Christmas Now & Then in Decatur is a Seasonal Spectacle

This Christmas pageant is like no other you have ever seen. For over 20 years, the people at Calvary Assembly Church in Decatur pretty much prepare for Christmas 12 out of 12 months. Their huge annual holiday production, Christmas Now & Then, is one of the best kept secrets south of Nashville, and is a great blend of the traditional Christmas story of Jesus’s birth and an energetic secular spectacle of a full-blown holiday show.

The Spectacle that is Christmas Now & Then

This year’s show is titled “Home for Christmas”, and is comprised of over 700 singers, dancers, costume characters, and live animals. Ironically, despite its name, you simply will NOT believe the scope of this show. My entire extended family went together, and both my five and six year-old sat for an hour with their mouths hanging open, and necks swiveling around in order to see everything at once!

Every costume character imaginable makes an appearance: Sesame Street, Veggie Tales, Madagascar, a barrage of Disney royalty & icons, Nick Jr., Buddy the Elf, toys and super heroes of all sorts, a host of angels that ascend from the rafters, and Santa Claus himself have plenty of stage time.

But by far the most popular segment of the show belongs to Frosty the Snowman. His posse of hard-hitting hip-hop dancers launches the show into hyperdrive, and Frosty’s moves are nothing short of amazing.

Christmas Now & Then is full of intricately choreographed dancing, singing, costumes, lights, and complete and total fun – however, everything becomes reverent in the second half of the show, when the live-action Nativity begins. Live camels, sheep, goats, and horses take part in the telling of the timeless story, and the traditional carols are performed and accompanied by the audience. The show comes to a close with a prayer led by the church pastor.

Nativity Scene — *The nativity scene’s ensemble also includes many four-legged furry friends!*

This production isn’t purely for entertainment, but also serves as a powerful outreach method. Last year, Calvary Assembly Church used the proceeds to provide over 800 local families with a full Christmas meal, as well as gave 1,200 gifts to low-income children. Busloads of residents from low-income housing attend a special performance followed by a Christmas feast at the church. By attending the show, you help support this effort to provide an amazing Christmas experience for hundreds of children in North Alabama.

Parent Pro-Tips:

If you have a sensory-sensitive child I do not recommend this show. The event venue is huge with hundreds of people, and it is a real sensory overload with loud music and lots of flashing lights throughout.
This is a religious-themed show hosted and performed at a church. Expect a short sermon at the end.

Want to preview a past year’s show? This video is just a snippet of the popular toy scene that is included each year: click here!

Things to Do This Fall with Kids in Huntsville & North Alabama

2021 Christmas Now & Then Details

When:
December 3 at 7:00 PM
December 4 at 5:00 PM
December 5 at 6:00 PM
December 10 at 7:00 PM
December 11 at 5:00 PM
December 12 at 6:00 PM

Where: Calvary Assembly Church, Decatur (map)
Cost: $5

View Website | View Christmas Now & Then on Facebook

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Rocket City Mom

Rocket City Mom is a website about raising children in and around Huntsville, Alabama. Started in late 2010 by a local mom and newcomer to Huntsville, Rocket City Mom has grown into a thriving community of local parents and now boasts a staff of four, thirteen regular contributors, and tens of thousands of Tennessee Valley readers making it the #1 Parenting Resource in North Alabama.