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Huntsville Anime-Fest Returns December 14! A Full Day of Fandom, Fun & Family-Friendly Adventure

  Get ready, Huntsville! Huntsville Anime-Fest is back on Sunday, December 14, 2025 , bringing a full day of anime excitement to the Embassy Suites Hotel in downtown Huntsville. From 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM , fans of all ages can dive into a vibrant world of anime, cosplay, gaming, collectibles, and more. Admission is just $20—and kids under 11 get in FREE! Billed as Alabama’s truest anime collectors’ convention , Huntsville Anime-Fest gathers fandoms from across genres under one roof. Attendees can browse a packed exhibitor hall featuring anime candy, manga, toys, comics, video games, apparel, artwork, cosplay accessories, jewelry , and rare finds perfect for collectors and casual fans alike. This year’s guests include popular voice actors: 🎤 Aaron Roberts ( My Hero Academia, Tokyo Ghoul, One Piece, Black Clover, Fire Force ) 🎤 Madeleine Morris ( Girlfriend, Girlfriend, Trigun Stampede, One Piece ) Fans can also enjoy: • Anime cosplay contest • Local manga artists • Excl...

Fantasy Playhouse’s A Christmas Carol Returns for Its 35th Magical Year at the VBC Playhouse

  Huntsville’s most cherished holiday tradition is back! Fantasy Playhouse Children’s Theater & Academy proudly presents its 35th annual production of A Christmas Carol at the Von Braun Center Playhouse , inviting families to step into the timeless world of Charles Dickens’ classic tale. This beloved production whisks audiences away on a heartfelt journey with the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge , as he’s visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. Along the way, the vibrant characters of London town spring to life on stage—filled with warmth, whimsy, and just the right touch of holiday magic. This year’s show features a fresh, Huntsville-crafted adaptation by local playwright and former “Fantasy Kid” Cherie Evans . Returning by popular demand, her script brings renewed energy and wonder to the story while honoring the timeless spirit that has made this production a staple for generations of Huntsville families. More than a show, A Christmas Carol is a reminder...

A Day of Community, Kindness, and Free Resources at Shenanigans Comedy Theatre

Shenanigans Comedy Theatre is opening its doors for a full day dedicated to giving back to the community. With free resources, family-friendly activities, and support services for all ages, this event is designed to uplift, connect, and celebrate the spirit of generosity. Everything is first come, first served while supplies last—so bring your family, invite a friend, and enjoy a day filled with kindness. Holiday Cookie Kits — 10 AM to 1 PM Get into the holiday spirit with festive cookie-making kits courtesy of The Pantry at Shenanigans. Each kit includes everything you need to bake delicious cookies at home. Perfect for families, neighbors, or anyone looking to add a little sweetness to their day. Free Haircuts — 9 AM to 5 PM Local hairstylists and barbers are coming together to offer free haircuts for community members of all ages. Sign-ups begin in person at 8:30 AM, so be sure to arrive early if you’d like a fresh look. Open Pantry — 10 AM to 1 PM Food support will be availab...

Haymaker: VR Brawling, Up Close - Authentic, physics‑first combat that turns your body into the controller. (Game Review)

Haymaker is a physics‑first VR brawler in active Early Access that prioritizes authentic, body‑driven melee and high replayability. Its core systems are already playable: weighty, physics‑based hand interactions for grabbing, grappling, and striking; gesture‑driven kicks and knees that reward full‑body motion; adaptive AI that reads and reacts to the battlefield; and sandbox encounters that encourage improvisation with props and environment. Many systems remain in prototype; levels, progression loops, and some modes are still being shaped, but the mechanical foundation is solid and satisfying. The studio is deliberately using Early Access as a development lab: player feedback will guide tuning, bug fixes, and content expansion, so the game you play now is a promising glimpse of a more polished, content‑rich brawler to come. Core systems and combat • Physics‑driven hands : Interactions are governed by a weight‑aware physics model that responds to force, angle, and momentum; so grabs, h...

Review: Kamado Ramen – Huntsville’s High-Energy Haven for Authentic Japanese Flavor

If you’ve been craving real-deal Japanese ramen in Huntsville, Kamado Ramen at Stovehouse delivers the goods — and then some. This vibrant ramen bar combines traditional broth craft with a stylish, urban edge that makes every visit feel like a mini escape. The moment you step in, you’re greeted by thumping EDM beats , an energetic vibe, and the savory aroma of slow-simmered broth. Whether you're slurping down silky tonkotsu, savoring a spicy miso, or customizing your bowl with extra toppings, each dish arrives rich, steaming, and full of depth. The atmosphere is half the experience. Choose from indoor seating or enjoy Huntsville’s favorite outdoor food-garden energy under Stovehouse’s covered, heated/cooled open-air spaces. You can even cozy up inside The Booth , the climate-controlled area just steps away. With fast service, bold flavors, and a cool, modern aesthetic, Kamado Ramen stands out as both a casual lunch spot and a fun nighttime hangout. Whether you're a ramen pu...

