Bank.....and the lights were amazing. Fairhope has beautiful flowers all year, and the plantings are changed by season, usually overnight (and published in the visitor's brochures with a listing of all the flowers); the lighting was no less ambitious, and there were so many lights on so many trees -- it was a wonderland. We've seen so many small/old harbor towns that have revived the old city with shops, and many have failed to thrive due either to location or the economy. Fairhope is NOT one of them! We walked around the city on a week day and it was crowded all day, both shops and restaurants. We're so glad!
