2010 Alabama Governor's Conference on Tourism Awards
 
Montgomery, Ala. -- The City of Valley and the Cotton Mill Reunion celebration received the 2010 Theme Campaign award by the Alabama Tourism Department. The black-tie awards ceremony took place Tuesday, August 17, at the Renaissance Hotel and Spa in Montgomery. 
 
"Valley excelled above other cities in terms of embracing the Alabama Tourism Department's 2010 campaign, Year of Small Towns and Downtowns," said the celebration's nominator, Marilyn Stamps.
 
Valley held a two-day Cotton Mill Reunion August 7-8 for its Homecoming Celebration. The city turned the festival into an economic and revitalization project for the area that is expected to have a long-term impact on tourism. Valley also celebrated its 30th anniversary and partnered with Auburn University's Journalism Department to produce a special edition of Valley Vision, a newspaper insert that focused on the city's past and future.
 
Criteria for the Theme Campaign award include outstanding performance, outstanding economic impact statistics, and continuation of a Year of Alabama marketing campaign. Criteria also include increased appeal to tourists, increased attendance and the enhancement of local, regional or state image as a tourist destination.
 
The Theme Campaign award is among 14 for 2010 that comprise the Alabama Tourism Awards. The awards were first presented in 1998 and honor outstanding achievements in the state's tourism industry. Each award winner is recognized as a key player in making tourism a strong economic force. Tourism contributed $9.3 Billion to Alabama's economy in 2009; supported 162,000 jobs statewide and an estimated 21 million people visited the state last year.
 
The Alabama Tourism Department coordinates the awards program. The 14 winners are as follows:
·         Lifetime Achievement Award --Dr. David Bronner, CEO Retirement Systems of Alabama * Presented Monday, August 16
·         Government Advocate Award--Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange
·         Media Advocate Award--Lynn and Milton Fullman
·         Governor's Tourism Award--James W. Rane  Sr., CEO Great Southern Wood, Abbeville
·         Organization of the Year--Gulf Shores Orange Beach Tourism
·         Attraction of the Year--Alabama Music Hall of Fame, Tuscumbia.
·         Event of the Year--Star Wars exhibit at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, Huntsville
·         Tourism Executive of the Year--Patti Culp, Alabama Travel Council
·         Tourism Employee of the Year--Angie Pierce, Alabama Mountain Lakes Association
·         Alabama Tourism Department Employee of the Year--Cynthia Flowers
·         Partnership Award--Elmore County Economic Development Authority
·         Welcome Center of the Year--Grand Bay
·         Theme Campaign-- City of Valley & Cotton Mills Reunion
·         Rising Star Award--Christine Elmore, Dothan Convention and Visitors Bureau

Top Events for August 2010

Gulf Coast Ethnic & Heritage Jazz Festival - Aug 5-8
Thurs., Aug 5, Evening of Poetry; Fri., Aug. 6, Jazz Music Workshop; Sat., Aug. 7, Jazz in the Square (Dauphin St.) with national, regional and local bands; and Sun., Aug. 8, Jazz Jam Session

24th Annual World's Longest Yard Sale - Aug 5-8
"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.

Fairfield Music Festival - Aug 7
Celebrate the Year of Small Towns and Downtowns with a variety of jazz, blues, R&B and gospel music in Fairfield's historic downtown.

Rickwood Centennial - Aug 18
Come out to this free event at Rickwood this summer to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Rickwood Field, which opened on August 18, 1910!

Buckmasters Expo - Aug 20-22
More than 30,000 consumers and hunters from around the country attend the expo. Activities include Buckmasters Trophy Records Scoring and Display; Buckmasters Top Bow Indoor World Championship where the country's best 3-D archers compete for cash, prizes and the coveted title; and kids activities, including archery shooting and laser shot hunting and target simulating.

Franklin County Watermelon Festival - Aug 20-21
This festival is a celebration, a time for families and friends to gather and eat, play and have fun. We offer a wide variety of activities to enjoy: watermelon contests, car/truck/motorcycle show, antique tractor show, rides & games for kids, 5K/1K Run, Kiwanis Bike Ride, arts & crafts and fabulous food.

