The Christmas on the River is an annual event in Demopolis, Alabama. It is a week-long celebration of the Christmas season, peppered with several events and attracts up to 40,000 people yearly.

The Christmas on the River started as a small thing in 1972. It began as a night riverboat parade of lighted and decorated floats in White Bluff. The parade was followed by a fireworks show. The whole thing proved to be quite a hit, so it was repeated annually and developed into a big festival.

Today, the Christmas on the River is not only about the riverboat parade, although, that still remains as a highlight of the festivities, reserved for the closing of the celebrations. Other events include candlelight house tours, storytelling, theatrical performances, the “Lighting of the Tree” celebration, church services, choir concerts, the Alabama Barbecue Championship, and the crowning of Saint Nicholas.