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LANETT — Travelers stopping at the Alabama Welcome Center this week have been treated to some Sweet Home Alabama Christmas spirit by the Welcome Center staff. Visitors passing the main counter inside the center have had admire the creativity that went into the miniature displays on the counter. There are versions of a vintage Christmas village remindful of visits to grandmother’s house, a winter wonderland with skiers speeding down slopes to an Alpine-style village, and a gingerbread town with a police car, jail and hospital (in case anyone ran afoul of the law). There’s also a huge poinsettia on the counter that was brought there by Lee Maples.

Everybody entering Alabama has to stop by the Sweet Home Christmas tree. It’s all decked out in sweet-tasting treats.

Thursday morning was extra special with a visit from Santa Claus and some beautiful singing. The trio of Welcome Center Manager Laura Smith, Eddie Lanier and Tonya Frank did some excellent renditions of Christmas classics such as “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” “If Came Upon a Midnight Clear,” “Joy to the World,” “Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” “O Come All Ye Faithful,’ and “Here Comes Santa Claus.”

Approximately two dozen Valley Haven students were there just past 11 a.m. to munch on cookies and potato chips, downing it with some cold lemonade and singing along with the songs. Everyone was smiling broadly, especially when Santa Claus walked into the big room. The students were accompanied by staff members Liz Magby, China Morgan, April Preston, June Rogers, J.T. Barker, Abena Graham and Dolly Britt.

As the first point of contact for more than six million visitors coming to Alabama each year, the staffs of the state’s eight welcome centers greet travelers with true hospitality.

Most of these visitor centers are located off of Interstate highways. The one in Lanett is just across the Georgia line on I-85. There’s two others just across the Georgia line, one is in Cleburne County off of I-20 and another is in DeKalb County off of I-59. There’s one Alabama welcome center off of I-65. It’s just across the Tennessee state line in Ardmore, Ala. Two are on I-10, one in Baldwin County near the Florida line and one in Mobile County near the Mississippi state line. There’s another one near the Mississippi line in Sumter County off of I-20/59.The only Alabama welcome center not on an Interstate is south of Dothan on US 231 at the Florida state line.

Welcome centers provide free distribution of tourism brochures, room reservation services for travelers, and information about local attractions, accommodations and events.