Can’t Miss Alabama ushers in the warm cheer of spring
Festival of Tulips is open at American Village. (contributed)
Have a great day at an Alabama State Park this weekend.
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute has taped interviews
The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI) presents the BCRI Oral History Collection of many exceptional leaders of the civil rights movement. The collection contains more than 600 interviews on VHS and mini-digital video tapes and is still growing. Digitization began in 2019 and the site launched in 2020. Digitized interviews will be added to the site as they are processed. The presentation includes LaVerne Revis Martin, Mary Streeter Perry, Annetta Nunn and others.
Festival of Tulips at American Village in Montevallo
Festival of Tulips opens Thursday with safety measures in place. The event will be entirely outdoors. New varieties and blends include City of Vancouver, Wheels Up, Yellow Cubed Mira Mira, Globo Rojo and Judy Beauty. Admission is $5. Tulips including the bulb are $1.50 each plus tax. Masks are required. Visitors will park by the field. Shuttles will not be offered. Check here for weekly updates for field conditions and bloom time. Check the website for inclement weather updates.
Youth Art Month at Alabama Center for the Arts
The Alabama Center for the Arts in Decatur is celebrating Youth Art Month, a yearly showcase of talent in visual arts. The exhibit will feature 106 pieces of art by K-12 students in coordination with teachers in Morgan County, including city, county and private schools, and will be open through March 30. Youth Art Month encourages support for quality school art programs and promotes art material safety. Administered by the Council for Art Education, the program helps children of all ages develop problem-solving, observation and communication skills while enhancing their creativity. The event is sponsored by the Alabama Center for the Arts and the Carnegie Visual Arts Center, with artist awards to be given by Daybreak Rotary Club of Decatur. The Carnegie provides educational and cultural opportunities to Decatur-area residents and strives to encourage a greater involvement in art at all levels and ages. The excellent children’s art education program promotes creativity via hands-on activities. A variety of other programs, events and collections are offered for all ages. The Alabama Center for the Arts is at 133 2nd Ave. N.E. For more information about Youth Art Month, call 256-260-4293.
Alabama Ballet presents ‘Romeo & Juliet’
Tickets are on sale for Alabama Ballet’s “Romeo & Juliet.” Performances are April 23-25 at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex. It is choreographed by Roger VanFleteren, associate artistic director and resident choreographer of Alabama Ballet. The classical ballet, based on Shakespeare’s tragedy, is known for its breathless pas de deux, dramatic emotions and tragic tale. Faithful to Shakespeare’s original text, the ballet follows the fate of the star-crossed lovers from their first meeting to their untimely, tragic deaths. The tale is full of secrets, passion and eternal love. “Romeo & Juliet” is likely the world’s best-known love story, and the ballet version of the tragic tale is set to Prokofiev’s dramatic score, widely recognized as a masterpiece of 20th century music.
OWA Theater presents Legends in Concert
Legends in Concert will feature “Celebrate Vegas” through Sunday, May 30 at the OWA Theater in Foley. The award-winning show will feature tributes to four artists who have had the greatest impact on the entertainment capital of the world over the past 60 years. The lineup includes tributes to the stars of the original residencies in Las Vegas, the “Chairman of the Board” Frank Sinatra, and the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll” Elvis Presley, portrayed by Brian Duprey and Leo Days, respectively. Lisa McClowry as Cher will make you “Believe,” while Erika Moul will pay homage to Lady Gaga, the hottest ticket on the strip in recent years. Tickets for “Celebrate Vegas” can be purchased at visitowa.com/tickets or by calling 251-369-6100. Group discounts for 10 or more are available; contact the box office for details. For additional information go to visitowa.com/legendsinconcert or follow Legends in Concert on Twitter @legendsowa, Facebook @legendsinconcertowa and Instagram @legendsinconcertowa.
Magic City Classic tickets
Tickets are on sale for the highly anticipated 79th annual Magic City Classic rivalry game at Birmingham’s Legion Field between Alabama A&M and Alabama State on Saturday, April 17 at 6:30 p.m. This year, fans will see a lot of changes around the festivities due to COVID-19 restrictions, including mandatory face coverings. Attendance to the game will be limited to 25% of stadium capacity, and there will be no band performances or tailgating. Follow this link to purchase tickets.
Easter photos at The Wharf 
Live and fuzzy bunnies will be at The Wharf March 20-21, 27-28 and April 2-3 for professional, keepsake Easter photos. Wear your best Easter attire and choose from multiple backdrops. Various price packages are available. Photos will have a socially distanced setup inside and masks will be encouraged while waiting in line.
Alabama State Parks
Looking for adventure? Check out the Alabama State Parks’ Screaming Eagle Zip Lines. Three zip line park locations will provide thrills while you zip your way through the treetop canopy:
- Run to the Cave — Cathedral Caverns State Park.
- Waterfall Hike — DeSoto State Park.
- Easter Egg Hunt — Wind Creek State Park.
Visit alapark.com to learn more about these park events and others.
