SPANISH FORT, Ala. — The Christmas spirit has most definitely descended upon Spanish Fort with a  spate of holiday-themed activities cramming calendars for the next week.

Five Rivers Delta Resource Center will be celebrating in its “unique, delta style” from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday with its “Holiday Celebration and Flotilla.”

Five Rivers Manager Hank Burch said the event began last year as an informal gathering of kayak and canoe enthusiasts who might have unwittingly assembled the “only non-motorized Christmas boat parade in Alabama.”

With the recent success of family-friendly gatherings such as the Halloween celebration, though, Burch said he and the Five Rivers staff wanted to provide a fun, family atmosphere that gets people who might not otherwise have reason to visit the sprawling campus to come spend a day on the grounds.

“Honestly, we’ll try just about anything around here if it gets people to come out here,” said Burch, who has assembled a panel of judges this year to judge the decorated canoes and kayaks in the flotilla.

The free event will feature live music, crafts, hot cocoa and cookies, Christmas karaoke and “sleigh” rides. Delta rides on The Pelican will also be available for $5 per person.

Burch said Delta Reign duo Benita and Pat Murphy will be playing live bluegrass; the flotilla sets sail at 2 p.m.; and holiday movies will be playing in the Tensaw Theater. A new, unwrapped toy or canned food item also earns patrons a 10-percent-off coupon in the Cypress Gift Shop.

Five Rivers will also host Spanish Fort’s third annual reading of Clement Clarke Moore’s “Twas the Night Before Christmas” at 7 p.m. Dec. 17. Parents are encouraged to bring their children in their pajamas and their favorite blanket.

Of course, Five Rivers certainly doesn’t have the market cornered on Christmas cheer.

California Dreaming in the Eastern Shore Centre will offer “Breakfast with Santa at 8:30 a.m. Saturday. The $10 per person fee includes breakfast and a photo with the jolly old elf.

At 5 p.m. that same evening, the shopping center will host the Jubilee Baptist Christmas Concert, followed by an encore performance at 3 p.m. Sunday.

On Monday, the Daphne Elementary Choir will perform at 6 p.m. at the Eastern Shore Centre, followed on Tuesday by W.J. Carroll Intermediate School Choir’s holiday performance.

And while Bass Pro Shops offers “Santa’s Wonderland” throughout the holiday season, everyday heroes including police officers, firefighters, paramedics, war veterans, soldiers and military personnel will be treated to an exclusive evening of activities, shopping, discounts and drawings.

From 7 to 10 p.m. Dec. 13, local heroes and their immediate families are invited to the festivities, but a badge or other identification is required to attend.

In addition to photos with Santa Claus, children will be treated to a special sand-art craft activity offered one night only, while heroes and their families can enjoy a 10 percent discount on regularly-priced merchandise and numerous drawings for in-store gift cards beginning at 8 p.m.