Ensemble Mélange will perform at the Enterprise High School Performing Arts Center January 17.
1
Gulf Shores, Polar Bear Dip. Take a dip in the Gulf of Mexico on New Year’s Day at 12 p.m. Beach access and parking is available at 240 W. Beach Blvd., beside the lifeguard building. Featuring DJ, chili and hot chocolate. Free. T-shirts and koozies available and donations are welcome. Proceeds benefit the Alabama Special Olympics and the Kiwanis Club of Gulf Shores. 256-490-4985.
1
Montgomery, Hank Williams 66th Memorial Celebration, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Hank Williams gravesite at Oakwood Cemetery Annex. Wreath laying at 10 a.m., followed by live music at the museum in downtown Montgomery. 334-2623600, thehankwilliamsmuseum. net
12
Gulf Shores, Gulf Coast Arts Alliance Art Market. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Features original art by local and regional artists, kids activities, music and demonstrations. Gulf Coast First Presbyterian Church, 309 E. 21st Ave. gulfcoastartsalliance.com
12-13
Decatur, Festival of the Cranes at Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge. More than 20,000 Sandhill cranes and 20 or more whooping cranes spend the winter at Wheeler NWR. Events include viewing the cranes up close, birding workshops and nature walks, kids’ activities and more. 256-350-6639, friendsofwheelerrefuge.com
13-Feb. 15
Hanceville, The artistry and design of cars and motorcycles will be on
display at the Evelyn Burrow Museum at Wallace State Community College. “LUSTER: Realism and Hyperrealism in Contemporary Automobile and Motorcycle Painting” is a traveling exhibition of more than 50 paintings in a range of media and size. burrowmuseum.org
13
Pike Road, The Pike Road Arts Council presents Art Talk and Afternoon Tea, featuring Barbara Davis. 2-4 p.m. Pike Road Town Hall, 9575 Vaughn Road. The third installation of a new series featuring conversations and demonstrations with local artists. Seating is limited. Purchase tickets by Jan. 9 at pikeroad.us.
15
Birmingham, The National Ballet Theatre of Odessa presents Swan Lake at Birmingham’s historic Lyric Theatre, 1800 Third Avenue North. Swan Lake tells the story of a heroic young prince as he works to free the beautiful swan maiden from an evil spell. Tickets can be purchased by visiting lyricbham. com or call 205-252-2262.
17
Enterprise, The Coffee County Arts Alliance Presents Ensemble Mélange. Mélange is a joyful modern-day ensemble that is changing the rules of performance. Unique to their performance is the manner in which the program is selected. The audience is invited to select the works to be performed by choosing from a menu of more than 30 works derived from different styles. Genres vary from classical, baroque, romantic, jazz, Latin, Americana and Broadway. The result is a one-ofa-kind, high-energy concert. 7 p.m.
Enterprise High School Performing Arts Center, 1801 Boll Weevil Circle. coffeecountyartsalliance.com
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Elkmont, Hound Dog Half Marathon. Course begins in downtown Elkmont and heads out into the country. About 7-8 miles into the race, runners will move off road onto the old L&N railroad bed, now known as the Richard Martin Trail. USATF certified; proceeds benefit the Elkmont and Ardmore High School cross country and track teams. Hounddoghalfmarathon. itsyourrace.com
21
Birmingham, The Birmingham Civil Rights Museum will observe Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with special programming featuring live performances, music, games and giveaways. Free admission to the museum and extended hours 9 a.m.5 p.m. Tour the permanent exhibits as they come to life with poetry and spoken word performances and test your Civil Rights history knowledge in the BCRI Jeopardy game. For more information, visit bcri.org. 520 16th St. North.
25-27
Guntersville, , Eagle Awareness at Lake Guntersville State Park. In January and February, eagles take center stage in North Alabama when Lake Guntersville State Park hosts the annual Eagle Awareness weekends, held every weekend from Jan. 25 through Feb. 17. The program features live bird demonstrations, interactive programs provided by speakers from across the country, guided field trips for viewing
To place an event, e-mail events@alabamaliving.coop. or visit www.alabamaliving.coop. You can also mail to Events Calendar, P.O. Box 244014, Montgomery, AL 36124; Each submission must include a contact name and phone number. Deadline is two months prior to issue date. We regret that we cannot publish every event due to space limitations.
Alabama Living
Photo courtesy of Ensamble Mélange.
January | Around Alabama
eagles in their natural habitat, and activities for children. There will be demonstrations by Wings to SOAR, Alabama 4H Center and Auburn University’s Southeastern Raptor Center. visitalapark.com/lakeguntersville-state-park-eagleawareness-weekends.
25-26
Troy, Pike Piddlers Storytelling Festival. The festival begins at 6:30 pm. Friday with supper and stories at the We Piddle Around Theater in Brundidge, and continues with three storytelling concerts on Saturday at the Trojan Center Theatre on the Troy University campus. 334-685-5524 or piddle. org
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Theodore, Viewing the Winter Sky at Bellingrath Gardens. Special evening astronomy program, led by members of the University of South Alabama Department of Physics. Following a brief lecture, guests will view the night sky on the Great Lawn. Telescopes will be set up to view planets and constellations. Guests are asked to bring binoculars and flashlights. Free for members, $14 for non-members. Reservations required. 251-973-2217
Feb. 2
Orrville, Road to Freedom Wagon Tour. One hundred years before the civil rights movement focused the nation’s attention on Selma, a brave community of recently emancipated African-Americans gathered in Cahawba. This wagon tour tells the story of Cahawba’s African-American majority and traces their path from slavery to freedom. $10 adults; $8 children under 18. Old Cahawba Archaeological Park, 9518 Cahaba Road, Orrville; 334-872-8058. Ahc. alabama.gov
Feb. 7
Nortport, In honor of Alabama’s Bicentennial, Kentuck kicks off “The Year of Alabama Artists” by featuring the work of Kentuck Festival guest artist Michael Banks. Live music in the Courtyard of Wonders; Kentuck’s eight studio artists will have their studios open for demonstrations and purchases. The Kentuck Gallery Shop will also be open. Alabama.travel
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