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

2010 Events

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 4 Bridge Crossing Jubilee 2010 Welcome reception
5:30 pm until 7:00 pm. Selma Performing Arts Center – 1000 Selma Avenue.

March 4 Bridge Crossing Jubilee 2010 Mass Meeting
7:00 pm until 9:00 pm – The Freedom Singers in attendance at Tabernacle Baptist Church – 1431 Broad Street.

March 4 Miss Jubilee Pageant
7:00 pm until 9:00 pm. Selma Performing Arts Center – 1000 Selma Avenue – Fee $5.00.

March 5 Invisible Giants Conference
9:00 am until 11:00 am. Selma Performing Arts Center – 1000 Selma Avenue.

March 5 Children’s Sojourn
Various speakers and presentations 9:00 am until 2:00 pm Slavery Civil War Museum, Shiloh, Pickard Auditorium.

March 5 Education Symposium: Education: The Civil Rights Issue of the 21st Century
Our Challenges and Responsibilities – 12:15 until 2:45 pm. Location is School of Discovery at 400 Washington Street.

 March 5 Mock Trial – “Education on Trial”
Presiding Judge TBA – 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm. –Location Dallas County Courthouse at 105 Lauderdale Street.

March 5 Bridge Crossing Jubilee 2010 – A Public Conversation
7:15 until 9:00 pm – Location Wallace College – 3000 Earl Goodwin Parkway.

March 5 “Stomp out to Vote” Step Show
7:00 until 9:00 pm – Fee $10.00 – Location Old National Guard Armory at 2401 W. Dallas Avenue

March 6 5th Annual Jubilee Golf Tournament
Breakfast and registration 6:30 am. Sponsored by Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. – Location Valley Grand Golf Course at 1009 Warrior Drive. Contact Dr. Leroy Maxwell or Aubrey Larkin, Sr. at 334-872-2321.

March 6 Foot Soldiers Breakfast
8:00 am until 9:30 am – Location CHAT Academy School at 1701 Summerfield Road

March 6 Jubilee Parade
From Selma High School to School of Discovery –9:00 am. until 11:00 am. at 1280 N. Broad Street.

March 6 Induction into the Hall of Resistance
10:30 am – Location – Slavery and Civil Rights Museum at 1410 Water Avenue.

March 6 Battle of the Bands
10:45 until 11:00 am.—School of Discovery parking lot at 400 Washington Street.

March 6 Jubilee Festival
Gospel, Hip Hop, and R&B—11:00 am until 6:00 pm.Fee is $10 in advance and $15 at the gate. Location all of Water Avenue.

March 6 Economic Empowerment Summit
12:00 until 2:00 pm – Location – Selma Performing Arts Center at 1000 Selma Avenue.

March 6 Intergenerational Hip Hop Summit
Various music artist to be announced. 2:00 pm until 4:00 pm. Location – School of Discovery at 400 Washington Street.

March 6 Film Festival
3:00 pm until 9:00 pm. Location – Slavery and Civil Rights Museum at 1410 Water Avenue.

March 6 Freedom Flame Awards Dinner
7:00 pm until 10:00 pm – Tickets are $50.00 – Location – Convention Center at 400 Washington Street.

March 6 Late Night Pow-Wow
10:00 pm until 12:00 am. – Location – Slavery and Civil Rights Museum at 1410 Water Street.

March 7 MLK Jr. & Corretta S. King Unity Breakfast
Cost $25 – Wallace Community College – 7:30 until 9:00 am – 300 Earl Goodwin Parkway.

March 7 Young Entrepreneur’s Breakfast
10:00 am until 12:00 noon – Selma Performing Arts Center – 1000 Selma Avenue.

March 7 Pre-March Rally
1:30 until 2:30 pm – Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church at 410 Martin Luther King Street.

March 7 Bridge Crossing Re-Enactment
2:30 until 3:30 pm – Edmund Pettis Bridge – Revealing of Bloody Sunday Exhibit.

March 7 Bridge Crossing Speakers and Voting Rights
Foot Soldiers Hall of Fame Inductions – 3:30 until 4:00 pm at the foot of Edmund Pettis Bridge.

March 8 – 13 March Re-Enactment from Selma to Montgomery
9:00 am until 4:00 pm daily. Edmund Pettis Bridge.

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 3-4, 2010 – Wilcox – Oak Hill – Unveiling of historic marker and other special activities. Call 251-746-2642 for more details.

April 6-7, 2010 – Monroe – Monroeville – A Day in Maycomb – Old Courthouse Museum and Downtown Square – A day of immersion into the historical surroundings associated with the novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird”. Admission $10. For more information call the museum at 251-575-7433.

April 10, 2010 – Monroe – Beatrice – Rickard’s Mill Annual Reopening – Between Monroeville and Camden on Highway 265. Admission $7 adult, $5 seniors and children. For more information call 251-575-7433.

