Recently in Local Category
The University of North Alabama's 2010 George Lindsey Film Festival being held March 4-7 in Florence will host a 25th anniversary "Back to the Future" reunion. Actors Lea Thompson, James Tolkan and Claudia Wells along with screenwriter Bob Gale will be participating in the reunion. The "Back to the Future" celebration will also include public appearances of an exact working replica of the famous DeLorean time machine car, complete with flux capacitor and functional circuit displays. This year the UNA George Lindsey Film Festival is working with several partners to raise money for the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. The George Lindsey UNA Film Festival is one of the few film festivals hosted by a university. The event was founded in 1998 in part by UNA alumnus and celebrated actor and entertainer George Lindsey. Lindsey is known internationally for his role as the character Goober Pyle on "The Andy Griffith Show."
For a complete list of film festival events and ticket information please see www.lindseyfilmfest.com
For a complete list of film festival events and ticket information please see www.lindseyfilmfest.com
The Kresge Foundation of Troy, Michigan, is piloting a community arts and civic engagement project in Birmingham, Detroit, Baltimore, St. Louis and Tucson, that encourages residents to use art and culture as a tool to address community issues. Kresge has enlisted the Cultural Alliance of Greater Birmingham to administer the program entitled Kresge Arts in Birmingham.
The project is designed to test Kresge's belief that grassroots arts and cultural projects can be an effective tool to unite communities, address pressing social issues, and nourish our spirits in difficult times. Individuals and groups are encouraged to apply, including all types of arts and cultural professionals, neighborhood associations, service agencies, community development groups, and arts and cultural organizations, among others. Over the next two years, Kresge is funding grants ranging from $2,500- $10,000 for community arts projects that strive to address Birmingham's pressing issues as determined by its citizens.
Important Dates for 2010 Funding Round
February 1: Guidelines and Application Materials Released
February-March: Information Sessions about KAIB Program
April 5: Application Deadline at 3 pm
May 24: Grants Announced
June 1 - May 31: Project Period
Potential applicants for 2010 funding are encouraged to take advantage of scheduled information sessions that will provide an overview of the KAIB program, eligibility requirements, project guidelines and evaluation criteria and application procedures. Information sessions are free, but reservations strongly suggested. To register for one of the sessions below, please email or call 458-1394.
Mon., February 22: First Floor Conference Room Center for Regional Planning and Design
1731 First Ave North, 35203, 3:30 - 5:00 pm
Wed., March 10: Five Points West Public Library 4812 Ave W, 35208, 11:30 am-1:00 pm
Tues., March 16: North Birmingham Public Library 2501 31st Ave, 35207, 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Cultural Alliance of Greater Birmingham 205-458-1394 bwagnon@cultural-alliance.com
The project is designed to test Kresge's belief that grassroots arts and cultural projects can be an effective tool to unite communities, address pressing social issues, and nourish our spirits in difficult times. Individuals and groups are encouraged to apply, including all types of arts and cultural professionals, neighborhood associations, service agencies, community development groups, and arts and cultural organizations, among others. Over the next two years, Kresge is funding grants ranging from $2,500- $10,000 for community arts projects that strive to address Birmingham's pressing issues as determined by its citizens.
Important Dates for 2010 Funding Round
February 1: Guidelines and Application Materials Released
February-March: Information Sessions about KAIB Program
April 5: Application Deadline at 3 pm
May 24: Grants Announced
June 1 - May 31: Project Period
Potential applicants for 2010 funding are encouraged to take advantage of scheduled information sessions that will provide an overview of the KAIB program, eligibility requirements, project guidelines and evaluation criteria and application procedures. Information sessions are free, but reservations strongly suggested. To register for one of the sessions below, please email or call 458-1394.
Mon., February 22: First Floor Conference Room Center for Regional Planning and Design
1731 First Ave North, 35203, 3:30 - 5:00 pm
Wed., March 10: Five Points West Public Library 4812 Ave W, 35208, 11:30 am-1:00 pm
Tues., March 16: North Birmingham Public Library 2501 31st Ave, 35207, 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Cultural Alliance of Greater Birmingham 205-458-1394 bwagnon@cultural-alliance.com
FEBRUARY COMMUNITY MEETING PLANNED IN TRUSSVILLE
Our next Friends of Red Mountain Park Community Meeting (Birmingham/Jefferson County area) is scheduled for February 8th at the Trussville Public Library. Please join us at 6 pm to hear about all the plans we've made for 2010. We will be presenting the newest developments with the park and our various volunteer opportunities, and we will be available for any questions you might have. Bring a friend!
Our next Friends of Red Mountain Park Community Meeting (Birmingham/Jefferson County area) is scheduled for February 8th at the Trussville Public Library. Please join us at 6 pm to hear about all the plans we've made for 2010. We will be presenting the newest developments with the park and our various volunteer opportunities, and we will be available for any questions you might have. Bring a friend!
The Historic Mobile Preservation Society will be hosting the 2010 Mobile Historic Homes Tour on Friday, March 19, and Saturday, March 20, from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. This year's tour will feature five homes in Ashland Place, one of Mobile's most prestigious historic neighborhoods.
Ashland Place was established in the early 1900s and is Mobile's oldest subdivision. It was home to Mobile's lumber barons and business leaders. Many of the homes continue to be occupied by the original owner's families, a unique characteristic of this historic area. A walkable neighborhood nestled under Mobile's famous live oak canopy, Ashland Place features homes in a variety of architectural styles - from a grand Georgian Revival to charming a Craftsman Bungalow. This year's tour will showcase how contemporary families have adapted these lovely historic homes for today's use.
Ashland Place was established in the early 1900s and is Mobile's oldest subdivision. It was home to Mobile's lumber barons and business leaders. Many of the homes continue to be occupied by the original owner's families, a unique characteristic of this historic area. A walkable neighborhood nestled under Mobile's famous live oak canopy, Ashland Place features homes in a variety of architectural styles - from a grand Georgian Revival to charming a Craftsman Bungalow. This year's tour will showcase how contemporary families have adapted these lovely historic homes for today's use.
Sunday, Feb. 7 Kick-Off for Alabama's Civil Rights Trail, by Frye Gaillard
Discussion, Roundtable and Reception
Sponsored by University of Alabama Press/ hosted by Troy University
Rosa Parks Library Auditorium & Exhibition Hall, 4:00 - 7:00 pm
"No other state has embraced and preserved its civil rights history more thoroughly than Alabama. Nor is there a place where that history is richer. Alabama's Civil Rights Trail tells of Alabama's great civil rights events, as well as its lesser-known moments, in a compact and accessible narrative, paired with a practical guide to Alabama's preserved civil rights sites and monuments.
In his history of Alabama's civil rights movement, Cradle of Freedom (University of Alabama Press, 2004), Frye Gaillard contends that Alabama played the lead role in a historic movement that made all citizens of the nation, black and white, more free. This book, geared toward the casual traveler and the serious student alike, showcases in a vividly illustrated and compelling manner, valuable and rich details. It provides a user-friendly, graphic tool for the growing number of travelers, students, and civil rights pilgrims who visit the state annually.
The story of the civil rights movement in Alabama is told city by city, region by region, and town by town, with entries on Montgomery, Birmingham, Selma, Tuscaloosa, Tuskegee, and Mobile, as well as chapters on the Black Belt and the Alabama hill country. Smaller but important locales such as Greensboro, Monroeville, and Scottsboro are included, as are more obscure sites like Hale County's Safe House Black History Museum and the birthplace of the Black Panther Party in Lowndes County."
Discussion, Roundtable and Reception
Sponsored by University of Alabama Press/ hosted by Troy University
Rosa Parks Library Auditorium & Exhibition Hall, 4:00 - 7:00 pm
"No other state has embraced and preserved its civil rights history more thoroughly than Alabama. Nor is there a place where that history is richer. Alabama's Civil Rights Trail tells of Alabama's great civil rights events, as well as its lesser-known moments, in a compact and accessible narrative, paired with a practical guide to Alabama's preserved civil rights sites and monuments.
In his history of Alabama's civil rights movement, Cradle of Freedom (University of Alabama Press, 2004), Frye Gaillard contends that Alabama played the lead role in a historic movement that made all citizens of the nation, black and white, more free. This book, geared toward the casual traveler and the serious student alike, showcases in a vividly illustrated and compelling manner, valuable and rich details. It provides a user-friendly, graphic tool for the growing number of travelers, students, and civil rights pilgrims who visit the state annually.
The story of the civil rights movement in Alabama is told city by city, region by region, and town by town, with entries on Montgomery, Birmingham, Selma, Tuscaloosa, Tuskegee, and Mobile, as well as chapters on the Black Belt and the Alabama hill country. Smaller but important locales such as Greensboro, Monroeville, and Scottsboro are included, as are more obscure sites like Hale County's Safe House Black History Museum and the birthplace of the Black Panther Party in Lowndes County."
The U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville will be offering a special 3-day Jedi Experience overnight camp during the Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination exhibit from June 25 - Sept. 6. The camps will use both Space Camp and the rocket center's museum facilities for their activities. Programs include overnight lodging with the option of a Parent/Child weekend Jedi Experience or a 3-day/2-night youth Jedi Experience during the week. Both programs are designed for 7-12 year olds. A Jedi Experience day camp is also being considered.
