In September
Spot Light
Beer and barbecue The annual PorktoberQue festival, which bills itself as a less-than-traditional Oktoberfest, is coming up, with live entertainment (including live polka music), an indoor biergarten (beer garden), car show, cornhole tournament and barbecue cook-off. Admission is $4 per person per day, and children under 6 are free, but you’ll get in free if you wear lederhosen! All the fun takes place at the Houston County Farm Center, 1701 E. Cottonwood Road in Dothan, from 5-10 p.m. Sept. 25 and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sept. 26. The event includes a Kansas City Barbecue Society-sanctioned barbecue competition. Proceeds benefit local schools and non-profit groups. Visit www.porktoberque.com for more information.
Food safety tips
What do freshness dates on manufactured or packaged foods really tell you? These tips are from the Alabama Cooperative Extension System: • Fresh meat and fish are dated with “date of pack or manufacture,” which refers to when the food was packed or processed for sale. • Dairy and fresh bakery products are labeled with a “freshness, pull or sell-by” date, which refers to the last day the food should be sold. The date allows you a reasonable length of time to use the food. • Other foods are labeled with a “use before” or “best-if-used-by” date, after which the food is no longer at its best but can be used safely. • Yeast and unbaked breads are labeled with an “expiration” or “use by” date, after which the quality of the food deteriorates. But the food would still be safe to consume.
Renew your driver license online
Sand Mountain celebration The 29th Ider Mule Days showcases Sand Mountain’s rich agricultural heritage. Enjoy the big draw of the day, the mule pull, and see draft horses, carriages and antique tractors. There will be arts and crafts, food, children’s games, music and more. The parade begins at 9:30 a.m. Sept. 7 (Labor Day) in Ider Park. A donation of $2 per person over the age of 5 is requested. Call 256-657-4184.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) has updated its driver license system to include online scheduling for appointments at license examining offices, online driver license renewals, self-serve kiosks, digital licensing for smart phones and equipment upgrades at its offices around the state. For more information on these new services, visit www.alrenewal.com.
Want to see more events or submit your own? Alabama Living
Visit www.alabamaliving.coop to submit an event and view our calendar or email an event to events@alabamaliving.coop.
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