Stokin' the Fire BBQ & Music Festival, 6th Annual - Aug 20-21
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 feature more than 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 also will have plenty of rib ticklin' fun in the kids zone, with a variety of free activities and entertainment under the water tower stage.

Muster on the Tallapoosa - Aug 21
Living history at Horseshoe Bend National Military Park. The 10th Annual Muster on the Tallapoosa begins at 9:30 am. Features various activities during the day, including living history camps of the Creek and Cherokee Indians and the Tennessee Militia. Guest speakers offer insight into the Creek War. This free event is a must for historians.

Killen Founders Day - Aug 27-28
Killen Park--Celebrate the 52nd 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

Annual Okra Festival - Aug 28
Enjoy fresh vegetables, okra, food, vendors, arts and crafts, music, and more.

Black Belt Folk Roots Festival - Aug 28-29
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.

11:30-2:45, Friday, August 27, 2010, St. James Hotel, Selma, Alabama

MAIN STREET ALABAMA AND THE ALABAMA BLACK BELT HERITAGE AREA INVITE YOU TO A HALF-DAY WORKSHOP FEATURING BOB WILSON
Director, Mississippi Main Street Association Board Member, Heritage Hills Heritage Area

The Alabama Black Belt Heritage Area has more than 50 towns that could qualify for a local Main Street Program. Created by the National Trust for Historic Preservation over 25 years ago, Main Street is the nation's most effective downtown revitalization strategy. Join us in Selma to learn how this program could benefit Black Belt communities.

AGENDA    All sessions held in St. James Hotel

11:30 - 12:00 Welcome and updates on the Heritage Area and Main Street Alabama

12:00 - 1:00 What Can Main Street Do for Me? Bob Wilson, Keynote Luncheon speaker

1:15 - 2:30 Concurrent Workshops

a) Getting Ready for Main Street
Bob Wilson and Main Street Alabama Board Member Sanquenetta Thompson tell you what steps to take now

b) Enhancing the Visitor Experience in Your Community 
Tourism consultant Mary Jeanne Packer shares ways to use signage, existing facilities, and local people to enhance the visitor experience

2:30 - 2:45 Wrap Up

Information: Shebra Kidd, Downtown Selma Association / Main Street 334-874-2169 Wimberly Comer, Alabama Black Belt Heritage Area, 205-532-9582 Ellen Mertins, Alabama Historical Commission, 334-230-2657
PLEASE REGISTER BY FRIDAY, AUGUST 20, 2010
Download the registration form: mainstreet2010.pdf

Some 215 towns across Alabama welcome you home this year during the Great Alabama Homecoming. It's all part of the Year of Alabama Small Towns & Downtowns- a celebration of everything that is Sweet Home Alabama. There are homecoming events and festivals going on practically every weekend through mid-December. Upcoming events include:

July Fest- Vina- July 31
Harpersville Homecoming- Harpersville- July 31-Aug. 1
Fairfield Music Festival- Fairfield- Aug. 7
Cotton Mill Reunion- Valley- Aug. 7
Back-to-School Homecoming- Five Points- Aug. 13-14
Centennial Celebration- Lipscomb- Aug. 13-15
Founders Day Celebration- Hobson City- Aug. 14-15
Littleville Fun Fest- Littleville- Aug. 14
Rickwood Centennial- Birmingham- Aug. 18
Homecoming Celebration- Athens- Aug. 20-21
Founder's Day Festival- Fultondale- Aug. 21
Priceville Annual Cruise-In- Priceville- Aug. 21
Watermelon Festival- Russellville- Aug. 21
Killen Founder's Day- Killen- Aug. 27-28
A Homecoming Celebration- Wadley- Aug. 28


For a complete list of Great Alabama Homecoming Events please see www.alabama.travel/homecoming 

The August issue of Travel + Leisure magazine ranks the Grand Hotel Marriott Resort, Golf Club & Spa in Point Clearat No. 31 on its list of the Top 50 Resorts in the U.S. and Canada. The list is a part of Travel + Leisure magazine's annual World's Best Awards. The Grand Hotel is featured on the cover of this year's Alabama Vacation Guide as recognition of it being named the top spa for guest satisfaction by Marriott.  For more information on Travel + Leisure magazine's World's Best Awards please see http://www.travelandleisure.com/worldsbest/2010/hotels/resorts-us-canada/33.  For more information on the Grand Hotel please see www.marriottgrand.com.