Review: Oscar Moon’s Milkshake Bar Brings Soul, Sweetness, and Soda-Shop Magic to Huntsville

If you’re craving something decadent, nostalgic, and downright joyful, Oscar Moon’s Milkshake Bar at Stovehouse is the kind of place that makes dessert feel like an experience—not just a treat. Part vintage soda fountain, part modern milkshake haven, and all heart, Oscar Moon’s serves up towering shakes, bubbly floats, and classic soda-shop flavors with a side of soulful rhythm. A Vibe Straight Out of a Retro Daydream Step inside and you’re immediately wrapped in warm, glowing nostalgia. The space combines the charm of a 1950s soda counter with the playful energy of a modern dessert bar. There’s soul music pumping through the speakers, staff who greet you like old friends, and—if you’re lucky—a disco-ball moment when the lights go down and the whole shop transforms into a sweet little party. It’s impossible not to smile here. Milkshakes That Are As Over-The-Top As They Are Delicious Oscar Moon’s specializes in over-the-top, photo-ready milkshakes that spill over with whipped cre...

Exit Condition One HD: A Clever, Immersive VR Escape Room (Game Review)

Exit Condition One HD is a sleek, sci‑fi puzzle adventure that elevates escape‑room design with full physics and a surprisingly cinematic sense of scale. You awaken as the “curator” in a cryogenic storage facility, met by a wry robotic companion and the unnerving news that the portal to civilization is offline. What begins as a claustrophobic, tool‑and‑key puzzle in a single chamber gradually blossoms into five distinct levels; each one broader, more intricate, and more ambitious than the last; until you find yourself in a cathedral‑like boss arena that reframes earlier challenges and rewards everything you’ve learned. The game’s tactile interactions and environmental logic make every improvised solution feel earned, turning methodical problem‑solving into a genuinely immersive, cinematic escape. Developer note and compatibility help The Exit Condition One HD team went above and beyond to help players resolve an Oculus compatibility issue on their end, quickly diagnosing the problem ...

无名归宿 NobodyNowhere: A Quiet, Bleak Cybernoir That Sticks With You (Game Review)

无名归宿 NobodyNowhere is a tightly focused, side‑scrolling text adventure rendered in sumptuous pixel art, set in a near‑future 2079 where consciousness is traded like currency and identity is negotiable. You awaken as C601, a Replicant who has inexplicably become self‑aware inside the sterile corridors of Human Science Research Corp, and the narrative methodically strips away the lab’s clinical façade to reveal moral rot and human desperation beneath. The game compresses a dense, morally ambiguous story into a compact runtime, about three hours, yet it never feels rushed; instead it plays like a short film with impeccable editing, knowing exactly when to linger on a quiet, haunting beat and when to cut to a jolt of revelation. Story and tone The narrative is the game’s beating heart; bleak, morally ambiguous, and quietly devastating. By alternating between C601 and operator Gaia Bryan, the story refracts the same events through opposing moral lenses, turning single moments into ethical ...

Deadly Delivery VR: Deliveries, Darkness, and Delightful Panic (Game Review)

Deadly Delivery thrusts you into the claustrophobic, procedurally generated guts of haunted mines as one of the beleaguered delivery goblins whose job description might as well read: “Get in, drop off packages, don’t die.” Built from the ground up for VR by Flat Head Studio, it’s a tactile, physics‑driven co‑op horror romp where every object has weight, every creak matters, and proximity voice chat turns panic into performance. The game expertly balances genuine, teeth‑grinding scares with gleeful social chaos; one moment you’re holding your breath in a pitch‑black shaft, the next you’re laughing as a teammate gets shoved into a pit or a doppelgänger ruins the run. Runs swing from tense and cinematic to absurd and anarchic in seconds, making each shift feel unpredictable, visceral, and memorably social. Core loop and gameplay Each shift drops you and up to three other players into pitch‑black tunnels where every run is a tense scramble to meet a strict delivery quota. The mines span s...

Review: Burritt on the Mountain Brings Holiday Magic to Life with the 2025 Candlelight Christmas Saturday Event

A Warm, Glowing Celebration of Tradition, Community, and Christmas Past Huntsville’s beloved mountaintop museum shines brighter than ever during the holiday season, and this year’s Candlelight Christmas Saturday at Burritt on the Mountain once again proves why it remains one of North Alabama’s most treasured winter traditions. Held on December 6, 2025 , the event transforms the historic park into a glowing wonderland where heritage, holiday warmth, and community spirit come together for an unforgettable night. From the moment guests arrive at 3101 Burritt Drive in Huntsville , they’re greeted by soft candlelight flickering across the grounds, the unmistakable aroma of roasted chestnuts drifting through the cool evening air, and the nostalgic charm of simple, old-fashioned Christmas joy. For many families, Candlelight Christmas is more than just an event—it’s an annual tradition woven into the rhythm of the season. A Step Back in Time Under the Glow of Candlelight As the sun slips ...