The weather outside is frightful but that hasn’t kept people from enjoying Ole Time Christmas at the Pioneer Museum of Alabama.

The museum’s Christmas gift to the community continues from 6 until 8 o’clock tonight and a good crowd is expected even with the prospects of rain.

“We had around 200 people on Thursday night and a bigger crowd on Friday night,” said Jerry Peak, museum director. “The cold, windy weather didn’t seem to have much of an effect on people. Those who came had a good time in spite of the cold weather.”

All buildings on the museum grounds are beautifully “decked” for the holidays and many of the buildings have refreshments guaranteed to satisfy a sweet tooth and warm the heart. “The Broken Strings Bluegrass Band entertained on Thursday night and the Shape Note Singers from Ozark were the entertainment for Friday,” Peak said. “We are looking forward to hearing the Spring Hill Missionary Baptist Choir tonight. Calvin Bodiford and his troubadours will be back again tonight and they will play throughout the event.”

The Spring Hill Missionary Baptist Choir will perform in the Village Center and Bodiford and his strolling musicians will be at the Reunion Cabin.

Special music from the old pump organ in the log church brings back the sounds of Christmases long ago. The church is a short walk across the covered bridge and well worth the crossing. “Father Christmas is a popular character and we invite the children to have their picture taken with him,” Peak said. “The children will also have an opportunity to make a Christmas ornament to take home and everyone will be invited to roast marshmallows over an open fire.”

“One of the highlights of Ole Time Christmas is the live Nativity scene in the log barn,” Peak said. “You don’t want to miss that.”

The Humane Society of Pike County has an Angel Tree for animals and everyone is encouraged to make a donation to the humane society and hang a bone or fish in honor or memory of their family pet.

“If it rains, the only activity that will be cancelled is the train ride,” he said. “Other than that, everything will go on as planned.”

There is no admission to Ole Time Christmas. So, come, bring your family and friends and step into the past and experience Christmas like a Pike pioneer.