Dr. Robert Bentley and Commissioner Ron Sparks will speak at the Alabama Governor's Conference on Tourism Aug. 14-17 in Montgomery. Other conference speakers include Dr. David Bronner, CEO, Retirement Systems of Alabama; Roger Dow, President and CEO of the US Travel Association; Roger Brooks, CEO Destination Development International.  Bentley and Sparks will speak during the Gubernatorial Luncheon on Aug. 17.  There will also be educational sessions on how to bring travelers to your town/hotel/attraction/event/B&B/museum, managing social media, branding your entity, workshops with the state tourism department; and an update on the Alabama gulf coast.  The Alabama Governor's Conference on Tourism is being held at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel and Spa.  Please see www.algovernorsconference.com for registration information.

Some 215 towns across Alabama welcome you home this year during the Great Alabama Homecoming. It's all part of the Year of Alabama Small Towns & Downtowns- a celebration of everything that is Sweet Home Alabama. There are homecoming events and festivals going on practically every weekend through mid-December. Upcoming events include:


Mayberry Days- Graysville- July 10
Summer Celebration- Opelika- July 17
Tallassee Homecoming Weekend- Tallassee- July 17
Founders Day- Hayneville- July 17-18
Function at Tuxedo Junction- Ensley- July 23-24
July Fest- Vina- July 31
Harpersville Homecoming- Harpersville- July 31-August 1
Fairfield Music Festival- Fairfield- August 7
Cotton Mill Reunion- Valley- August 7


For a complete list of Great Alabama Homecoming Events please see www.alabamahomecoming.com

Some 215 towns across Alabama welcome you home this year during the Great Alabama Homecoming. It's all part of the Year of Alabama Small Towns & Downtowns- a celebration of everything that is Sweet Home Alabama. There are homecoming events and festivals going on practically every weekend through mid-December. Upcoming events include:

• 20th Annual Alexander City Jazz Fest-  Alexander City-  June 11-12
• Family & Friends Community Day-  Eutaw-  June 12
• Sheffield Founders Day- Sheffield- June 12
• 30th Annual Alabama Blueberry Festival-  Brewton- June 19
• Gainesville Day- Gainesville Day- June 19
• Memorial Park Homecoming- Jasper- June 19
• Slocomb Tomato Festival- Slocomb- June 19
• Small Town Celebration- Susan Moore- June 19

For a complete list of Great Alabama Homecoming Events please see www.greatalabamahomecoming.com

The deadline is fast approaching for submitting your events for the 2011 Alabama Calendar of Events. If you have not already done so, please go to www.alabama.travel; click on Events, then click Submit an Event and fill out the form completely. In order for an event to be featured in the printed 2011 Alabama Calendar of Events, you must post your event(s) no later than June 30, 2010.  If you have questions about the Calendar, please contact Marilyn Jones Stamps at 334-242-4544; marilyn.stamps@tourism.alabama.gov or Pam Smith at 334-353-4541; pam.smith@tourism.alabama.gov.

If you wish to enhance your listing with a photo of your event, please send your photos and the name and date(s) of your event to Peggy Collins at peggy.collins@tourism.alabama.gov with a cc to: Tommy Cauthen at tommy.cauthen@tourism.alabama.gov. Please note: Alabama Tourism reserves the right to edit listings, including photo usage in the Calendar and other publications.

A team of Alabama tourism professionals met with over 50 tour operators, journalist and industry representatives during the U.S. Travel Association's POW WOW tourism showcase held last week in Orlando, Florida.  Grey Brennan of the Alabama Tourism Department, Alabama's European In-Market Representative Della Tully and Alabama CVB members Sara Hamlin of Birmingham, Judy Ryals of Huntsville and Ron McConnell of Mobile promoted Alabama's accommodations, attractions and events during the 3 days of appointments.
 