Jedi Experience focuses on the principals and moral codes surrounding the training of a Jedi Knight. It is an educational look into the scientific, technological, historical and cultural trappings of the Star Wars universe, with real world parallels. Parent/Child Jedi Experience campers spend Friday afternoon through Sunday morning immersed in the world of Star Wars. Each team (one parent or guardian and one child ages 7-12; two parents and two children, etc.) will be guided through their training by a Jedi instructor. All of the camp's events take place in various Star Wars themed classrooms. All attendees receive log book, pen, T-shirt, graduation certificate and team photo. The 3 day/2 night youth experience is Monday - Wednesday. Cost is $450 per person for either camp. There will be a limited capacity and camps are expected to fill up quickly.
"Between the exhibit itself and now, Jedi Experience, we believe this summer, Huntsville will be the place to be," says Holly Beach, the U.S. Space & Rocket Center's Vice President of Marketing. She adds, "It has the potential to bring millions of dollars into the local economy." "We want the people who will come to Huntsville to see the Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination exhibit to stay a little longer and do a little more. It's a great opportunity to show off what we have here in North Alabama and everyone will benefit," Beach says.
For more information on the Jedi Experience please see http://www.spacecamp.com/landing/jedi/
Jedi Experience focuses on the principals and moral codes surrounding the training of a Jedi Knight. It is an educational look into the scientific, technological, historical and cultural trappings of the Star Wars universe, with real world parallels. Parent/Child Jedi Experience campers spend Friday afternoon through Sunday morning immersed in the world of Star Wars. Each team (one parent or guardian and one child ages 7-12; two parents and two children, etc.) will be guided through their training by a Jedi instructor. All of the camp's events take place in various Star Wars themed classrooms. All attendees receive log book, pen, T-shirt, graduation certificate and team photo. The 3 day/2 night youth experience is Monday - Wednesday. Cost is $450 per person for either camp. There will be a limited capacity and camps are expected to fill up quickly.
"Between the exhibit itself and now, Jedi Experience, we believe this summer, Huntsville will be the place to be," says Holly Beach, the U.S. Space & Rocket Center's Vice President of Marketing. She adds, "It has the potential to bring millions of dollars into the local economy." "We want the people who will come to Huntsville to see the Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination exhibit to stay a little longer and do a little more. It's a great opportunity to show off what we have here in North Alabama and everyone will benefit," Beach says.
For more information on the Jedi Experience please see http://www.spacecamp.com/landing/jedi/
Collegeville Neighborhood Plan
In early December, the RPCGB staff, with the Auburn Urban Design Studio and the UAB College of Engineering presented a plan for the Collegeville Neighborhood of Birmingham. The attendance was excellent with over 75 neighborhood members present.
Elements of the plan considered by the neighborhood included a pedestrian underpass on Shuttlesworth Drive, a vehicular and pedestrian bridge on 34th Street and a recommended Fire Station on the northeast corner of 34th Street.
The planning team is finalizing the plan and the finished product will include all conceptual designs and funding recommendations. These projects combined with the Finley Boulevard Extension will begin to correct decades of isolation for this historic neighborhood.
This project is funded through the Metropolitan Planning Organization's Building Communities Program. For additional information please contact Steve Ostaseski at smo@rpcgb.org.
16th Street Corridor Study and Conceptual Streetscape Plan
The RPCGB is evolving the draft of the 16th Street Study and Conceptual Streetscape Plan for Fountain Heights. The RPCGB met with the City of Birmingham in December to discuss the draft and move forward with the study. The RPCGB looks forward to another public meeting in the coming month to present the draft plan to the residents of Fountain Heights. The Fountain Heights Neighborhood Association and the City of Birmingham have requested assistance from the Regional Planning Commission through the Building Communities Program to complete this study. For additional information please contact Richard Amore, Senior Planner with the RPCGB at ramore@rpcgb.org.
City of Leeds Master Plan
The Leeds Master Plan is moving forward with the completed first installment of the draft Master Plan. The draft of the first installment of the Master Plan includes a community assessment that shows the existing conditions, which include the environmental analysis, a demographic study and an overview of the City of Leeds services and infrastructure. The RPCGB met with the Planning Commission and the Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce to gather input into the master plan process in December. The RPCGB looks forward to kicking off the public involvement meetings in the coming months to gather input from the residents of Leeds. The City of Leeds have requested assistance from the Regional Planning Commission through the Building Communities Program to complete the Master Plan for the City. For additional information please contact Richard Amore, Senior Planner with the RPCGB at ramore@rpcgb.org.
City of Fairfield Master Plan
The RPCGB Community Planning Department is working with the City of Fairfield to develop a new Master Plan. The RPCGB will be working closely with the Economic Development Department in Fairfield to look at downtown redevelopment, interstate access, greyfield redevelopment and neighborhood improvement initiatives. For additional information please contact Philip Amthor, Planner with the RPCGB at pamthor@rpcgb.org.
City of Bessemer Master Plan
The RPCGB continues to work with Bessemer on a new Master Plan, focusing on neighborhood redevelopment strategies, commercial redevelopment oriented to US 11/Bessemer Superhighway, and transit plans connecting newer development near I-459 and I-20/59. For additional information please contact Philip Amthor, Planner with the RPCGB at pamthor@rpcgb.org.
In early December, the RPCGB staff, with the Auburn Urban Design Studio and the UAB College of Engineering presented a plan for the Collegeville Neighborhood of Birmingham. The attendance was excellent with over 75 neighborhood members present.
Elements of the plan considered by the neighborhood included a pedestrian underpass on Shuttlesworth Drive, a vehicular and pedestrian bridge on 34th Street and a recommended Fire Station on the northeast corner of 34th Street.
The planning team is finalizing the plan and the finished product will include all conceptual designs and funding recommendations. These projects combined with the Finley Boulevard Extension will begin to correct decades of isolation for this historic neighborhood.
This project is funded through the Metropolitan Planning Organization's Building Communities Program. For additional information please contact Steve Ostaseski at smo@rpcgb.org.
16th Street Corridor Study and Conceptual Streetscape Plan
The RPCGB is evolving the draft of the 16th Street Study and Conceptual Streetscape Plan for Fountain Heights. The RPCGB met with the City of Birmingham in December to discuss the draft and move forward with the study. The RPCGB looks forward to another public meeting in the coming month to present the draft plan to the residents of Fountain Heights. The Fountain Heights Neighborhood Association and the City of Birmingham have requested assistance from the Regional Planning Commission through the Building Communities Program to complete this study. For additional information please contact Richard Amore, Senior Planner with the RPCGB at ramore@rpcgb.org.
City of Leeds Master Plan
The Leeds Master Plan is moving forward with the completed first installment of the draft Master Plan. The draft of the first installment of the Master Plan includes a community assessment that shows the existing conditions, which include the environmental analysis, a demographic study and an overview of the City of Leeds services and infrastructure. The RPCGB met with the Planning Commission and the Leeds Area Chamber of Commerce to gather input into the master plan process in December. The RPCGB looks forward to kicking off the public involvement meetings in the coming months to gather input from the residents of Leeds. The City of Leeds have requested assistance from the Regional Planning Commission through the Building Communities Program to complete the Master Plan for the City. For additional information please contact Richard Amore, Senior Planner with the RPCGB at ramore@rpcgb.org.
City of Fairfield Master Plan
The RPCGB Community Planning Department is working with the City of Fairfield to develop a new Master Plan. The RPCGB will be working closely with the Economic Development Department in Fairfield to look at downtown redevelopment, interstate access, greyfield redevelopment and neighborhood improvement initiatives. For additional information please contact Philip Amthor, Planner with the RPCGB at pamthor@rpcgb.org.
City of Bessemer Master Plan
The RPCGB continues to work with Bessemer on a new Master Plan, focusing on neighborhood redevelopment strategies, commercial redevelopment oriented to US 11/Bessemer Superhighway, and transit plans connecting newer development near I-459 and I-20/59. For additional information please contact Philip Amthor, Planner with the RPCGB at pamthor@rpcgb.org.
Montgomery,
Ala. - Alabama's gardens, trails, historic homes and parks light up
for the holiday season. Visitors can see historic homes decorated with
lights and holiday finery in Eufaula, Decatur, Opelika and Montgomery.
Parks in Arab and Florence offer dazzling light displays and winter
wonderlands, while gardens in Huntsville and Mobile showcase more than
three million lights and hundreds of displays.
Catch spectacular holiday displays at these 10 Alabama Tourism recommended Holiday Light Festivals:
Arab -- Christmas in the Park
November 27-January 1
For the 14th consecutive year, the City of Arab will offer a dazzling display of nearly two million holiday lights that transform the park into a winter wonderland. Visitors will enjoy holiday music and special decorations in the Historic Complex, which features an old church, a school and an operational gristmill. 256.586.8128, www.arabcity.org.
Mobile -- Bellingrath Gardens -- Magic Christmas in Lights
November 27-December 31
Stroll through a wonderland of more than three million twinkling lights and 600 custom-designed holiday displays during Magic Christmas in Lights at Bellingrath Gardens in Mobile. Tour the historic Bellingrath Home decorated in its holiday finery, enjoy nightly entertainment and visit with Santa. 251.973.2217, www.bellingrath.org.
Birmingham -- Zoolight Safari at the Birmingham Zoo
December 4-30
Ride the Zoolight Express train while enjoying a half-million twinkling lights. The spirit is festive and the tradition comes complete with hot cocoa, a light show synchronized to favorite holiday tunes and appearances by Santa. 205.879.0409, www.birminghamzoo.com.
