Get ready to enjoy some great events in the Black Belt.

2010 Events

February 6, 2010 – Dallas County – Selma, Al – “An Evening of Patriotic Music” – The 151st Army Band consists of “Citizen Soldiers” from across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi and North Carolina. This will be at Pickard Auditorium and 7:30 pm. For additional information call Doris Holland at 334-875-9201.

February 6, 2010 – Monroe County – Monroeville, Al -- Ninth Annual Genealogy Workshop – Old Courthouse Museum and Claiborne Masonic Lodge. Price is $30 and lunch is included. “Researching Early Alabama History”. Registration begins at 8:30 am and Program is from 9am until 3:30 pm.Early registration is recommended. For more information contact the museum at 251-575-7433.

February 13, 2010 – Monroe County – Monroeville– Annual Black History Program – Old Courthouse Museum Downtown Square – Free Admission – Coordinator and sponsor Denise Ware presents an entertaining and educational program of singing, dancing and dramatizations by various groups and individuals. 1pm until 3pm. For more information contact the museum at 251-575-7433.

February 16 -17, 2010 – Dallas County – Selma – Historic Selma to Cahaba Cruise –  Recreating the Selma to Cahawba pilgrimage that was done annually by former residents of Cahawba.  A block of rooms in the Saint James Hotel have been reserved.  Saturday on The Riverboat Phoenix will be a 15 mile cruise down the Alabama River to Old Cahawba.  Upon arrival in Cahawba a wagon will provide a guided tour of the park. Then it is an evening cruise back to Selma. Contact Glenn Dean at 334-558-4616 or email at gypsy5262@aol.com for details and reservations.

February 19, 2010 – Clarke – Thomasville – A Night at the Museum with Kathryn Tucker Windham and the Kathryn Tucker Windham Storytelling Club Kickoff will be held on February A9th from 5:30 pm until 7:30pm in the Kathryn Tucker Windham Library on the Thomasville Campus of Alabama Southern. For more information please call Deborah Ranking at 334-637-3146 or email her at drankins@ascc.edu.

February 19, 2010 – Monroe County – Monroeville – Three on a String Musical Comedians – At Nettles Auditorium at Alabama Southern Community College. Tickets are $25.00 each. A performance of classic, old standards, country, bluegrass, and folk mixed with comedy and humor suitable for the entire family.  Three-part harmony heart-rending country sounds to an unexpected a cappella renditions.

February 19 -20, 2010 -- Dallas County – Selma – Black Belt African American Genealogy Conference 
and Family History Fair – Fee Charged for participants only – To be held at Carl C. Morgan Convention Center from  8am until 5pm on both days. Contact B.J. Smothers at 334-877-4846 or visit the web site at www.bbaaghs.org.

February 26, 2010 – Sumter County – Livingston – The Sucarnochee Revue Radio Show – A live radio program featuring musical and literary artists of the Black Belt. This will be at the Bibb Graves Auditorium at the University of West Alabama and there is and admission charged.  Call the producer Jack White at 205-652-6680 or the center at 205-652-3828 or go to the website for more information at www.centerfortheblackbelt.org.        

February 26-28, 2010 – Wilcox County – Wilcox Natural River Cleanup – Last August a flotilla of kayaks were ferried up river by the Corps of Engineers and put in armed with gloves and garbage bags 20 tons of garbage was picked up. There will be a fish fry that night .Free camping is also included at Millers Ferry Campground. Please call 334-558-4616 or email gypsy5262@aol.com for any questions.

February 27, 2010 – Monroe County – Monroeville – Heritage Arts Festival – Old Courthouse Museum and Downtown Square – The historic downtown square is transformed into a wonderland of crafts, quilts, woodworking soul food and art. A fashion show, gospel music, and ethnic dance performances also featured. 10am until 4pm. For more information contact Sandra Lambert at 251-267-3253 or Carolyn Lee at 251-575-3754 or the Museum and 251-575-7433.

February 27, 2010 – Perry – Marion – Low Country Boil will be held at the Female Seminary Building on West Monroe Street in Marion. Tickets are $12 per person call Mrs. Jackie Wood for more information at 334-683-2170.

February 28, 2010 – Wilcox County –Camden -- Historic Antioch Baptist Church 145th Anniversary. Located on Highway 41 South. Time is 11 am.

March 2, 2010 – Clarke – Grove Hill – The Grove Hill library will host a poetry read related to Alabama’s Big Read program. This will begin at 6:00 pm. For more details call the library at 251-275-8157.

March 4, 2010 – Installation of New Members of the Alabama Women’s Hall of Fame. Judson College Alumni Auditorium – Two Outstanding women with Alabama connections will be memorialized for their contributions to the state, nation and world. The event will be 10:30am-until noon. Admission is free.
Call 334-683-5100 for more information or visit the website at www.awhf.org  for more information.