Among the appointments was Scott Humble of the Lastminute.com group who said flights sold to Huntsville are up 13%, Birmingham up 78% and Mobile up 50% year to date.  Bon Voyage Travel and Tours has a wide range of Alabama product for their United Kingdom clients. Theresa Young of Bon Voyage said business is up 32% for their company. John Bowden of THG Holidays said they are now planning to offer a fly-drive itinerary to their FIT market that would include Memphis, Muscle Shoals, Huntsville, Birmingham, Montgomery and Mobile.  For more information contact grey.brennan@tourism.alabama.gov

Vulcan's 106th Birthday Bash - Jun 6
During this festive outdoor community event, the park will be filled with balloons, clowns, music, entertainment, food, fun and more in honor of Vulcan's special day.

Stevenson Depot Days - Jun 10-13
An old-fashioned festival that celebrates its railroad heritage with parade, pioneer breakfast, street dance, storytelling, clogging, museum tours, and other period entertainment. The festival also features Pro Lawnmower Racing, Alabama Bug jam, free concerts, and much, much, more.

Alex City Jazz Fest & Historic Marker Dedication - Jun 11-12
Come and help celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Alexander City Chamber of Commerce on Friday, June 11 and the dedication of an historic marker to commemorate 2010: The Year of Small Towns and Downtowns. Local dignitaries will speak and refreshments will be served (hours TBA). Then on Friday and Saturday evening, join in the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Alex City Jazz Fest hosted by Russell Lands. First held to thank the customers of Frohsin's Department Store and the citizens of Alexander City, this free annual milestone event will feature a music headliner and special activities on Friday in Strand Park downtown. On Saturday night, activities take place on the shores of Lake Martin at the Amphitheater.

Hank Williams Festival, 31st Annual - Jun 11-12
Tribute to native son, Hank Williams, with country music, arts, crafts, and food.

6th Annual Gulf Coast Hot-Air Balloon Festival - Jun 18-20
Forty-five hot-air balloons are the stars of this festival. See the colorful balloons fly in competitions in the early mornings and glow in the evenings. During the day, enjoy more than 50 arts and crafts vendors, toe-tapping music, a children's village, entertaining shows and festival food with a Southern, coastal flair. New for 2010, 60-ft. kite show.

Alabama Blueberry Festival - Jun 19
Original arts & crafts, live entertainment, antique car show, motorcycle show & ride, children's section, blueberries, blueberry bushes, cookbooks, and T-shirts. Food court with blueberry ice cream.

Helen Keller Festival - Jun 23-27
More than 100 events including headliner music artists, arts and crafts, parade, athletic events, vintage car and truck show, Keller Kids educational activities, historic tours and trolley rides to Spring Park.

25th Anniversary Liberty Day Celebration - Jun 25-26
"Small Towns and Down Towns" event and historic marker dedication. Events will include arts, crafts, food, children's carnival & activities, Classic Cars Cruise-In, museums, military displays, live music both Friday night and all day Saturday, Hall of Memories (First Baptist Church), Miss Shelby County and Miss Alabama signing autographs, walking tours, patriotic parade, fireworks display, and more.

Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination - Jun 25-6
It's the largest temporary exhibit in the Space Center's history. It will fill the Center's original building with props from all six movies in the Star Wars saga, along with many interactive exhibits, hands-on displays and laboratories - where guests can conduct their own scientific experiments on magnetic levitation and experience augmented virtual reality.

Some 30 towns across Alabama were on display starting this Saturday and during Saturday mornings in June as part of the Alabama Tourism Department's June Walking Tours. A variety of community leaders will lead the free tours through the historic districts or courthouse square areas of their hometowns. The hour-long tours will start at 10 a.m. on June 5, 12, 19, and 26. The June Walking Tours are part of state tourism's "Year of Alabama Small Towns and Downtowns" state-wide promotion.