Decatur -- Christmas Tour of Homes
December 12
Decatur's historic districts are decorated with luminaries, greenery and thousands of lights. Several homes are open for tours. Refreshments are served and carriage rides are available. Tour from 4-8 p.m. 256.350.2028, www.decaturcvb.org.
Eufaula -- Christmas Tour of Homes
December 5
Visitors can stroll through downtown to see the antebellum homes aglow in holiday splendor. 334.687.6664, www.eufaula-barbourchamber.com.
Florence -- Open House & Festival of Lights
December 4
Florence businesses and Wilson Park will be decorated in lights for Christmas. Visitors can shop while listening to music on the street corners and in the park. The jingle of bells on horses giving carriage rides adds to the festive atmosphere. 256.740.4141, www.flo-tour.org.
Huntsville -- Galaxy of Lights Holiday Light Show
November 20 - January 2
Celebrate the holiday season with a drive or a stroll through the Huntsville Botanical Garden.
The walk-through takes place November 20-24 while the drive-through is November 26-January 2, 2010. This magnificent holiday light extravaganza features thousands of lights and more than 600 lighted displays arranged in 125 varied holiday scenes and themes, including a Patriotic Celebration, Winter Wonderland, Santa's Workshop, Christmas Celebrations, Nursery Rhymes, Birds, Bees and Butterflies. 256.830.4447, www.hsvbg.org.
Montgomery -- Governor's Mansion Candlelight Open House
December 7, 14, 21
Governor and Mrs. Bob Riley will open the Governor's Mansion for candlelight tours from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on each Monday night in December leading up to Christmas. The 1907 Colonial Revival mansion located at 1142 South Perry Street in Montgomery will be aglow with lights and filled with the spirit of the season. 1.800.ALABAMA, www.alabama.travel.
Montgomery Zoo -- Christmas Light Festival
November 25 and November 27-December 31
Thousands of lights illuminate the pathways on a leisurely stroll through the Montgomery Zoo during the city's Holiday Lights Festival. Visitors can ride the train through the forested wonderland and see animals come alive in lighted displays. 334.240.4900, www.montgomeryzoo.com.
Opelika --Victorian Christmas
December 9-13
Step back in time with a visit to an Ole World Christmas wonderland in Opelika. On the Victorian Front Porch Christmas Tour, visitors will see more than 60 turn-of-the-century homes in all their lighted glory featuring life-sized Santa's, angels, toy displays and carousel horses. Also enjoy live holiday entertainment. 334.887.8747, www.aotourism.com.
Budget Travel magazine is currently accepting nominations for its 2010 America's Coolest Small Towns Readers' Choice Poll. From now until Nov. 22, 2009, go to www.budgettravel.com/coolestsmalltowns to nominate your picks for the coolest small town in America. As part of the nomination process, you can also upload your own photos and videos of unique town features. Then return to the website on January 12, 2010 to vote. Budget Travel is looking for a town that has a population of fewer than 10,000 people- small towns, not big cities. The town has also got to be on the upswing, a place that's beginning to draw attention - and new residents - because of the quality of life, the arts and restaurant scene, or the proximity to nature. Towns with an edge, so think avant-garde galleries not quaint country stores. Budget Travel's Readers' Choice Poll debuted in 2009. "We knew from past experience that readers loved the Coolest Small Towns concept, but we built the poll tool for fun-- and we were a little surprised to see such a huge response," said Steve Merrill, the GM of BudgetTravel.com. "We received more than 100,000 votes, published almost 1,500 thoughtful reader comments, and then heard from the governor of Maine, who issued an official proclamation calling on Maine residents to vote for Rockland, Maine. It was wild." The 2009 winners were featured at BudgetTravel.com, in an exclusive segment of The Early Show on CBS, and in the October 2009 issue of the print magazine.
For more information please see www.budgettravel.com/coolestsmalltowns
For more information please see www.budgettravel.com/coolestsmalltowns
The December issue of Southern Living magazine has a special 8-page feature article on the historic town of Mooresville located in North Alabama. Mooresville is located between Huntsville and Decatur and has retained the look of a 19th century village complete with historic homes and buildings, white picket fences and tree lined streets. The Mooresville Post Office (1840) is the oldest continually operating post office in the state of Alabama and one of the oldest in the country. The entire town is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was chosen by Walt Disney Pictures as the primary filming location for the movie Tom and Huck (1995) based on the classic novel by Mark Twain.
From the article "A Small Town's Christmas in the South" by Tanner C. Latham in Southern Living magazine:
The tiny town of Mooresville, Alabama, knows how to celebrate the season: Get everyone involved, serve great food, and keep it fun. The town's annual Progressive Dinner does all three- and shows why this community captures the holiday spirit like nowhere else. You really begin to grasp the smallness of Mooresville, Alabama, when the whole town is stuffed into the foyer of Margaret-Anne and Kevin Crumlish's house on High Street. The entire population, 53, is here: The Prices, the McCrarys, the honorable Mayor Susan Golby, the Peebles, and on and on. Everyone here played a role in putting on this small-town holiday event, and it shows. On this night, at Mooresville's Christmas Progressive Dinner, the allure of small-town culture in the South is on display. Each of the stops shows off a different side of this place. Spend the night chatting and eating with the proud locals, and you get a glimpse of the community spirit that makes us glad we call the South home.
Why We Love Mooresville:
Because it will always be a small town: Mooresville is and always will be confined to three square blocks because it is hemmed in by Limestone Creek and Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge to the south and west, I-565 to the north and east, and self-imposed building codes.
Because it's full of beautiful historic homes: Visitors from all over frequent Mooresville to view the historic homes and buildings in this town, incorporated in 1818, one year and one month before Alabama's statehood. That interest creates some unusual moments, such as the time when Kathryn Price heard a commotion outside her home one Sunday morning. She cinched her bathrobe, opened her front door, and surprised a group of tourist posing for pictures on her front porch. "I think they thought our house was some kind of civic building," she says.
Because it's not stuck in time: "Mooresville holds on to the things that were great about its past, but it continues to grow and thrive," says local restaurateur Dee Green. "It's not a place captured in time." The mayor and five council members help manage the town's historic treasures, meeting at the pre-1825 original Stagecoach Inn and Tavern each month. Usually the main business is the preservation of Mooresville's three historic public buildings: the Tavern, the 1839 old Brick Church, and the 1840 Post Office. But they also handle more modern problems such as providing recycling services and addressing utilities issues.
Celebrate the season in Mooresville- join the Mooresville Yuletide Walking Tour, Dec. 6, 1-4 p.m.; www.mooresvillealabama.com, 256-355-2683, or 256-353-3628.
For the complete article please see the December issue of Southern Living magazine on newsstands now.
From the article "A Small Town's Christmas in the South" by Tanner C. Latham in Southern Living magazine:
The tiny town of Mooresville, Alabama, knows how to celebrate the season: Get everyone involved, serve great food, and keep it fun. The town's annual Progressive Dinner does all three- and shows why this community captures the holiday spirit like nowhere else. You really begin to grasp the smallness of Mooresville, Alabama, when the whole town is stuffed into the foyer of Margaret-Anne and Kevin Crumlish's house on High Street. The entire population, 53, is here: The Prices, the McCrarys, the honorable Mayor Susan Golby, the Peebles, and on and on. Everyone here played a role in putting on this small-town holiday event, and it shows. On this night, at Mooresville's Christmas Progressive Dinner, the allure of small-town culture in the South is on display. Each of the stops shows off a different side of this place. Spend the night chatting and eating with the proud locals, and you get a glimpse of the community spirit that makes us glad we call the South home.
Why We Love Mooresville:
Because it will always be a small town: Mooresville is and always will be confined to three square blocks because it is hemmed in by Limestone Creek and Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge to the south and west, I-565 to the north and east, and self-imposed building codes.
Because it's full of beautiful historic homes: Visitors from all over frequent Mooresville to view the historic homes and buildings in this town, incorporated in 1818, one year and one month before Alabama's statehood. That interest creates some unusual moments, such as the time when Kathryn Price heard a commotion outside her home one Sunday morning. She cinched her bathrobe, opened her front door, and surprised a group of tourist posing for pictures on her front porch. "I think they thought our house was some kind of civic building," she says.
Because it's not stuck in time: "Mooresville holds on to the things that were great about its past, but it continues to grow and thrive," says local restaurateur Dee Green. "It's not a place captured in time." The mayor and five council members help manage the town's historic treasures, meeting at the pre-1825 original Stagecoach Inn and Tavern each month. Usually the main business is the preservation of Mooresville's three historic public buildings: the Tavern, the 1839 old Brick Church, and the 1840 Post Office. But they also handle more modern problems such as providing recycling services and addressing utilities issues.
Celebrate the season in Mooresville- join the Mooresville Yuletide Walking Tour, Dec. 6, 1-4 p.m.; www.mooresvillealabama.com, 256-355-2683, or 256-353-3628.
For the complete article please see the December issue of Southern Living magazine on newsstands now.
16th Street Corridor Study and Conceptual Streetscape Plan
The RPCGB and the City of Birmingham conducted a successful public meeting on the 16th Street Corridor Study for the Fountain Heights Neighborhood on Tuesday, November 3rd. The RPCGB presented a overview of the project, the results from the Visual Preference Survey, and displayed conceptual alternatives based on the comments from the September 12th Fountain Heights Neighborhood Association Meeting. The residents of Fountain Heights comments and public input were insightful for guiding the future development of the 16th Street Corridor Plan. The Fountain Heights Neighborhood Association and the City of Birmingham have requested assistance from the Regional Planning Commission through the Building Communities Program to complete this study. For additional information please contact Richard Amore, Senior Planner with the RPCGB at ramore@rpcgb.org.