March 4-8, 2010 – Dallas – Selma -- Bridge Crossing Jubilee – National Voting Rights Museum and Institute, Water Avenue—Commemoration of the Selma to Montgomery Voting Rights March.  Highlights include a parade, pageant, symposiums, music, Voting Rights Hall of Fame induction and more.

March 11th - 13th - Alabama River Festival
Franklin @ Alabama River Museum at Claiborne Lock & Dam  $7 adults; $5 seniors & children. Travel back in time to an early 1800’s camp on the river. Visit with Indians, Frontiersmen, Traders, and Travelers. Music, demonstrations & food, all at the only museum on the Alabama River. School groups must call to schedule. 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. For more information, contact the museum at (251) 575-7433. www.tokillamockingbird.com.

March 18-20– Dallas – Selma – Historic Selma Pilgrimage – Different tours are available. The One-Day Tour includes passes to all activities on the day purchased – Homes, Museums, Mill Foundry, Church, Art Shows (does not include the cemetery tour). The Two-Day Tour includes two-day passes to all activities as listed above but does not include cemetery tour. One evening cemetery tour is $10. Both evening cemetery tours $15. Call 334-412-8550 for tickets and more information.

March 19-21, 2010 – Dallas – Selma – Historic Selma Pilgrimage and Antique Show Vaughan-Smitherman Museum – Spring Flowers and belles in hoop skirts serve as a backdrop of the Historic Preservation Society’s annual event which features home, church, and cemetery tours, antique show and a car show. Admission charged. Time will be 8:30 am until 8:00 pm. Visit their website for more information www.pilgrimage.selmaalabama.com .

March 27, 2010 – Monroe – Monroeville – Big Daddy Weave Concert – Alabama Southern’s Nettles Auditorium.  “We Want The World to Hear Tour ‘’ with Chris & Conrad. Concert is at 7 pm. Tickets can be purchased individually for $15/person, $20/person at the door or $25/person VIP ticket with priority seating and meet the band, or in a set of 4 different concert tickets for $60/per person. Contact person is Susi James /Monroe County Education Foundation phone 1-251-593-3441. Links: http://www.mcedfound.org  or http://www.monroecountyal.com.

March 27-April 24, 2010 – Perry – Marion – The Big Read – Perry County Reads “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” – Come and participate in a mock funeral to bury illiteracy, enjoy music, old-fashioned games, a children’s activity area, great food and a BBQ contest. Call 205-394-9979 or visit their website for more information at www.neabigread.org. Admission is Free.

April 10th - Beatrice Rikard's Mill Annual Reopening
Location: Rikard’s Mill Historical Park-Between Monroeville and Camden on Hwy. 265 Admission: $7 adult, $5 seniors & children The annual reopening of Rikard’s Mill features the gristmill turning out meal and grits again as it has done since Jake Rikard first established a gristmill on Flat Creek in 1845. Live music all day; enjoy arts and crafts; gift shop; BBQ & Monroe Sausage will also available. Located between Monroeville and Camden on Highway 265, 5 miles North of Beatrice. 9a.m. – 4 p.m. For more information, contact The museum at (251) 575-7433. www.tokillamockingbird.com 

April 6&7, May 17 - A Day In Maycomb
Location: Monroeville Old Courthouse Museum & Downtown Square 
Admission: $10. A day of immersion into the historical surroundings associated with the novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Guests will have the opportunity for a guided tour to see the exhibits in the Old Courthouse Museum: “Courthouse Exhibit: Heart of the Community”, “Harper Lee- In Her Own Words”; “Truman Capote- A Childhood in Monroeville”; Probate Judge Millsap’s Office; The 1930’s Law Office, the original Courtroom maintained to its 1930’s appearance., and the Atticus Finch monument. Primarily designed for students studying the novel or Alabama History. Groups must call ahead. 9:30 am- noon. May 14th performance will feature, Mary Badham (actress who played Scout in the film). For more information, please call the museum at (251) 575-7433. www.tokillamockingbird.com

April 14. Perry County Annual Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament

April 19. Old Howard 100 Bike Ride through Perry and Hale Counties will be April 19th.  The Ride - fourth annual - begins at 9 AM on the campus of Judson College in Marion where Samford University was founded in 1841 as Howard College.  The Ride features routes of 30, 50, 70 and 100 miles through Newbern, Greensboro, the Talladega National Forest, Folsom and the Perry Lakes wetlands region.  All rides end up back at Judson.  The routes include five stops of historic interest. Ride details and online registration are at www.samford.edu/howard

April 23 & 24. Muckle’s Ridge Festival

October 2. Fall in Folsom

October 29. Alabama Military Hall of Honor Induction Ceremony

December 5. Perry County Historical Society Christmas Tour of Homes