April 13-14, 2010 – Monroe – Monroeville – Young Audience Performances of “To Kill a Mockingbird” – Monroe County Heritage Museum – 2oth annual performance for school children studying the famous novel, Schools must schedule. $15 for students and chaperones. 9:30 am until 11:30 am.

April 17, 2010 – Wilcox – Camden – Wilcox Area Big Fish Crappie Tournament – Lake Dannelly – Tournament with 6 hourly weigh-ins paying $175 totals per hour for the top 3 largest fish. Largest fish for the tournament wins $1000. 2nd largest $500, 3rd wins $250.Two weigh-in stations along the lake for the hourly weigh-ins. Call 334-682-4929.

April 17 – May 16  -- Wilcox  -- Camden  -- Wilcox Area Chamber Jackpot Crappie Derby  --Lake Dannelly  -- A 30 day jackpot derby featuring over $65,000 in tagged crappie including one worth a brand new chevy truck.

April 18, 2010 – Dallas – Selma – Church Street United Methodist Church Homecoming -- Celebrating 175 years.

April 19, 2010 – Perry – Marion-- Fourth Annual Old Howard 100 Bike Ride Through Perry and Hale Counties – Begins at 9am at the campus of Judson College in Marion and features routes of 30, 50, 70, and 100 miles through Newbern, Greensboro, and the Talladega National Forest, Folsom and the Perry wetlands regions. All the rides end back up at Judson. The routes include five stops of historic interest. Ride details and online registration are at www.samford.edu/howard.

April 22-25, 2010 – Dallas – Selma – Battle of Selma Reenactment – Bloch Park – Soldiers and Calvary of the Blue and Grey clash once again. School tours, camp dance, grand ball at Sturdivant Hall, memorial service and reenactment fill the weekend. 9:00 am until 6:00 pm.Call 334-412-3131.

April 23-24, 2010 – Perry – Marion – Muckle’s Ridge Festival – Perry County Historic Courthouse Square – Hot Air Balloon demonstration, antique and classic cars, gas engines, blacksmithing, horse and buggy rides, storytellers, petting zoo and children’s activities. Friday 9am until 11 pm and Saturday 9am until 5pm.

April 23-24, 2010 – Clarke – Grove Hill – Clarke County Photography Contest and Exhibit – Annual competition and exhibit hosted by the Grove Hill Arts Council. Judging divided by age groups and categories, including Clarke County Old Barns. Call 251-275-8844 for more details.

April 23, 29-30, 2010 – Monroe – Monroeville – “To Kill a Mockingbird”  20th annual production. Tickets $35. The two act play adaption by Christopher Sergel is presented on the Downtown Square by a local amateur cast. The Mockingbird Players, Thursday – Saturday 7-9pm and Sunday 5pm. Call 251-575-7433.

April 23-25, 2010 – Monroe – Monroeville – The Monroeville Reunion with Special performance of “To Kill a Mockingbird” – Courthouse Square and Lyle Salter Park – Celebrate the heritage of Monroeville during three fun filled days. Events include walking tours, historic home tours, kids carnival, jam session at Whitey Lee Park, YMCA run/walk, a cook-off at Whitey Lee Park, musicians playing at various locations around the square , A special performance of ‘To Kill a Mockingbird “ on Friday April 23, followed by a tented reception on the Courthouse lawn featuring food, art and entertainment. On Saturday at Lyle Salter Park on the southwest side of the Old Courthouse will be dedicated of a historical marker detailing the history of Monroeville. On Sunday, an ice cream social will be held prior to the Sunday afternoon performance of the play, featuring a special Mockingbird ice cream.

April 24, 2010 – Clarke – Grove Hill – Old Timer’s Weekend – Step back into days gone by and celebrates the history of Grove Hill with marker unveiling and other special activities. Call 251-275-8684.

April 24, 2010 – Clarke – Monroe – Monroeville – Dedication of Monroeville’s Lyle Salter Park – A new historic marker detailing the history of Monroeville will be unveiled. 11 am. Call 251-743-2879 for more details.

April 24, 2010 – Conecuh – Repton – Heritage Homecoming Festival – Come home to Repton and join in the celebration which includes the unveiling of a historic marker and other special activities. Call 1-888-266-9217 for more details.

April 24-25, 2010 – Marengo – Thomaston – Celebrate rural Alabama with entertainment, storytelling, domino tournament, watermelon-eating contest, old-timey kid’s games, health fair, quilting and basket making exhibits, arts and crafts barbeque and more. Call 334-627-3388 for more details.

April 29 – May 1, 2010 – Monroe – Monroeville – Alabama Writers Symposium – Alabama Southern Community College Writers Fountain – Two days of author readings, panel discussions, and literary entertainment. The Harper Lee Award for Alabama’s Distinguished Writer and the Eugene Current-Garcia Award for Alabama’s Distinguished Literary Scholar will be presented at the Friday awards luncheon 9 am until 5pm.

October 2. Fall in Folsom

October 29. Alabama Military Hall of Honor Induction Ceremony

December 5. Perry County Historical Society Christmas Tour of Homes