City of Calera adopted Subdivision Regulations
The City of Calera and the KPS Group conducted a successful public hearing on the City of Calera's subdivision regulations on Tuesday, November 3rd. The City of Calera's Planning Commission adopted the subdivision regulations on November 3rd and recommended the regulations to the City Council. The update to the city's zoning and subdivision regulations are funded by the RPCGB through the Building Communities Program. For additional information please contact Richard Amore, RPCGB Senior Planner, ramore@rpcgb.org or Jason Fondren with the KPS Group, jfondren@kpsgroup.
City of Leeds Master Plan
The RPCGB met with the City of Leeds Planning Commission of October 8th to go over the first installment of the draft Master Plan. The draft of the first installment of the Master Plan includes a community assessment that shows the existing conditions, which include the environmental analysis, a demographic study and an overview of the City of Leeds services and infrastructure.
The RPCGB will meet with the City of Leeds Planning Commission on Thursday, November 12th to collect any comments from the Commissioners, Councilors and City Staff. The RPCGB and the City of Leeds are seeking a date in December for a public meeting on the Master Plan. The public meeting date will be confirmed in the next few weeks. The City of Leeds have requested assistance from the RPCGB through the Building Communities Program to complete the Master Plan for the City. For additional information please contact Richard Amore, Senior Planner with the RPCGB at ramore@rpcgb.org.
City of Irondale to Examine Commercial Corridor Areas
The City of Irondale has contracted with the RPCGB and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) to examine the land use and transportation issues along three important commerce corridor areas within the City of Irondale. The project will examine and report findings within concentric drive time areas for the three geographic targets defined by the City. Through a comprehensive analysis of the community's economy and demography, RPCGB will compile an inventory of existing retail businesses and identify the most promising types of retail prospects for economic development for the market. In addition to a market assessment, RPCGB will also develop a transportation plan for the City of Irondale which will include a circulation review, roadway assessments, and improvement recommendations.
City of Jemison Master Plan Completed
The City of Jemison's Master Plan was completed and adopted in recent months. The plan addresses growth and future development within the next twenty years and examines the city's current policies that relate to the changing conditions in the area and region. To look at the City of Jemison's Master Plan please visit the RPCGB website.
To see a complete list of community planning projects completed in 2009, visit the Community Planning section of the RPCGB website.
The RPCGB and the City of Birmingham conducted a successful public meeting on the 16th Street Corridor Study for the Fountain Heights Neighborhood on Tuesday, November 3rd. The RPCGB presented a overview of the project, the results from the Visual Preference Survey, and displayed conceptual alternatives based on the comments from the September 12th Fountain Heights Neighborhood Association Meeting. The residents of Fountain Heights comments and public input were insightful for guiding the future development of the 16th Street Corridor Plan. The Fountain Heights Neighborhood Association and the City of Birmingham have requested assistance from the Regional Planning Commission through the Building Communities Program to complete this study. For additional information please contact Richard Amore, Senior Planner with the RPCGB at ramore@rpcgb.org.
City of Calera adopted Subdivision Regulations
The City of Calera and the KPS Group conducted a successful public hearing on the City of Calera's subdivision regulations on Tuesday, November 3rd. The City of Calera's Planning Commission adopted the subdivision regulations on November 3rd and recommended the regulations to the City Council. The update to the city's zoning and subdivision regulations are funded by the RPCGB through the Building Communities Program. For additional information please contact Richard Amore, RPCGB Senior Planner, ramore@rpcgb.org or Jason Fondren with the KPS Group, jfondren@kpsgroup.
City of Leeds Master Plan
The RPCGB met with the City of Leeds Planning Commission of October 8th to go over the first installment of the draft Master Plan. The draft of the first installment of the Master Plan includes a community assessment that shows the existing conditions, which include the environmental analysis, a demographic study and an overview of the City of Leeds services and infrastructure.
The RPCGB will meet with the City of Leeds Planning Commission on Thursday, November 12th to collect any comments from the Commissioners, Councilors and City Staff. The RPCGB and the City of Leeds are seeking a date in December for a public meeting on the Master Plan. The public meeting date will be confirmed in the next few weeks. The City of Leeds have requested assistance from the RPCGB through the Building Communities Program to complete the Master Plan for the City. For additional information please contact Richard Amore, Senior Planner with the RPCGB at ramore@rpcgb.org.
City of Irondale to Examine Commercial Corridor Areas
The City of Irondale has contracted with the RPCGB and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) to examine the land use and transportation issues along three important commerce corridor areas within the City of Irondale. The project will examine and report findings within concentric drive time areas for the three geographic targets defined by the City. Through a comprehensive analysis of the community's economy and demography, RPCGB will compile an inventory of existing retail businesses and identify the most promising types of retail prospects for economic development for the market. In addition to a market assessment, RPCGB will also develop a transportation plan for the City of Irondale which will include a circulation review, roadway assessments, and improvement recommendations.
City of Jemison Master Plan Completed
The City of Jemison's Master Plan was completed and adopted in recent months. The plan addresses growth and future development within the next twenty years and examines the city's current policies that relate to the changing conditions in the area and region. To look at the City of Jemison's Master Plan please visit the RPCGB website.
To see a complete list of community planning projects completed in 2009, visit the Community Planning section of the RPCGB website.
The Wiregrass Museum of Art was one of 167 museums to receive federal funding in the amount of $62,080 from the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences as part of a Museums for America (MFA) grant. The MFA grant will allow the Wiregrass Museum of Art to create ART24, an interactive series of six visual arts experiences targeting a wide range of audiences. Each experience will feature a different artist, medium, subject matter, and collection of participant activities, which will take place both inside and outside the museum. ART 24 will also result in a community gallery and a community advisory team that will continue to connect with and guide the museum regarding future collections, programs, and exhibits. "This award will direct a year-long, major program of service to our community and strengthen all areas of museums operations," said Wiregrass Museum of Art Executive Director Susan Robertson. "We are honored that our peers in the industry support and believe in our ability to inspire our audiences." The first ART24 experience will bring multi-media artist Randy Gachet to Dothan on Dec. 3. Visit www.wiregrassmuseum.org for an up-to-date schedule of events and future ART24 experiences.
2nd Annual Fruitcake Festival
Friday, November 13, 2009
Monroeville, Alabama, Old Courthouse Museum
Truman Capote's holiday classic "A Christmas Memory" is set just blocks from our Courthouse Square. But since those gentle days of Buddy and Sook, our once grand fruitcake has become the butt of holiday jokes. Please join the noble citizens of Monroeville as we return the fruitcake to its rightful place as Queen of the Christmas Dessert Table. "It's fruitcake weather!" is our battle cry!
Monroeville, Ala., will hold its second annual Fruitcake Festival, Friday, Nov. 13, at the Old Courthouse Museum on the town square. The allday event is a celebration of Truman Capote and the holiday dessert immortalized in his enduring holiday classic, "A Christmas Memory." The festival includes fruitcake sales and auctions, recipe exchanges, Capote-related Christmas gifts and homemade kites similar to the ones Sook and Truman make in the story. The event is sponsored by the Monroe County Heritage Museum's Endowment Fund.
Master storyteller Dolores Hydock ends the festive day by bringing Capote's nostalgic Christmas classic to life in the courtroom at 7 p.m. Tickets for the reading are $25 and include a holiday reception with fruitcake, of course!
Capote's tender tale of family, friendship and fruitcakes is set in Monroeville -- just a few blocks from the Courthouse where Capote spent his childhood with his eldery cousins, the Faulks. The short story is one of Capote's most popular works and is built around an annual ritual he shared with Sook Faulk of gathering ingredients and making 30 fruitcakes as Christmas presents for people who struck their fancy ranging from the bus driver who waved on his way to Mobile each day to President Franklin Roosevelt.
The story begins on a chilly autumn morning with Sook standing at the window to utter the famous line, "It's fruitcake weather!" In the 1930s, when "A Christmas Memory" is set, fruitcakes were a cherished holiday tradition. Today, however, the often maligned fruitcake is more likely the punch line of holiday jokes.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Monroeville, Alabama, Old Courthouse Museum
Truman Capote's holiday classic "A Christmas Memory" is set just blocks from our Courthouse Square. But since those gentle days of Buddy and Sook, our once grand fruitcake has become the butt of holiday jokes. Please join the noble citizens of Monroeville as we return the fruitcake to its rightful place as Queen of the Christmas Dessert Table. "It's fruitcake weather!" is our battle cry!
Monroeville, Ala., will hold its second annual Fruitcake Festival, Friday, Nov. 13, at the Old Courthouse Museum on the town square. The allday event is a celebration of Truman Capote and the holiday dessert immortalized in his enduring holiday classic, "A Christmas Memory." The festival includes fruitcake sales and auctions, recipe exchanges, Capote-related Christmas gifts and homemade kites similar to the ones Sook and Truman make in the story. The event is sponsored by the Monroe County Heritage Museum's Endowment Fund.
Master storyteller Dolores Hydock ends the festive day by bringing Capote's nostalgic Christmas classic to life in the courtroom at 7 p.m. Tickets for the reading are $25 and include a holiday reception with fruitcake, of course!
