Good morning, Montgomery.

Montgomery County and Troy held their Christmas tree lighting ceremonies this week to kick off the holiday season with festive displays and community spirit.

Action 8’s Magical Christmas Toy Drive collects new, unwrapped toys until December 10 for local families, with drop-off boxes at South University and the Shoppes at EastChase (to the left of Books-a-Million) partnering with the Salvation Army.

WSFA 12 News promoted long-time anchor Sally Pitts to news director on Monday in Montgomery & she will continue her on-air duties until Jan.

4. Pitts joined the station in 2002 and her experience is expected to energize the newsroom.

The Rosa Parks Museum in Montgomery has unveiled never-before-seen photos of Rosa Parks taken by photographer Matt Herron during the Selma to Montgomery march (a five-day trek) to show her broader role in civil rights beyond the 1955 bus boycott.

Alabama high school students are taking dual enrollment to earn college credit, with numbers doubling from 15,000 in 2020 to 30,000 in 2024, mostly online + some in person at local colleges.

The U.S. Departments of Education and Labor are merging key parts of federal workforce programs by shifting WIOA payment systems to Labor, a move endorsed by Alabama officials who say it cuts red tape and boosts local training since Oct.

1 (including skills programs at community colleges).

AUM will honor about 750 graduates during its Fall 2025 Commencement ceremony on Saturday, Dec.

13 at its Montgomery campus — celebrating academic achievements as students prepare to walk the stage.

Students in Montgomery benefit from a new reading partnership as the Equal Justice Initiative and Montgomery Public Schools revealed plans to expand access to quality books.

The program, announced Monday at Highland Gardens Elementary, will give first and second graders two free books each for the holidays.

Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama have opened pre-orders for their 2026 cookie season.

The new Exploremores cookie, with Rocky Road ice cream-inspired flavors, will be available for order starting Monday + the sale helps girls build business skills.

On Monday, the Office of Violence Prevention hosted a mental health panel at the Train Shed in downtown Montgomery that offered families low-cost ideas for reducing holiday stress.

Experts recommended creating new traditions (such as baking together) and setting boundaries to protect well-being.

Ugly Sweater Karaoke and Wing Night

4-11 p.m. — Maxwell Club and Event Center — Cost varies — Celebrate the holidays with wings, karaoke, and your ugliest Christmas sweater.

Capital City Christmas Parade

6-8 p.m. — Lower Dexter Park — $25 per entry — Experience the festive spirit with a vibrant parade filled with holiday cheer and live coverage.

Ugly Sweater Pub Crawl in Montgomery

4:30-9 p.m. — Tower Taproom — 25% off with code UGLY25 — Celebrate the holidays with festive drinks and fun in your ugliest sweater.

Montgomery Ballet Presents The Nutcracker

6:00–7:30 p.m. — Montgomery Performing Arts Centre — Cost not specified — Experience the magic of the beloved Christmas ballet featuring enchanting snow flurries and whimsical characters.

PMP Certification 4-Day Classroom Training

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. — Montgomery, AL — Check for pricing — Enhance your project management skills with 32 hours of interactive classroom training and extensive resources.

Tierra Cali and Humberto Plancarte Live in Montgomery

9 p.m. — Noches Latinas — Ticket prices vary — Experience a night filled with regional music and vibrant performances from top artists.

New Year's Celebration at YMCA Camp Chandler

Dec 30 1:30 PM – Jan 1 1:00 PM — YMCA Camp Chandler — Cost info not specified — Ring in the New Year Camp Chandler Style with festivities for all ages.

EJ Jones Live at SugaRay's

4:00 PM – 9:30 PM — SugaRay's — Ages 21+ — Experience the soulful sounds of EJ Jones performing his hit single “Gas Station” live.