Edith Ferber once said, “Christmas isn’t a season. It’s a feeling.”

The City of Andalusia, Andalusia Area Chamber of Commerce and local merchants and residents who have chipped in to make Candyland: Snow in South Alabama a success have helped create that wonderful feeling.

Last Thursday, our newsroom, along with other media in the area, had the opportunity to watch Andalusia Elementary School kindergarten students “oooh and ahhh” over the snow and beautiful cottages that ornament the Court Square.

The expressions on the children’s faces as the snow was unleashed were priceless.

Thursday evening, the Square was full of mommas and daddies and children checking out the spectacular.

In my five years working here, I’ve never seen that many people on the Square for the tree lighting or the Christmas parade.

Sunday, doing my Chamber director duties, I brought my daughter, and we worked the Square for Sunday’s snow event.

Droves of people came out to enjoy the event.

Squeals of laughter could be heard from children running to and from each of the cottages, and the looks of excitement as the snow machines began to produce wintry fun was enough to give anyone the Christmas spirit.

My 5-year-old enjoyed her time on the Square going from one cottage to another just being a child.

Holidays are supposed to bring people together and I think that’s exactly what’s happening.

I’ve seen more people come together so far this season than any other since I’ve been in Andalusia.

Parents seem to be just as excited as children about the event.

Watching the children take in the snow and play in the houses took me back to being a child.

As a child, my family made a big production of Christmas with countless family gatherings to celebrate the season.

So, Christmastime has always been important to me, and as I watched the children enjoy what has been created I felt a twinge of jealousy.

Hopefully, Candyland will become Andalusia’s equivalent of Ariton’s Christmas City, when I was a child, in that people from miles around will look forward to bringing their families each and every December.

If you haven’t brought your children to see the snow and play in the cottages, you’re missing out, but you haven’t missed your shot for the experience.

Every weekend in December, children can take advantage of the snow on Fridays at 6 p.m.; Saturdays at noon and Sundays at 2 p.m. The cottages are open from 5-7 on Friday; 11-1 on Saturday and 1-3 on Sunday.