Capote's tender tale of family, friendship and fruitcakes is set in Monroeville -- just a few blocks from the Courthouse where Capote spent his childhood with his eldery cousins, the Faulks. The short story is one of Capote's most popular works and is built around an annual ritual he shared with Sook Faulk of gathering ingredients and making 30 fruitcakes as Christmas presents for people who struck their fancy ranging from the bus driver who waved on his way to Mobile each day to President Franklin Roosevelt.
The story begins on a chilly autumn morning with Sook standing at the window to utter the famous line, "It's fruitcake weather!" In the 1930s, when "A Christmas Memory" is set, fruitcakes were a cherished holiday tradition. Today, however, the often maligned fruitcake is more likely the punch line of holiday jokes.
Travel and hotel review metasearch site UpTake ranked Oak Mountain State Park near Birmingham second on a list of the "11 Best Places To See Fall Leaves" in the United States. From the UpTake listing: "Oak Mountain State Park is Alabama's largest state park. This nearly 10,000 acre forest is featured on several sightseeing lists. Admission is only $3 for adults on weekends and holidays. You can visit the park for fall foliage viewing from 7am to sundown." UpTake collects travel information from 5,000 sources including TravelPost, Expedia, Orbitz, Fodors, Travelocity, Hotels.com, TripAdvisor and Yahoo! Travel. UpTake analyzes and organizes the opinions of more than 20 million U.S. travelers for its website. The UpTake website has more than one million visitors a month. http://www.uptake.com/blog/family_vacations/best-fall-foliage-scenic-drives_5763.html
Oak Mountain State Park is the first site listed on the Alabama Tourism Department's Fall Color Trail. The Fall Color Trail promotion is being coordinated by tourism department staff member Brian Jones. An interactive map on the Alabama Tourism Department's website allows visitors to see the predicted fall color change for each weekend this fall. The map, list of recommended viewing sites and a Circle of Color driving route are all available on the state tourism website. http://www.alabama.travel/activities/tours-and-trails/fall-color-trail/.
Oak Mountain State Park is the first site listed on the Alabama Tourism Department's Fall Color Trail. The Fall Color Trail promotion is being coordinated by tourism department staff member Brian Jones. An interactive map on the Alabama Tourism Department's website allows visitors to see the predicted fall color change for each weekend this fall. The map, list of recommended viewing sites and a Circle of Color driving route are all available on the state tourism website. http://www.alabama.travel/activities/tours-and-trails/fall-color-trail/.
An interactive map on the Alabama Tourism Department's website allows visitors to see the predicted fall color change for each weekend this fall. The map, a list of recommended viewing sites and a Circle of Color driving route are all available on the state tourism website at www.alabama.travel. Alabama State Parks are some of the best places to enjoy the fall color change. Joe Wheeler has an excellent viewing spot next to the dam and near the cabin area on the Lawrence County side. Autumn scenery can be found at DeSoto State Park at Little River Canyon and DeSoto Falls. Monte Sano has views of the Tennessee Valley along the Warpath Ridge Trail and its overlook. Cheaha's Bald Rock and Pulpit Rock trails both have excellent views. Cheaha is the highest point in the state at 2,407 feet above sea level.
With cooler days and lower humidity, autumn is a wonderful time to enjoy Alabama's many fall festivals and events. Lee Sentell, director of the Alabama Tourism Department, recommends several events designed around being outdoors and enjoying the beautiful fall weather.
Outdoor events scheduled for this fall include:
· Alabama Renaissance Faire in Florence on Oct. 24-25
· National Peanut Festival in Dothan on Oct. 30-Nov. 7
· Original German Sausage Festival in Elberta on Oct. 31
· Harvest Celebration in Hoover on Oct. 31
· Alabama Frontier Days in Wetumpka on Nov. 4-8
· Pike Road Arts and Crafts Festival in Pike Road on Nov.7
· Cayne Syrup Makin' Day in Beatirce on Nov. 7
· National Veterans Day Parade in Birmingham on Nov. 11
For a complete list of fall events see the Calendar of Events at www.alabama.travel. For more information on Fall Colors in Alabama and to see the interactive map go to http://www.alabama.travel/activities/tours-and-trails/fall-color-trail/.
With cooler days and lower humidity, autumn is a wonderful time to enjoy Alabama's many fall festivals and events. Lee Sentell, director of the Alabama Tourism Department, recommends several events designed around being outdoors and enjoying the beautiful fall weather.
Outdoor events scheduled for this fall include:
· Alabama Renaissance Faire in Florence on Oct. 24-25
· National Peanut Festival in Dothan on Oct. 30-Nov. 7
· Original German Sausage Festival in Elberta on Oct. 31
· Harvest Celebration in Hoover on Oct. 31
· Alabama Frontier Days in Wetumpka on Nov. 4-8
· Pike Road Arts and Crafts Festival in Pike Road on Nov.7
· Cayne Syrup Makin' Day in Beatirce on Nov. 7
· National Veterans Day Parade in Birmingham on Nov. 11
For a complete list of fall events see the Calendar of Events at www.alabama.travel. For more information on Fall Colors in Alabama and to see the interactive map go to http://www.alabama.travel/activities/tours-and-trails/fall-color-trail/.
Community Planning for Collegeville
The RPCGB is working with Auburn University's Center for Architecture and Urban Studies, UAB's Civil Engineering Department and the Collegeville community on several initiatives to improve transportation, housing capacity, community open spaces and urban design.
Among the opportunities for planning and design is the location of Collegeville's Bethel Baptist Church on the City of Birmingham's Civil Rights Trail. The team will design and plan for increased tourism and event opportunities in and around Bethel. The team will also work to add vehicle and pedestrian bridges needed for transportation over the various railroads tracks the surround and run through the community. Plans are also in the works for the extension of Finley Boulevard through the southern part of the community that will include bridges over several railroad tracks increasing vehicle traffic in the neighborhood. The RPCGB will collaborate on all initiatives and will focus on the implementation strategies for the various plans and projects. For additional information please contact Philip Amthor with the RPCGB at pamthor@rpcgb.org
16th Street Corridor Study and Conceptual Streetscape Plan
The RPCGB and the City of Birmingham conducted a successful meeting with the Fountain Heights Neighborhood Association on Saturday September 12th 2009. The residents of Fountain Heights completed a Visual Preference Survey for the 16th Street Corridor Study. The results of the Visual Preference Survey will be presented at the next Neighborhood Association Meeting on Saturday October 3rd at 10am at the Chapel in the Oak Hill Cemetery. The Fountain Heights Neighborhood Association and the City of Birmingham have requested assistance from the Regional Planning Commission through the Building Communities Program to complete this study. For additional information please contact Richard Amore, Senior Planner with the RPCGB at ramore@rpcgb.org.
City of Calera Public Meeting
The City of Calera will conduct a public meeting on the City of Calera's Zoning and Sign Ordinance on October 19th at 6pm at City Hall. The update to the city's comprehensive plan and development regulations are funded by the RPCGB through the Building Communities Program. For additional information please contact Richard Amore, RPCGB Senior Planner at ramore@rpcgb.org or Jason Fondren with the KPS Group at jfondren@kpsgroup.
Jemison Adopts New Zoning Code
The Jemison City council recently adopted their new Zoning Code. In a meeting on Monday September 21st the City Council adopted the new code prepared by RPCGB. This concludes months of work on the part of the City of Jemison Planning Commission.
International Walk to School Day
On October 7, 2009 the RPCGB will co-sponsor the International Walk to School Day at Leeds Elementary. The event is held once a year and is used to help promote physical activity, pedestrian safety and concern for the environment. They will hold a coloring contest, puppet shows that will emphasize walking, biking, school buses and parent-drop off at school. The walk with start at 8:30 a.m. with the activities following the walk.
The RPCGB is working with Auburn University's Center for Architecture and Urban Studies, UAB's Civil Engineering Department and the Collegeville community on several initiatives to improve transportation, housing capacity, community open spaces and urban design.
Among the opportunities for planning and design is the location of Collegeville's Bethel Baptist Church on the City of Birmingham's Civil Rights Trail. The team will design and plan for increased tourism and event opportunities in and around Bethel. The team will also work to add vehicle and pedestrian bridges needed for transportation over the various railroads tracks the surround and run through the community. Plans are also in the works for the extension of Finley Boulevard through the southern part of the community that will include bridges over several railroad tracks increasing vehicle traffic in the neighborhood. The RPCGB will collaborate on all initiatives and will focus on the implementation strategies for the various plans and projects. For additional information please contact Philip Amthor with the RPCGB at pamthor@rpcgb.org
16th Street Corridor Study and Conceptual Streetscape Plan
The RPCGB and the City of Birmingham conducted a successful meeting with the Fountain Heights Neighborhood Association on Saturday September 12th 2009. The residents of Fountain Heights completed a Visual Preference Survey for the 16th Street Corridor Study. The results of the Visual Preference Survey will be presented at the next Neighborhood Association Meeting on Saturday October 3rd at 10am at the Chapel in the Oak Hill Cemetery. The Fountain Heights Neighborhood Association and the City of Birmingham have requested assistance from the Regional Planning Commission through the Building Communities Program to complete this study. For additional information please contact Richard Amore, Senior Planner with the RPCGB at ramore@rpcgb.org.
City of Calera Public Meeting
The City of Calera will conduct a public meeting on the City of Calera's Zoning and Sign Ordinance on October 19th at 6pm at City Hall. The update to the city's comprehensive plan and development regulations are funded by the RPCGB through the Building Communities Program. For additional information please contact Richard Amore, RPCGB Senior Planner at ramore@rpcgb.org or Jason Fondren with the KPS Group at jfondren@kpsgroup.
Jemison Adopts New Zoning Code
The Jemison City council recently adopted their new Zoning Code. In a meeting on Monday September 21st the City Council adopted the new code prepared by RPCGB. This concludes months of work on the part of the City of Jemison Planning Commission.
International Walk to School Day
On October 7, 2009 the RPCGB will co-sponsor the International Walk to School Day at Leeds Elementary. The event is held once a year and is used to help promote physical activity, pedestrian safety and concern for the environment. They will hold a coloring contest, puppet shows that will emphasize walking, biking, school buses and parent-drop off at school. The walk with start at 8:30 a.m. with the activities following the walk.
Watch as the original snowbirds stop off to check their flight gear in preparation for their migration to the southern hemisphere.
Each year thousands of neo-tropical migratory birds stop on the Alabama coast to gear up for their annual trek to more temperate climates. The Hummer/Bird Study Group (HBSG) conducts a bird banding at Fort Morgan State Park. Birds are captured, measured, banded and released in order to monitor population and study the effects of weather upon migration patterns. Visit Fort Morgan any morning between October 10 and 22. You may even get the chance to hold, adopt and release a bird before it begins its long journey across the Gulf of Mexico.
The Alabama Gulf Coast is a
nature lover's paradise. Make a landing at Nature & Trailsfor a list of all the great ways to get in touch with your wild side.
And while you're here, be sure to explore the Alabama Coastal Birding Trail, a series of wildlife areas offering an astounding array
of avian adventures.
(from the Alabama Gulf Coast Convention and Visitor's Bureau)
BayFest Music Festival, 15th Annual
Mobile; Oct 2-4
An outdoor music festival in Alabama's historic port city on Mobile Bay. More than 125 national, regional and local musical acts, featuring everything from country and classic rock to jazz and gospel.
Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention
Athens; Oct 2-3
Music lovers and musicians from more than 30 states come together for one of the largest fiddlers' conventions in the nation. Competition in 18 categories, plus more than 150 booths, tasty treats, and arts and crafts.
Moundville Native American Festival, 21st Annual
Moundville; Oct 7-10
Celebrate the lifeways of Southeastern American Indians with some 26 earthen pyramidal mounds serving as a backdrop. Festival features a living history encampment, demonstration arbors, children's area, arts and crafts, music, dance, storytelling and food.
National Shrimp Festival, 38th Annual
Gulf Shores; Oct 8-11
Delicious food, fine arts and crafts, children's art village, live entertainment (local and national acts), sand sculpture contest and more.
Plantasia! Fall Plant Sale
Mobile; Oct 15-18
Thousands of plants, including camellias, azaleas, hydrangeas, herbs, roses, bog plants, vines, tropicals, perennials, natives and rare plants.
Kentuck Festival of the Arts
Northport; Oct 17-18
Nationally recognized for its quality and diversity, Kentuck Festival of the Arts celebrates a variety of artistic styles, from folk to contemporary arts as well as traditional crafts. 250+ artists, educational crafts demonstrations, quilters, potters, basket makers and a variety of music. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Wiregrass Heritage Festival
Dothan; Oct 24
Enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of century-old Wiregrass harvesting, including cane grinding, syrup making, butter churning, basket weaving, soap making and more. Music and a wide variety of antique gas and steam engines on display.
AMP Energy 500 Weekend at Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega; Oct 30-Nov 1
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series qualifying on Fri., Oct. 30; Mountain Dew 250 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race and NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifying on Sat., Oct. 31; and AMP Energy 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race on Sun., Nov. 1.
National Peanut Festival, 65th Annual
Dothan; Oct 30-Nov 7
Livestock exhibits, competitions, crafts, food preservation, recipe contests, entertainment, carnival rides and much more.
68th Annual Magic City Classic
Birmingham; Oct 31
Annual football rivalry featuring Alabama A&M University Bulldogs of Huntsville against the Alabama State University Hornets of Montgomery.
Mobile; Oct 2-4
An outdoor music festival in Alabama's historic port city on Mobile Bay. More than 125 national, regional and local musical acts, featuring everything from country and classic rock to jazz and gospel.
Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention
Athens; Oct 2-3
Music lovers and musicians from more than 30 states come together for one of the largest fiddlers' conventions in the nation. Competition in 18 categories, plus more than 150 booths, tasty treats, and arts and crafts.
Moundville Native American Festival, 21st Annual
Moundville; Oct 7-10
Celebrate the lifeways of Southeastern American Indians with some 26 earthen pyramidal mounds serving as a backdrop. Festival features a living history encampment, demonstration arbors, children's area, arts and crafts, music, dance, storytelling and food.
National Shrimp Festival, 38th Annual
Gulf Shores; Oct 8-11
Delicious food, fine arts and crafts, children's art village, live entertainment (local and national acts), sand sculpture contest and more.
Plantasia! Fall Plant Sale
Mobile; Oct 15-18
Thousands of plants, including camellias, azaleas, hydrangeas, herbs, roses, bog plants, vines, tropicals, perennials, natives and rare plants.
Kentuck Festival of the Arts
Northport; Oct 17-18
Nationally recognized for its quality and diversity, Kentuck Festival of the Arts celebrates a variety of artistic styles, from folk to contemporary arts as well as traditional crafts. 250+ artists, educational crafts demonstrations, quilters, potters, basket makers and a variety of music. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Wiregrass Heritage Festival
Dothan; Oct 24
Enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of century-old Wiregrass harvesting, including cane grinding, syrup making, butter churning, basket weaving, soap making and more. Music and a wide variety of antique gas and steam engines on display.
AMP Energy 500 Weekend at Talladega Superspeedway
Talladega; Oct 30-Nov 1
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series qualifying on Fri., Oct. 30; Mountain Dew 250 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race and NASCAR Sprint Cup qualifying on Sat., Oct. 31; and AMP Energy 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup race on Sun., Nov. 1.
National Peanut Festival, 65th Annual
Dothan; Oct 30-Nov 7
Livestock exhibits, competitions, crafts, food preservation, recipe contests, entertainment, carnival rides and much more.
68th Annual Magic City Classic
Birmingham; Oct 31
Annual football rivalry featuring Alabama A&M University Bulldogs of Huntsville against the Alabama State University Hornets of Montgomery.
The deadline for signing up as a participating city in the Alabama Tourism Department's 2010 June Walking Tours promotion is Friday, Sept. 25. This will insure that your city will appear in the June Walking Tour list featured in the printed version of the 2010 Alabama Calendar of Events and the 2010 Alabama Official Vacation Guide. The dates for 2010 tours will be June 5, 12, 19, and 26 with all tours being offered on Saturdays at 10 a.m. Email Brian.Jones@tourism.alabama.gov by Friday - Sept. 25 to sign-up as a participating city for next summer. Please include your city, starting location and a local contact number.
Fayette Arts Festival, 40th Annual - Sep 12
Experience one of the longest-running arts and crafts festivals in Alabama, featuring a juried exhibit/sale of fine arts and folk arts and crafts, live entertainment, food, children's activities and a special Kid's Place.
9th Ole Timey Craft & Bluegrass Festival - Sep 18-19
Paint Rock Valley Lodge. Bluegrass and country music, folk art demonstrations, broom making, blacksmithing, wood carving, pencil art, a Civil War reenactment, antique cars and tractors, food and merchandise vendors, Western town, cash prizes, and a display of guns, coins and knives. Fri., 4-10 p.m.; Sat., 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Admission charged. 256-776-9411; www.prvlodge.com
Bridgeport Jubilee, 12th Annual - Sep 19
Enjoy musical entertainment throughout the day, including bluegrass, gospel and local talent. Also food vendors, silent auction, arts and crafts, antique car show, motorcycle show, children's activities and more.
Leeds Folk Festival & John Henry Celebration - Sep 19-20
Enjoy more than 35 artists and craftspeople, musical entertainment, food, children's activities, and a play depicting the life of John Henry and the contest he waged with a steam drill at Oak Mountain Tunnel in the 1880s. The play, "Let that Cold Steel Ring," will be presented on the grounds of the Leeds Historic Depot at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday and at 3 p.m. on Sunday. Sat., 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sun., noon-6 p.m.
Trail of Tears Remembrance Motorcycle & Native American Pow Wow - Sep 19
McFarland Park. A celebration of Native American history with storytelling, demonstrations, arts, crafts, food vendors, and a three-day powwow. Free. 877-868-8747; www.trailoftears-remembrance.org
Antique & Apple Festival - Sep 25-27
8483 Ala. Hwy. 157, Moulton. See and learn about the many different varieties of homegrown apples, sample more than 50 varieties, and shop for arts and crafts such as handmade pottery, jewelry, furniture and antiques. Food vendors with sweets and treats. Fri. and Sat., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun., 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission charged. 256-974-5067; www.lawrencealabama.com
Harvest Festival - Sep 26
Gaineswood Antebellum House Museum. A "county fair" style event with arts and crafts, agricultural life demonstrations, old-fashioned games, musical entertainment, refreshments, and open house tours of the National Historic Landmark. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Admission charged. 334-289-4846; www.preserveala.org
Mule Day - Sep 26
More than 300 arts, crafts and flea market vendors, an antique car show, music, and plenty of food and fun for the entire family. Skirmish at The Luxapalila, a Civil War reenactment, will take place on Sat. and Sun., 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Free; free shuttle service will be available. 205-487-8841
Experience one of the longest-running arts and crafts festivals in Alabama, featuring a juried exhibit/sale of fine arts and folk arts and crafts, live entertainment, food, children's activities and a special Kid's Place.