Towns and starting places for the June Walking Tours are: Ashland, Ashland City Hall; Ashville, St. Clair Tourism Office; Athens, Limestone County Courthouse Annex Parking Lot; Atmore, Heritage Park; Birmingham, Birmingham Civil Rights Institute; Cullman, Cullman County Museum; Courtland, Park on the Square; Decatur, Delano Park Rose Garden; Demopolis, City Hall; Enterprise, Rawls Hotel; Eufaula, Chamber of Commerce Depot; Fairhope, Fairhope Welcome Center; Florence, various starting locations; Gadsden, Pitman Theatre; Gordo, Chamber of Commerce; Guntersville, Chamber of Commerce; Hartselle, Historic Depot; Hayneville, Lowndes County Courthouse; Homewood, City Hall. Huntsville, Constitution Village (June 5 & 12 only); Madison, Madison Roundhouse (June 19 & 26 only); Monroeville, Old Courthouse Museum; Montevallo, Chamber of Commerce; Montgomery; Montgomery Visitor Center; Oak Hill, Bethel ARP Church; Prattville, Autauga County Heritage Center; Selma, Dallas County Public Library; Scottsboro, Jackson County Heritage Center; Sheffield, Sheffield Municipal Building; Silas, Silas Community Center; Sylacauga, B.B. Comer Library; Thomasville, Thomasville Civic Center; Tuscumbia, ColdWater Bookstore; Tuskegee, Tuskegee Human and Civil Rights Multicultural Center; Wetumpka, Chamber of Commerce.

The tours are being coordinated by Brian Jones with the Alabama Tourism Department. "Alabama is the only state in the nation to hold statewide, simultaneous walking tours. The beauty of the June Walking Tours is that any community, whether big or small, can do this. We have done more than 1,000 walking tours since the beginning of the program seven years ago and they keep increasing in popularity every year," Jones said. More information about the June Walking Tours is available by going online at www.alabama.travel or by calling 1-800-ALABAMA.

Some 30 towns across Alabama will be on display during Saturday mornings in June as part of the Alabama Tourism Department's June Walking Tours. A variety of community leaders will lead the free tours through the historic districts or courthouse square areas of their hometowns. The hour-long tours will start at 10 a.m. on June 5, 12, 19, and 26. The June Walking Tours are part of state tourism's "Year of Alabama Small Towns and Downtowns" state-wide promotion.

Towns and starting places for the June Walking Tours are: Ashland, Ashland City Hall; Ashville, St. Clair Tourism Office; Athens, Limestone County Courthouse Annex Parking Lot; Atmore, Heritage Park; Birmingham, Birmingham Civil Rights Institute; Courtland, Park on the Square; Decatur, Delano Park Rose Garden; Demopolis, City Hall; Enterprise, Rawls Hotel; Eufaula, Chamber of Commerce Depot; Fairhope, Fairhope Welcome Center; Florence, various starting locations; Gadsden, City Hall Gazebo; Gordo, Chamber of Commerce; Guntersville, Chamber of Commerce; Hartselle, Historic Depot; Hayneville, Lowndes County Courthouse; Homewood, City Hall. Huntsville, Constitution Village (June 5 & 12 only); Madison, Madison Roundhouse (June 19 & 26 only); Monroeville, Old Courthouse Museum; Montevallo, Chamber of Commerce; Montgomery; Montgomery Visitor Center; Oak Hill, Bethel ARP Church; Prattville, Autauga County Heritage Center; Selma, Dallas County Public Library; Scottsboro, Jackson County Heritage Center; Sheffield,  Sheffield Municipal Building; Silas, Silas Community Center; Sylacauga, B.B. Comer Library; Thomasville, Thomasville Civic Center; Tuscumbia, ColdWater Bookstore; Tuskegee, Tuskegee Human and Civil Rights Multicultural Center; Wetumpka, Chamber of Commerce.

The tours are being coordinated by Brian Jones with the Alabama Tourism Department. "Alabama is the only state in the nation to hold statewide, simultaneous walking tours. The beauty of the June Walking Tours is that any community, whether big or small, can do this. We have done more than 1,000 walking tours since the beginning of the program seven years ago and they keep increasing in popularity every year," Jones said. More information about the June Walking Tours is available by going online at www.alabama.travel or by calling 1-800-ALABAMA.

Registration is open for the Alabama Festival and Event Development Conference set for June 11 from 8 a.m.- 4 p.m. at the Wetumpka Civic Center. The event is open to tourism organizations, event planners, community leaders and others interested in learning about planning, organizing and promoting a festival or event, funding resources to assist local communities, and getting the inside track on state tourism's 2011 Year of Alabama Music campaign. For information or questions, please contact Amanda Brasington at abrasington@elmoreco.org. For registration information, visit http://www.aum.edu/indexm_ektid2342.aspx.

