2023 5th Annual Christmas at the Grotto

Christmas lights return to the Grotto! Come and experience the beauty of Br. Joseph's work at night surrounded by lights and music!
We have expanded this unique holiday experience by adding Christmas Train rides for kids every night of the event and and have added several dates!!
The weekend of December 15 and 16 will feature even more to see and do, including musical performances, food trucks, kids' rides and horse-drawn wagon rides around St. Bernard's campus. Plus, Santa Clause will be here!!!!
Refreshments will be available every night. Make your plans to visit now!
Dates
Nov 24,25,30 - 5pm-9pm (kids rides)
Dec 1,2 - 5pm-9pm (kids rides)
Dec 8,9,10 - 5pm-9pm (kids rides)
Dec 14 - 5pm-9pm (kids rides)
Dec 15,16 - 5pm-9pm (food trucks, kids rides, wagon rides, Santa Claus)
Dec 21,22,23 - 5pm-9pm (kids rides)
Dec 26, 27 - 5pm-9pm (kids rides)
Admission
Adults - $10
Seniors - $8
Military/Veterans/1st Responders - $7
Teens (13-17) - $8
Children (5-12) - $7
Children under 4 - free
Wagon rides on Dec 15,16 - $5
Kids' rides every night of event - $3

The Ave Maria Grotto is home to the fruitful labor of Brother Joseph Zoettl, OSB. Br. Joseph was a Benedictine monk of St. Bernard Abbey. Originally from Landschutt, Bavaria-Germany, a young Br. Joseph found himself headed to America to pursue monastic life at Alabama's only Benedictine Abbey. Little did anyone know that this young Bavarian would end up leaving the abbey its greatest legacy and in an incredibly humble way. Since 1934, people from around the world visit the Ave Maria Grotto to see famous parts of the world in miniature. The former abbey quarry is now the 4 acre park that the Grotto and surrounding miniatures rest upon. From Monteserrat to St. Peter's Basilica, guests can enjoy this labor of love and hopefully go away realizing how small acts of love, no matter how seemingly insignificant, can be so fruitful for years to come. 

​La Gruta del Ave María es el hogar de la fructífera labor del Hermano Joseph Zoettl, OSB. Hermano Joseph era un monje benedictino de la abadía de San Bernardo. Originario de Landschutt, Baviera-Alemania, un joven Hno. Joseph se encontró dirigiéndose a Estados Unidos para seguir la vida monástica en la única abadía benedictina de Alabama. Nadie se imaginaba que este joven bávaro terminaría dejando a la abadía su mayor legado y de una manera increíblemente humilde. Desde 1934, personas de todo el mundo visitan la Gruta del Ave María para ver partes famosas del mundo en miniatura. La antigua cantera de la abadía es ahora el parque de 4 acres sobre el que descansan la Gruta y las miniaturas circundantes. Desde Monteserrat hasta la Basílica de San Pedro, los huéspedes pueden disfrutar de esta labor de amor y, con suerte, irse dándose cuenta de cómo los pequeños actos de amor, por insignificantes que parezcan, pueden ser tan fructíferos en los años venideros.
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