9th Ole Timey Craft & Bluegrass Festival - Sep 18-19
Paint Rock Valley Lodge. Bluegrass and country music, folk art demonstrations, broom making, blacksmithing, wood carving, pencil art, a Civil War reenactment, antique cars and tractors, food and merchandise vendors, Western town, cash prizes, and a display of guns, coins and knives. Fri., 4-10 p.m.; Sat., 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Admission charged. 256-776-9411; www.prvlodge.com
Bridgeport Jubilee, 12th Annual - Sep 19
Enjoy musical entertainment throughout the day, including bluegrass, gospel and local talent. Also food vendors, silent auction, arts and crafts, antique car show, motorcycle show, children's activities and more.
Leeds Folk Festival & John Henry Celebration - Sep 19-20
Enjoy more than 35 artists and craftspeople, musical entertainment, food, children's activities, and a play depicting the life of John Henry and the contest he waged with a steam drill at Oak Mountain Tunnel in the 1880s. The play, "Let that Cold Steel Ring," will be presented on the grounds of the Leeds Historic Depot at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday and at 3 p.m. on Sunday. Sat., 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sun., noon-6 p.m.
Trail of Tears Remembrance Motorcycle & Native American Pow Wow - Sep 19
McFarland Park. A celebration of Native American history with storytelling, demonstrations, arts, crafts, food vendors, and a three-day powwow. Free. 877-868-8747; www.trailoftears-remembrance.org
Antique & Apple Festival - Sep 25-27
8483 Ala. Hwy. 157, Moulton. See and learn about the many different varieties of homegrown apples, sample more than 50 varieties, and shop for arts and crafts such as handmade pottery, jewelry, furniture and antiques. Food vendors with sweets and treats. Fri. and Sat., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun., 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission charged. 256-974-5067; www.lawrencealabama.com
Harvest Festival - Sep 26
Gaineswood Antebellum House Museum. A "county fair" style event with arts and crafts, agricultural life demonstrations, old-fashioned games, musical entertainment, refreshments, and open house tours of the National Historic Landmark. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Admission charged. 334-289-4846; www.preserveala.org
Mule Day - Sep 26
More than 300 arts, crafts and flea market vendors, an antique car show, music, and plenty of food and fun for the entire family. Skirmish at The Luxapalila, a Civil War reenactment, will take place on Sat. and Sun., 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Free; free shuttle service will be available. 205-487-8841
Fifth Annual Museum Day Features Free General Admission on September 26, 2009-
Northport, Ala. - On Saturday, September 26, 2009, Kentuck Museum will participate in the fifth annual Museum Day, presented by Smithsonian magazine. Museum Day is a day when museums and cultural institutions nationwide open their doors free of charge to Smithsonian magazine readers and Smithsonian.com visitors. A celebration of culture, learning and the dissemination of knowledge, Smithsonian's Museum Day reflects the spirit of the magazine, and emulate the free-admission policy of the Smithsonian Institution's Washington, DC-based properties.
Last year, upwards of 200,000 people attended Museum Day. All 50 states plus Puerto Rico were represented by 900 participating museums, including 84 Smithsonian affiliate museums. This year, the magazine expects to attract over 1,000 museums.
Attendees must present Smithsonian magazine's Museum Day Admission Card to gain free entry to participating institutions. The Museum Day Admission Card will be available in September 2009 issue of Smithsonian magazine and a downloadable version is available on the Museum Day website. The general public is welcome to participate by going to the Smithsonian.com website and downloading the Museum Day Admission Card. Listings and links to other participating museums' and sponsors' sites can also be found at the Smithsonian.com website.
Northport, Ala. - On Saturday, September 26, 2009, Kentuck Museum will participate in the fifth annual Museum Day, presented by Smithsonian magazine. Museum Day is a day when museums and cultural institutions nationwide open their doors free of charge to Smithsonian magazine readers and Smithsonian.com visitors. A celebration of culture, learning and the dissemination of knowledge, Smithsonian's Museum Day reflects the spirit of the magazine, and emulate the free-admission policy of the Smithsonian Institution's Washington, DC-based properties.
Last year, upwards of 200,000 people attended Museum Day. All 50 states plus Puerto Rico were represented by 900 participating museums, including 84 Smithsonian affiliate museums. This year, the magazine expects to attract over 1,000 museums.
Attendees must present Smithsonian magazine's Museum Day Admission Card to gain free entry to participating institutions. The Museum Day Admission Card will be available in September 2009 issue of Smithsonian magazine and a downloadable version is available on the Museum Day website. The general public is welcome to participate by going to the Smithsonian.com website and downloading the Museum Day Admission Card. Listings and links to other participating museums' and sponsors' sites can also be found at the Smithsonian.com website.
After 21 months and $12 million in expenditures, the "new" Lakepoint Resort and State Park is open for business. Overlooking Lake Eufaula, one of the best-known fishing lakes in the nation, Lakepoint has maintained its rustic charm while modernizing all the amenities and facilities. "Basically, it was a complete renovation of the facility inside and out," said Mark Easterwood, Director of the State Parks Division of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. "The main lodge, everything in the interior was torn out and we went back in with new floors and new walls. There's a little different design and layouts in the meeting rooms. All the hotel rooms pretty much stayed the same layout, but we put in all new walls and bathrooms with tile and new fixtures, new carpet and different paint.
Longtime park superintendent Jim Royal said the renovation project has maintained the high ceilings and rustic beams in the lodge while thoroughly updating the facility. "There's going to a whole new outlook on Lakepoint," Royal said. "The lodge has been changed quite a bit. There's a beautiful lodge area. The lobby area has really been changed. It's spacious and impressive with natural slate floors. The banquet rooms and meeting rooms have been increased. The ballroom will hold 450. We now have nine meeting rooms for conventions and functions. Three of the meeting rooms will hold from 150 to 200 people and then we have smaller board rooms and breakout rooms. "The dining room has been expanded to the water's edge. The dining room will now hold 235 people, and we have all new kitchen facilities."
Royal said Lakepoint attracts visitors from all over the Southeast, especially Georgia and Florida, and a significant flock of snowbirds from up north visit during the winter. Rates for the 102 rooms will range from the $80s to low $100s. Six executive suites are included in the total. All new furnishings have been installed throughout the facility. Visit http://www.alapark.com/LakePointResort/ to discover more about Lakepoint or to make reservations.
Longtime park superintendent Jim Royal said the renovation project has maintained the high ceilings and rustic beams in the lodge while thoroughly updating the facility. "There's going to a whole new outlook on Lakepoint," Royal said. "The lodge has been changed quite a bit. There's a beautiful lodge area. The lobby area has really been changed. It's spacious and impressive with natural slate floors. The banquet rooms and meeting rooms have been increased. The ballroom will hold 450. We now have nine meeting rooms for conventions and functions. Three of the meeting rooms will hold from 150 to 200 people and then we have smaller board rooms and breakout rooms. "The dining room has been expanded to the water's edge. The dining room will now hold 235 people, and we have all new kitchen facilities."
Royal said Lakepoint attracts visitors from all over the Southeast, especially Georgia and Florida, and a significant flock of snowbirds from up north visit during the winter. Rates for the 102 rooms will range from the $80s to low $100s. Six executive suites are included in the total. All new furnishings have been installed throughout the facility. Visit http://www.alapark.com/LakePointResort/ to discover more about Lakepoint or to make reservations.
The Gulf Shores Public Beach is among the cleanest beaches in the nation according to a report released last week by the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC). The environmental group evaluated 200 public beaches from across the nation using data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Gulf Shores was the only beach in the South to earn a five-star rating in the report.
From Testing the Waters: A Guide to Water Quality at Vacation Beaches:
"NRDC's report also provides a 5-star rating guide for 200 of the nation's most popular beaches, based on indicators of beach water quality, monitoring frequency, and public notification of contamination. Five-star beaches included Gulf Shores Public Beach (AL), Laguna Beach-Main Beach (CA), Bolsa Chica State Beach in Huntington Beach (CA), Newport Beach (CA), Ocean City (MD), Park Point - Community Club Beach in Duluth (MN) and Hampton Beach State Park in Hampton (NH). Some of the lowest ranking beaches (1-star) were Zach's Bay at Jones Beach State Park in Wantagh (NY), Ocean Beach Park in New London (CT), Venice Public Beach (FL) and Central Beach in Point Pleasant (NJ)."
For the full report go to www.nrdc.org/beaches
From Testing the Waters: A Guide to Water Quality at Vacation Beaches:
"NRDC's report also provides a 5-star rating guide for 200 of the nation's most popular beaches, based on indicators of beach water quality, monitoring frequency, and public notification of contamination. Five-star beaches included Gulf Shores Public Beach (AL), Laguna Beach-Main Beach (CA), Bolsa Chica State Beach in Huntington Beach (CA), Newport Beach (CA), Ocean City (MD), Park Point - Community Club Beach in Duluth (MN) and Hampton Beach State Park in Hampton (NH). Some of the lowest ranking beaches (1-star) were Zach's Bay at Jones Beach State Park in Wantagh (NY), Ocean Beach Park in New London (CT), Venice Public Beach (FL) and Central Beach in Point Pleasant (NJ)."