For those in the tourism industry: Over the next few weeks, Compass Marketing sends out forms to approve, update, or add a FREE listing to the official database for the Alabama Tourism Department. The listing will be used to keep the website updated and for inclusion in the 2011 Alabama Vacation Guide. Carefully check the information about your business, make any changes necessary and return the form(s) by the deadline indicated. The goal of the Alabama Tourism Department is to ensure that all attractions and accommodations in Alabama are represented with the most accurate information possible, therefore if you have new attractions or lodging facilities in your area that are not currently listed in the tourism database, please contact Marilyn Jones Stamps at 334-242-4544; marilyn.stamps@tourism.alabama.gov.

Alabama Tourism's Edith Parten accompanied Dallas Morning News Travel Editor Mary Ellen Botter on a trip to Alabama's Gulf Coast trip in November touring sites along the Alabama Scenic Byway. The Dallas Morning News is the major daily newspaper serving the Dallas area with a circulation of 264,000 daily subscribers.

From the article "Don't forget the beaches: Mobile Bay's true grits are only one of its attractions" by Mary Ellen Botter in the Dallas Morning News:

Weigh two strategies for cruising the rim of Mobile Bay, much of it included in a new scenic byway, Alabama's Coastal Connection. Option One: Leaving Interstate 10 at Mobile, take in the western shore, with its fewer but worthy stops, connecting to the eastern side via a car ferry at the bottom of the bay where it opens to the Gulf of Mexico. Or (Option Two), circle starting with the eastern edge, which has hours and days of enticements. Either direction, it's a drive of about 120 miles, compact enough that you could base yourself in any town and have access to the whole.  End with at least a day at Mobile, because it would be a mistake to miss the Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center, where kids can perform virtual heart surgery or design a roller coaster; the splendidly renovated Battle House Hotel; the Mobile Carnival Museum, where robes of Mardi Gras royalty glitter; the rebuilt, 18th-century Fort Condé; the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park; and the good eats on Dauphin Street.

See the full article here: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/fea/travel/unitedstates/stories/DN-mobilebay_0411tra.ART.State.Edition1.1554b9f.html

Friday June 11, 2010
Wetumpka Civic Center
8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
 
Cost:    $25 per person
 
Registration material and additional information will be updated on April 28th and available at www.aum.edu/coned.
 
Festivals and Events are Big Business for Alabama Communities!
Come join us for this fun and inexpensive (but very valuable) one-day
Conference that will help you and your community:

• Take your community event to the next level
• How to better plan and budget for your event
• How to get funding and sponsorships for your festival
• How to "brand" your event
• How to get publicity and advertise your event
• Ideas for events and festivals you can do
• Taking your event state-wide
• Planning for 2011: The Alabama Dept of Tourism's "Year of Music"
• AND MUCH MORE!

For information or questions, please contact Amanda Brasington at
abrasington@elmoreco.org .

The Alabama Tourism Department is now accepting submissions for its Spring Photo Contest. Deadline for submission is June 30. Photos should be of a recognizable destination or landmark in a spring environment. Firstprize will be $1,000; second prize $500; third prize $250. Only digital images of at least 300 dpi and 9" x 12" will be accepted. All photos submitted become the property of the Alabama Tourism Department. Photos should be emailed to Peggy Collins at Peggy.Collins@tourism.alabama.gov or saved to a CD and mailed to:

attention: Peggy Collins
Alabama Tourism Department
401 Adams Avenue, Suite 126
Montgomery, AL 36104

The deadline to submit your events for the 2011 Alabama Calendar of Events is June 30, 2010.  Please go to www.alabama.travel; click on "Events," then click "Submit an Event," and fill out the form completely. To be included in the printed 2011 Alabama Calendar of Events booklet, your event(s) must be posted on the state tourism website by June 30, 2010.  Next year, Alabama Tourism will be celebrating The Year of Alabama Music as well as promoting "Becoming Alabama" in conjunction with the Department of Archives and History. "Becoming Alabama" events are any events associated with the Creek Indian War, the Civil War or the Civil Rights Movement in Alabama. If you have an event that would fit into either the music or the "Becoming Alabama" theme, please be sure to select the appropriate check-off button on the Calendar submission form. This will help us to identify those events and give them extra publicity. We also welcome any photos you may have that would help us to further shine the spotlight on your event.
 
