Our 2020 tour of town square Christmas trees in and around Birmingham

Birmingham Christmas tree
Birmingham Christmas Tree at Linn Park, December 19, 2020. Photo by Pat Byington for Bham Now

Back in 2016, on a whim, about a week before Christmas, I drove around Birmingham and its surrounding communities and took snapshots of Christmas trees in front of town squares and city halls.

Four years later, publishing photos of Christmas trees has become an annual tradition here at Bham Now.

For the first time, this year, I was joined by my colleague, Jacob Blankenship, who helped take photos from Leeds to Hoover.

Annual Christmas Lightings

According to Bhamwiki, Birmingham’s annual Christmas tree lighting began in 1947. This year, because the COVID-19 pandemic the annual parade and lighting ceremony downtown was nixed. 

Despite the city of Birmingham’s cancellation, several communities still held lighting ceremonies. They even got a little creative. Homewood, for example, held a “driveby” parade after they lit the famous Homewood Christmas Star.

Homewood Star 2020 Our 2020 tour of town square Christmas trees in and around Birmingham
The Homewood Star first appeared in 1951. Photo by Pat Byington for Bham Now

Here is a fun fact. That star weighs 200 pounds, and the city started lighting it nearly 70 years ago in 1951.

Tour of 2020 Christmas Trees

Even though you may have missed a parade or tree lighting this year, we hope you can enjoy our 2020 photographic tour of the area’s Christmas trees.  I know we did.

Let’s begin:

Birmingham’s Linn Park in Front of City Hall

Birmingham Linn Park Christmas Tree 2020 Our 2020 tour of town square Christmas trees in and around Birmingham
Birmingham Linn Park Christmas Tree. Photo by Pat Byington for Bham Now

Birmingham’s Crossplex

Birmingham Crossplex Christmas tree 2020 Our 2020 tour of town square Christmas trees in and around Birmingham
Christmas Tree at Birmingham’s Crossplex. Photo by Pat Byington for Bham Now

Trussville on the Mall

Trussville Christmas Tree 2020 Our 2020 tour of town square Christmas trees in and around Birmingham
Trussville Christmas tree on the Mall. Photo via Jacob Blankenship for Bham Now

Mountain Brook – the Square in Front of Brombergs

Mountain Brook Christmas Tree 2020 Our 2020 tour of town square Christmas trees in and around Birmingham
Mountain Brook Village Christmas Tree. Photo by Pat Byington for Bham Now

Gardendale City Hall

Gardendale Christmas Tree 2020 Our 2020 tour of town square Christmas trees in and around Birmingham
Gardendale Christmas Tree in front of City Hall. Photo by Pat Byington for Bham Now

Homewood City Hall

Homewood Christmas Tree 2020 Our 2020 tour of town square Christmas trees in and around Birmingham
Homewood Christmas Tree in from of City Hall. Photo by Pat Byington for Bham Now

Vestavia Hills City Center

Vestavia City Center Christmas Tree 2020 Our 2020 tour of town square Christmas trees in and around Birmingham
Vestavia Hills Christmas Tree in the City Center. Photo via Jacob Blankenship for Bham Now

Hoover City Hall

Hoover Christmas Tree 2020 Our 2020 tour of town square Christmas trees in and around Birmingham
Hoover Christmas Tree in from of City Hall. Photo via Jacob Blankenship for Bham Now

Birmingham’s The Summit

Birmingham The Summit Christmas Tree 2020 Our 2020 tour of town square Christmas trees in and around Birmingham
Christmas Tree at The Summit in Birmingham. Photo via Jacob Blankenship for Bham Now

Leeds City Hall

Leeds Christmas Tree 2020 Our 2020 tour of town square Christmas trees in and around Birmingham
Leeds Christmas Tree near City Hall. Photo via Jacob Blankenship for Bham Now

Who did we miss? Please send us a photo of your local Christmas tree or better yet, tag us on social media @bhamnow

Pat Byington
Pat Byington

Longtime conservationist. Former Executive Director at the Alabama Environmental Council and Wild South. Publisher of the Bama Environmental News for more than 18 years. Career highlights include playing an active role in the creation of Alabama's Forever Wild program, Little River Canyon National Preserve, Dugger Mountain Wilderness, preservation of special places throughout the East through the Wilderness Society and the strengthening (making more stringent) the state of Alabama's cancer risk and mercury standards.

Articles: 2604