For the full report go to www.nrdc.org/beaches
145th Anniversary of the Battle of Mobile and Siege of Fort Morgan
Gulf Shores; Aug 1-2
Fort Morgan State Historic Site Artillery fire and infantry sharpshooting, along with presentations by site historians on the battle and its significance in the history of the Civil War. Sat., 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.; Sun., 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Admission charged. (251) 540-7127
World's Longest Yard Sale
Fort Payne; Aug 6-9
Lookout Mountain Parkway "America's Most Scenic Shopping Mall," featuring more than 450 miles of yard sale bargains stretching from Gadsden, Alabama, to Covington, Kentucky. Enjoy scenic vistas, waterfalls and canyons, and meet friendly people along the way. Free admission. (888) 805-4740; www.tourdekalb.com
Piney Chapel Antique Engine & Tractor Show
Athens; Aug 7-8
Piney Chapel Community One of the largest antique engine and tractor shows in North Alabama. Delicious food, arts and crafts, and much more. 8 a.m. until. Free. (256) 232-5411; www.tourathens.com
Franklin County Watermelon Festival
Russellville; Aug 14-15
Downtown Arts, crafts, 5K run, bike ride, golf, tennis tournament, antique car and truck show, beauty pageant, music, games, food and a watermelon contest. Fri., 6-11 p.m.; Sat., 9 a.m. 9 p.m. Free. (256) 332-1760; www.franklincountychamber.org
Killen Founders Day
Killen; Aug 21-22
Killen Park Celebrate the 51st anniversary of the town of Killen with a parade, 5K run, artisans, food vendors, live entertainment, children's activities, a working Colonial village, Native American demonstrations, classic vehicles and fireworks. Free. (256) 757-1158; www.visitflorenceal.com
Stokin' the Fire BBQ & Music Festival, 5th Annual
Birmingham; Aug 21-22
Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark. At the cornerstone of the two-day event is a world-class barbecue competition, sanctioned by the prestigious Kansas City Barbeque Society. The competition will pit over 80 local amateur barbecue teams. Each will compete for the braggin rights to the best Q in Birmingham. The festival has something for everyone! In addition to the barbecue battles, visitors can enjoy all-day headliner music at the Stokin stage, purchase barbecue from nationally acclaimed barbecue vendors, enjoy global grilling demonstrations by chefs from some of Birmingham's best restaurants, and participate in a Sloss metal arts iron pour. Kids will also have plenty of rib ticklin fun in the kids zone, with a variety of free activities and entertainment under the water tower stage. Admission charged. (205) 324-1911; www.slossfurnaces.com
Black Belt Folk Roots Festival
Eutaw; Aug 22-23
Old Courthouse Square, Main Street Handmade quilts, baskets and crafts, with blues on Saturday and gospel on Sunday. Down-home cooking, soul food, fish and homemade ice cream. Children's tent with dancing, drumming, storytelling and face painting. Sat., 11 a.m. -6 p.m.; Sun., 2-7 p.m. Free. (205) 372-0525; www.eutawonline.com/festival.htm
Fort Mims Battle of 1813 Reenactment
Stockton; Aug 27-28
Fort Mims Historic Site, off state Highway 59 on County Road 80 W. See a reenactment of the battle of Burnt Corn and the battle of Fort Mims, where 500 settlers, American Indians, and militia lost their lives. Enjoy arts and crafts, music, and food. Sat., 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Sun., 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Admission charged. (251) 937-5896; www.fortmims.org
Yard Party for Art
Dothan; Aug 29
Wiregrass Museum of Art--Museum fundraiser in the gardens showcases the live tunes of amazing bands! Must be 18 to enter; cash bar. Tickets go on sale August 1. 6:30 p.m. until. Free. (334) 794-3871; www.wiregrassmuseum.org
The Red Clay: 2009 Biennial Exhibition of Contemporary Southern Art
Huntsville; Aug 30-Nov 8
Huntsville Museum of Art The works in this exhibition range in style from the traditional to the avant-garde, and encompass painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, fine craft, photography and more. 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Admission charged. (256) 535-4350; www.hsvmuseum.org
Gulf Shores; Aug 1-2
Fort Morgan State Historic Site Artillery fire and infantry sharpshooting, along with presentations by site historians on the battle and its significance in the history of the Civil War. Sat., 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.; Sun., 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Admission charged. (251) 540-7127
World's Longest Yard Sale
Fort Payne; Aug 6-9
Lookout Mountain Parkway "America's Most Scenic Shopping Mall," featuring more than 450 miles of yard sale bargains stretching from Gadsden, Alabama, to Covington, Kentucky. Enjoy scenic vistas, waterfalls and canyons, and meet friendly people along the way. Free admission. (888) 805-4740; www.tourdekalb.com
Piney Chapel Antique Engine & Tractor Show
Athens; Aug 7-8
Piney Chapel Community One of the largest antique engine and tractor shows in North Alabama. Delicious food, arts and crafts, and much more. 8 a.m. until. Free. (256) 232-5411; www.tourathens.com
Franklin County Watermelon Festival
Russellville; Aug 14-15
Downtown Arts, crafts, 5K run, bike ride, golf, tennis tournament, antique car and truck show, beauty pageant, music, games, food and a watermelon contest. Fri., 6-11 p.m.; Sat., 9 a.m. 9 p.m. Free. (256) 332-1760; www.franklincountychamber.org
Killen Founders Day
Killen; Aug 21-22
Killen Park Celebrate the 51st anniversary of the town of Killen with a parade, 5K run, artisans, food vendors, live entertainment, children's activities, a working Colonial village, Native American demonstrations, classic vehicles and fireworks. Free. (256) 757-1158; www.visitflorenceal.com
Stokin' the Fire BBQ & Music Festival, 5th Annual
Birmingham; Aug 21-22
Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark. At the cornerstone of the two-day event is a world-class barbecue competition, sanctioned by the prestigious Kansas City Barbeque Society. The competition will pit over 80 local amateur barbecue teams. Each will compete for the braggin rights to the best Q in Birmingham. The festival has something for everyone! In addition to the barbecue battles, visitors can enjoy all-day headliner music at the Stokin stage, purchase barbecue from nationally acclaimed barbecue vendors, enjoy global grilling demonstrations by chefs from some of Birmingham's best restaurants, and participate in a Sloss metal arts iron pour. Kids will also have plenty of rib ticklin fun in the kids zone, with a variety of free activities and entertainment under the water tower stage. Admission charged. (205) 324-1911; www.slossfurnaces.com
Black Belt Folk Roots Festival
Eutaw; Aug 22-23
Old Courthouse Square, Main Street Handmade quilts, baskets and crafts, with blues on Saturday and gospel on Sunday. Down-home cooking, soul food, fish and homemade ice cream. Children's tent with dancing, drumming, storytelling and face painting. Sat., 11 a.m. -6 p.m.; Sun., 2-7 p.m. Free. (205) 372-0525; www.eutawonline.com/festival.htm
Fort Mims Battle of 1813 Reenactment
Stockton; Aug 27-28
Fort Mims Historic Site, off state Highway 59 on County Road 80 W. See a reenactment of the battle of Burnt Corn and the battle of Fort Mims, where 500 settlers, American Indians, and militia lost their lives. Enjoy arts and crafts, music, and food. Sat., 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Sun., 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Admission charged. (251) 937-5896; www.fortmims.org
Yard Party for Art
Dothan; Aug 29
Wiregrass Museum of Art--Museum fundraiser in the gardens showcases the live tunes of amazing bands! Must be 18 to enter; cash bar. Tickets go on sale August 1. 6:30 p.m. until. Free. (334) 794-3871; www.wiregrassmuseum.org
The Red Clay: 2009 Biennial Exhibition of Contemporary Southern Art
Huntsville; Aug 30-Nov 8
Huntsville Museum of Art The works in this exhibition range in style from the traditional to the avant-garde, and encompass painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, fine craft, photography and more. 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Admission charged. (256) 535-4350; www.hsvmuseum.org
The Kentuck Festival of the Arts in Northport was chosen by Time magazine as one of the "50 Authentic American Experiences 2009." The editors looked for places, things, and activities that speak to the real America for the state-by-state list. The Kentuck festival takes place Oct. 17-18 in Northport. www.kentuck.org
From the article by Reed Tucker in Time magazine:
"Not just anyone gets invited to the Kentuck Festival of the Arts. Artists have to be chosen by a jury to display their wares there, and the pickiness appears to pay off. You'll see some of the South's finest quilters, woodworkers, painters, sculptors and other folk artists. Kentuck continues to grow in popularity after nearly 40 years, with tens of thousands of visitors descending on the October festival to eat, buy art and listen to blues, bluegrass, country and gospel music." http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1909343_1909285,00.html
From the article by Reed Tucker in Time magazine:
"Not just anyone gets invited to the Kentuck Festival of the Arts. Artists have to be chosen by a jury to display their wares there, and the pickiness appears to pay off. You'll see some of the South's finest quilters, woodworkers, painters, sculptors and other folk artists. Kentuck continues to grow in popularity after nearly 40 years, with tens of thousands of visitors descending on the October festival to eat, buy art and listen to blues, bluegrass, country and gospel music." http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1909343_1909285,00.html