Please note: If you have an annual event that has already occurred for 2010 and you simply want to update the date(s) on our site for 2011, please email the dates to: Marilyn.Stamps@tourism.alabama.gov or Kory.Ward@tourism.alabama.gov.  For questions or inquiries about the Calendar, contact Marilyn Stamps at 334-242-4544 or Kory Ward at 334-242-4514.

The annual hospitality gala held last week at the Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center raised a record $75,000 to benefit Auburn University's Hotel and Restaurant Management Program. The hospitality gala also served to introduce Andrew Litherland as the new executive chef of the Hotel at Auburn University. Litherland is a native of New Zealand and has worked within The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company in Osaka, Dubai, Ranch Mirage, Key Biscayne, Orlando, and most recently Buckhead in Atlanta.

For more information on the Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center please see www.auhcc.com  

Birmingham's Vulcan statue is receiving a fresh coat of paint, while the historic 1930s pedestal undergoes routine maintenance and receives a treatment that will improve the pedestal's resilience to weather conditions. During this process, which is expected to last until April 9, Vulcan's Observation Balcony will be closed to the public on weekdays only. The Balcony will reopen each weekend from 5 p.m. Friday through 10 p.m. Sunday.  The surrounding park grounds and Visitor Center Museum will not be affected and will remain open during normal operating hours. Because visitors will not have access to Vulcan's Observation Balcony, general weekday admission to Vulcan Park and Museum will be reduced to $3 and include admission to Vulcan Center Museum. (Normal daytime admission is $6.) Vulcan is the world's largest cast iron statue and weighs over 50 tons. This is the first paint job Vulcan has received since being restored and replaced on his pedestal in 2003. "As far as timing goes, we are right on track with what was anticipated in the long-term maintenance plan for Vulcan," says Audra Bean, Director of Public Relations and Marketing for Vulcan Park and Museum. "Mother Nature will always be a factor with Vulcan's appearance, therefore it is expected that Vulcan will need a fresh coat of paint periodically in order to keep our city symbol looking his absolute best." Once the painting of the statue is complete, Vulcan's 1938 WPA-era sandstone pedestal will be cleaned and a waterproofing sealant will be applied to reduce water infiltration into the inner staircase and preserved marble landing.

For more information on Vulcan Park and Museum please see www.visitvulcan.com 

The state tourism department has released a brochure that highlights 215 homecoming events taking place during the Year of Alabama Small Towns and Downtowns. The 16-page brochure, titled "The Great Alabama Homecoming," was designed as a quick reference guide to the 2010 celebrations. The brochure lists the names of the homecoming celebrations, dates of the events and contact information. The events celebrate food, music, birthdays and historic milestones. The celebrations include Talladega's 175th Birthday Celebration March 27, the Monroeville Reunion April 23-25, The Blessing of the Fleet in Bayou La Batre May 1-2, Highway 15 Yard Sale in Natural Bridge April 3, Mural City Art Fest in Dothan May 1, Peach Jam Jubilee in Clanton June 25, Jubilee City Fest in Montgomery May 28-29 and the Helen Keller Festival in Tuscumbia June 24-27. The homecoming events began in February and will continue through mid-December.

For more information about the homecoming celebrations, check out the calendar of events at www.alabamahomecoming.com. Copies of the brochure are available by calling 1-800-ALABAMA or by visiting one of the eight state welcome centers.

State tourism director Lee Sentell encourages tourism representatives to photograph landmarks and other destinations THIS MONTH for future publicity needs. "The spring is the ideal time to take photos of your area's most popular attractions. Having pictures with flowers and budding trees will add a lot to your next brochure or website. Do it while the spring is at its peak," he says. He hints that a new photo contest will be announced next week.

Tourism Cares, the premier charity in the travel industry dedicated to preserving the travel experience for future generations, is partnering with Travel South USA to raise funds for the Birmingham Civil Rights Heritage Trail, opening this spring. Travel South USA is the marketing alliance and the Official Regional Destination Marketing Organization for the southern United States.  "We are thrilled to once again partner with Tourism Cares," remarked Lee Sentell, Alabama Tourism Director and Chairman, Travel South USA.  "Our two organizations have worked together on three previous projects in New Orleans, LA., (twice) and Biloxi, MS to provide funding and manpower to restore and preserve important tourism areas.  This year we are combining our efforts during the 27th Annual Travel South Showcase in Birmingham to raise awareness and money that will enhance the Birmingham Civil Rights Trail and preserve stories from of an important time in our region's history."  

