Bits & Pieces

Gardens Aglow

December 2-3, 9-10, 16-17, 23-24, 2022 * 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM Dothan Area Botanical Gardens, Dothan

Gardens Aglow is a walking tour to see the Dothan Area Botanical Gardens lit up for the holiday season! Gardens Aglow is open on Friday and Saturday nights between Thanksgiving and Christmas. New features are added every year. Treat yourself and your Holiday guests to this special event. This family oriented affair will feature Christmas lights, holiday blow-ups, and animated displays. Entry tickets must be purchased in advance for a designated date and 30-minute entry period. Tickets may be purchased online at dabg.com or at the DABG office.

Whoville Celebration

December 3, 2022 * 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Downtown Enterprise

The annual Whoville Celebration takes place in

Downtown Enterprise on December 3, 2022. It is an event that is fun for all ages and boasts local holiday shopping, food trucks, holiday themed activities, music and more.

Stop by one of our salon tents for a WHO-do hairstyle makeover to look your best when you take a picture with the Grinch himself! Dress up your four legged friends to compete in Max’s Pet Contest. Channel your inner Cindy-Lou and compete in the Who-Look-Alike

Contest. Please visit https://www.enterprisedowntown.com/whoville-2022 for more information.

Dothan Downtown’s Christmas Festival

December 10 * 10:30 AM Join us in Dothan Downtown for a holiday celebration with lots of family friendly fun.

Selfies with Santa and the Grinch, Downtown Train Station, holiday crafts and letters to Santa, Christmas choirs, ice & lights ice skating, maker’s market, and good food.

Enterprise Christmas Tour of Homes

December 4, 2022 * 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM Join us on a self-guided tour of 6 beautifully decorated homes and 1 business all around our amazing city. Tickets available from Initially Yours, Yancey Parkers, State Farm Insurance downtown Enterprise and all Pilot members.

Lights Along the River

Through December 31 Flint River, Bainbridge GA Bring the entire family to this

FREE Christmas Light Extravaganza! Drive along the road next to the beautiful Flint River and experience beautiful lighted displays! The event begins on November 26 at 5pm and continues nightly through December 31st.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

December 6-10, 2022 Cultural Arts Center, Dothan

SEACT and Wiregrass Drama Club present The Best Christmas Pageant Ever at the Cultural Arts Center, Dec. 6-10. Tickets will be available for sale ($12) on Nov. 21. In this hilarious Christmas classic, a couple struggling to put on a church Christmas pageant is faced with casting the Herdman kids -- probably the most inventively awful kids in history. You won’t believe the mayhem - and the fun - when the Herdmans collide with the Christmas story head-on! This delightful comedy has become a holiday staple across the country. Visit SEACT.com for information.

Dothan Ice & Lights

Through January 14 * 239 N. Foster St., Dothan

Ice & Lights ice skating rink will open its doors on Friday, November 25 at 11 a.m. They will remain open through midJanuary so come skate this coming holiday season. There is a skate fee of $10 per person which includes skates. If you’re an avid skater, there is an option to purchase a discount card for $50 per card that includes 8 skates. The Ice and Lights rink will be available for private parties and groups.

Please visit www.iceskatedothan.com for more information.

Sponsored by Dothan Pediatric Healthcare Network

Stress Less This Holiday Season

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! If you’re not careful, this can also become one of the most stressful times of the year. The pressure to have a beautifully decorated home, find the perfect gifts, and have smiling, grateful children at holiday gatherings can put a damper on the joy of the holiday season. It can be very easy to become overwhelmed with the stress of the holidays and miss the opportunity to enjoy this special time with family.

The holidays are typically a busy and potentially chaotic time. Holiday parties and frequent travel plans to join family and friends can put extra demands on time, which can be particularly stressful for children. Sticking to mealtime and sleep schedules as much as possible will help avoid meltdowns. Don’t try to do too much. Simplify schedules as much as possible, leaving more time to spend at home together. Have realistic expectations— babies will fuss, toddlers will have tantrums, teenagers will sulk, and grown-ups will argue. Embrace the imperfections of life and family and show your children how to recover and move forward when these moments present themselves.

As years go by, children will forget what material gifts they received for the holidays. What they will remember most is the time spent together. Practice limiting screen time. Parents can lead by example by putting phones away at home and leaving work at work as much as possible. Have a list of potential activities and let your children help decide what to do. Activities could include things like baking cookies, making holiday crafts, DIY décor, playing board games, and driving around to look at Christmas lights and decorations.

Many families are already under financial stress with the current economic climate, and with even more financial stress coming with the holidays, don’t feel pressured to overspend on gifts. Instead, help children make gifts they can give to family members. Handmade gifts are often most treasured by parents and grandparents. Spend time this season to teach children about the gift of giving. Find a volunteer activity together as a family, such as serving a holiday meal at a local shelter or making cards for local nursing home residents. Allow children to help gather old, gently used toys and clothes to donate to those in need.

As a parent, remember to take care of yourself physically and mentally. Children tend to model the behaviors and emotions of their caregivers. This truly is the most wonderful time of the year. Wishing you and your family a healthy and happy holiday season!

Dr. Amanda J. Murray is a General Pediatrician licensed by the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners and certified by the American Board of Pediatrics. In September 2018, Dothan Pediatric Healthcare Network welcomed Dr. Murray as a physician at Dothan Pediatric Clinic. She is a proud member of the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics.