Good morning, Huntsville.

Gifts from Heaven — Santa’s Helpers, a nonprofit founded by Barbara Thomas and her late husband Gary, is seeking funds to keep assisting local kids in Hazel Green.

Donations will help sustain its support programs for children.

The Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville surpassed $100M in local grants on Tuesday, Dec.

16, marking a major milestone that boosts philanthropy in North Alabama.

Huntsville Hospital Foundation announced singer-songwriter Rob Thomas as the headliner for the 37th annual Huntsville Classic—a major fundraiser benefiting local hospitals and programs.

Tickets will go on sale Friday, Dec. 19 at 10 a.m. for the event set for Saturday, May 9, 2026 at the Orion Amphitheater.

On Dec. 16, Huntsville residents rallied to donate shoes for children as Academy Sports matched donations with gift cards to support local families.

Birmingham best friends Liz Southern and Morgan Lee launched Leisure League to help Black women heal through creative workshops in Birmingham.

The club has hosted mixology classes and pottery sessions and plans to open chapters in Huntsville and Montgomery soon.

Tony Hernandez, a Huntsville veteran who served in Iraq, shared his struggles with depression + addiction + PTSD during an interview with WAAY 31, explaining how faith and love helped him regain hope.

His story offers insight for those facing similar challenges.

Huntsville International Airport is on track to break its travel record for the third consecutive year — November saw a 3.9% drop in passengers due to a brief government shutdown.

Year-to-date figures exceed 1.5 million travelers, and nine major construction projects, including a parking deck expansion, are underway.

UAH professor Yu Lei was awarded a $1.2M NSF grant to research PFAS removal in a $6M multi-university project running through August 2029.

The project at UAH, with partners from Delaware and South Carolina, focuses on developing new materials and training future scientists (to address forever chemicals).

Families can now apply through the CHOOSE Act website for education savings accounts that will offer $7K for student education in 2026-27 (guidelines assist renewing families).

Financial expert Marshall Clay (The Welch Group) shared six financial tips during a holiday-themed series to help locals manage savings and investments, addressing inflation and market risks.

The advice cautioned against greed and urged understanding investment options for future security.

Local officials have launched a club jail initiative (using ID scans) to keep troublemakers out of 18 nightlife venues.

The measure aims to boost safety and create a secure atmosphere for patrons.

Jingle Jazz Tour - Huntsville 2025

6-10 p.m. — Huntsville Botanical Garden — $60+ — Experience a magical holiday evening filled with smooth jazz and soulful performances by renowned artists.

Bollywood Dance Class

6:15-7:15 p.m. — Saturn Jive Dance Space — $15/$10 for students — Experience the vibrant fusion of traditional Indian dance with modern styles in this inaugural class.

Rudolph Run 2025

8:00 AM — Constitution Village — Save up to $10 — Celebrate the holiday spirit with a fun-filled 5K and 1 Mile run for all ages.

Rocket City Classic presented by Akima - Alabama vs. Kennesaw State

The Crimson Tide return to the Rocket City Classic as they face Kennesaw State at the Von Braun Center on Dec. 21 at 1 p.m. A potential NCAA Tournament first round matchup as the Owls are picked as one of the top teams in Conference USA and led by former Tide star Antonio Pettway.

Rocket City Classic presented by Akima - Alabama vs. Kennesaw State

The Crimson Tide return to the Rocket City Classic as they face Kennesaw State at the Von Braun Center on Dec. 21 at 1 p.m. A potential NCAA Tournament first round matchup as the Owls are picked as one of the top teams in Conference USA and led by former Tide star Antonio Pettway.

Phat Sammy's Phusion Comedy Open Mic

9-11 p.m. — Phat Sammy's — Free entry — Enjoy a night of laughter at Huntsville's weekly comedy open mic hosted by local talents.

Huntsville Havoc vs. Pensacola Ice Flyers

7-8:30 p.m. — Propst Arena — Watch the thrilling matchup between the Havoc and Ice Flyers on FloHockey.

Candlelight: Queen vs. ABBA

8:45-9:45 p.m. — Stovehouse Event Center — Ticket prices vary — Experience a stunning candlelight concert featuring the iconic music of Queen and ABBA performed by the Listeso String Quartet.

Phat Sammy's Comedy Open Mic Night

9-11 p.m. — Phat Sammy's — Free entry — Enjoy a night of laughs hosted by local comedians at this vibrant open mic event.

Cactus Tate Live Comedy Show

7-11 p.m. — Huntsville Levity Live — Tickets starting at $27.02 — Enjoy an evening of laughs with Cactus Tate at this vibrant comedy venue.

Candlelight Concert Featuring Coldplay & Imagine Dragons

6:45-7:45 p.m. — Stovehouse Event Center — Ticket prices vary — Experience the magical sounds of Coldplay and Imagine Dragons in a captivating candlelit setting.