The Birmingham Civil Rights Trail documents the events of the Civil Rights movement in Alabama in the 1960's. Signs and displays at various sites of historic significance around the city, share the story of how Birmingham helped change a segregated nation. The trail tells the stories of the past, but has a focus on showing how Americans came together around an idea that completely changed American history. The $1 million project is still in the building stages, with a few of the routes opening in the spring. Travel South USA and Tourism Cares will raise funds as part of the Travel South Gives Back campaign by selling "Tourism Cares" wristbands on site at the 2010 Travel South Showcase in Birmingham or at www.tourismcares.org.  Both Travel South USA and Tourism Cares will each match all donations up to $5,000. Other companies are invited to do the same. For more information, visit the Tourism Cares website.   
Travel South USA is America's oldest and largest regional travel promotion organization, formed in 1965 by resolution presented at the Southern Governor's Conference. As the Official Destination Regional Marketing Organization for the South, its mission is to promote, foster and encourage travel to and within the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. For more information please see www.tourismcares.org. 

Bridge Crossing Jubilee - Mar 4-8
Commemoration of the Selma to Montgomery Voting Rights March. Highlights include a parade, pageant, symposiums, music, Voting Rights Hall of Fame induction and much more.

George Lindsey/UNA Film Festival - Mar 4-7
Nominated by Southeast Tourism Society as one of the Top 20 Events in the Southeast for the month of March, the George Lindsey UNA Film Festival is an exciting event consisting of film screenings, panels, discussions and celebrations throughout the Shoals area.

Cottontail's Village Arts, Crafts, & Gifts Festival - Mar 5-7
Mar 5-7, Birmingham Cottontail's Village Arts, Crafts, & Gifts Festival 205-836-7178. www.christmasvillagefestival.com. Admission charged. Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex--With more than 450 booths of arts, crafts, gifts and food items, this is a great place and time to purchase Mother's Day gifts, graduation gifts, and spring decorations. Fri., 10 a.m.- 8 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.- 7 p.m.; Sun. noon- 5 p.m.

Southeastern Livestock Exposition Rodeo, 53rd Anniversary - Mar 11-13
Celebrate the 50th anniversary of "The Greatest Show on Dirt." Competitions include bull riding and calf roping. Thurs. is Military Night and Fri. is "Tough Enough to Wear Pink" night.

9th Annual BBQ Championship Hog Wild Festival - Mar 12-13
Each year, thousands of residents and visitors flock to the Fairgrounds for this "hog wild" benefit for the United Cerebral Palsy. Live music, children's activities, barrel racing, cooking demonstrations and barbecue.

58th Fairhope Arts & Crafts Festival - Mar 19-21
More than 200 exhibitors from throughout the nation will bring their best works to show and sell at this prestigious juried show. Live entertainment is set throughout the three-day event and unique cuisine will be served in the food court. Voted as one of the 100 Best Predominantly Classic & Contemporary Craft Shows in the nation by Sunshine Artist Magazine in 2008.

Opp Rattlesnake Rodeo, 50th Annual - Mar 26-27
Weekend filled with food, children's activities, musical entertainment, snake races, buck dancing, karaoke contests, beauty queens, arts, crafts, and a headliner concert.

196th Anniversary of Battle of Horseshoe Bend - Mar 27-28
Celebrate the park's 51st anniversary and enjoy this festival of culture and history on the grounds of Alabama's first national park. Enjoy Creek hunting camps, military camps, dance, cannon fire demonstrations, exhibits, and more.

City of Talladega's 175th Anniversary Celebration - Mar 27
Celebrating its incorporation 175 years ago with a grand parade, historical play, a DVD of Talladega's history shown at our historical Ritz Theatre, bands, karaoke, and fireworks!

Siege of Bridgeport Re-enactment - Mar 27-28
Bridgeport brings history alive when almost 1,800 re-enactors thrill thousands of curious visitors and history buffs with their authentic re-creation of this fateful battle of the Civil War. Also included are period music, authentic encampment and vendors of historical objects and clothing.