Come alive this weekend with great entertainment.

DeSoto State Park 

Miller’s Bend Paddle Shack in the DeSoto Falls picnic area will be open this weekend for scenic kayak trips up the West Fork of Little River north of Fort Payne. Rent sit-on-top kayaks for a peaceful flatwater paddle on Little River overlooking beautiful DeSoto Falls. An adventure can be up to 4 miles round trip. Paddle trips are perfect for individuals or groups. Life vests and paddles will be provided. Shack hours are Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Kayaks are available by reservation Monday through Friday by appointment only during the hours of 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call DeSoto State Park’s Lodge for information at 256-845-5380.

Foreigner Tour

Tickets are on sale for the Greatest Hits of Foreigner Tour. Foreigner will perform Wednesday, Nov. 17 at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex. For more information, click on redmountainentertainment.com. Purchase tickets at ticketmaster.com.

Helen Keller Art Show of Alabama

For more than a decade, the Wiregrass Museum of Art has hosted the Helen Keller Art Show of Alabama, an exhibition of work created by Alabama students with visual impairments, blindness or deafness. The exhibition is juried statewide and travels from Birmingham to Mobile. Select pieces are shown internationally. The Helen Keller Art Show emphasizes creativity, color and tactile media in the arts. The winning entry for the grand prize is selected by the Helen Keller Festival Board to receive the Patty Johnson Award and will remain in the permanent collection at Ivy Green in Tuscumbia, the birthplace of Helen Keller. The show will be on view through Saturday, May 22 at 126 Museum Ave. in Dothan.

‘All Things Bright and Beautiful’

“All Things Bright and Beautiful” brings together works primarily from the Birmingham Museum of Art’s permanent collection that look at themes of power and agency. This exhibition takes its name from a painting by Amy Sherald, whose portraits depict Black portrait-sitters with pride, dignity and joy, representation historically afforded only to white people. Some artists in the exhibition look toward power in creative endeavors, like music. Others contemplate the hidden potential of everyday objects by transforming them into works of art. Several artists engage the representation of space and architecture – including museum spaces – to discover the dynamics of power. Considered together, these works illustrate the importance of being seen, choosing how to be depicted and telling one’s own history. The exhibit will be available through January 2022 at the Birmingham Museum of Art.

Highland Park Golf Course

Unwind at the Highland Park Golf Course in Birmingham from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Golfers are welcome to walk along the cart path. Book your tee time at highlandparkgolf.com or call 205-322-1902. Link here to learn more.

Shelby County Arts Council

Enjoy the Shelby County Arts Council (SCAC) free livestream performances from the Black Box Theatre on the SCAC Youtube channel. For the complete lineup, click here. Follow this link for upcoming events. For donations and memberships, go here.

First Light Virtual Gala

First Light will host its annual fundraiser online this year. In addition to a full lineup of speakers and entertainment, guests are able to participate in an online auction. Proceeds will benefit the mission of Birmingham’s First Light to support homeless women and their children. The event is Thursday, April 29 at 6:30 p.m. Attendees will receive a Zoom link before start time. Registration is free, and sponsorships are available at givesmart.org.

Rock the South

Rock the South returns to Cullman Aug. 13-14 with performances by Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Nelly, Ashley McBryde, Jordan Davis, Ingrid Andress, Flatland Cavalry, Trey Lewis, Drew Parker, Morgan Wade, Alex Hall, Josh Kiser, Laine Hardy and Dee Jay Silver. Save up to $50 on tickets through Tuesday, May 18. Social Media Tag: #Biggestpartyinthesouth

Virtual Art and Poetry Showcase

Bush Hills STEAM Academy’s sixth grade students have created original artwork and poetry centered on the Green Book. The book, a hallmark of the Jim Crow era of U.S. history, outlined safe establishments for Black patrons to visit and is an integral part of American civil rights history. In celebration of the students’ work, Jefferson County Memorial Project (JCMP) and the Greater Birmingham Arts Education Collaborative will host a livestream Thursday, April 29 at 6 p.m. on JCMP’s Facebook page. Following the event, the students’ work will be available for viewing on the website.

Sidewalk Cinema

“Dazed and Confused” (1993) with a cast reunion is playing at the Cinema in Birmingham through Thursday, May 6. The film is about the adventures of high school and junior high students on the last day of school in May 1976. The film will be followed by a cast reunion hosted by Jack Black, with director Richard Linklater and stars Matthew McConaughey and Parker Posey. Link here for COVID-19 restrictions. Tickets are sold in advance and online. Assigned seating will be in place. Credit and debit cards are accepted at the bar and concessions.

Birmingham Walking Tours

Vulcan Park and Museum (VPM) announces the expansion of its annual programming with 40 tours scheduled across Birmingham through the end of 2021. Visitors and residents may experience the history and beauty of Birmingham’s neighborhoods and cultural districts in a fun, invigorating way. The Birmingham Walking Tours invite participants to step into the shoes of the architects, visionaries, socialites and entrepreneurs who sparked the magic in the “Magic City.” The first three tours will be Center Street, the Retail/Theatre District and Five Points South, led by Brian “Voice Porter” Hawkins, Gary Bostany and Allison Vosicky, respectively. From historical homes to new retail developments, VPM has offered walking tours the past 16 years unlocking and discovering the uniqueness of the city. A brainchild of historian and author Phillip Morris, the tours allow participants to dive into Birmingham’s history and culture to discover hidden architectural treasures. Registration is $25 for VPM members and $40 for nonmembers. Masks and social distancing are required. Tour groups will not exceed 20 participants. Reservations and payment are required in advance. The Birmingham Walking Tours are on Saturdays and Sundays over the next year. For more information or to register, go to birminghamwalkingtours.com.

The Exceptional Foundation Chili Cook-Off

The 17^th annual Chili Cook-Off will be Saturday, May 1 from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. benefiting The Exceptional Foundation. The family-friendly event will feature live music, a kid zone and all the chili you can eat. The venue will be the parking lot of Macy’s Department Store at Brookwood Village. Admission is $15; children age 12 and younger are free. Link here for tickets. Guests are expected to adhere to state and local health guidelines and take COVID-19 safety precautions.

Gravity Island Watersports

OWA’s Gravity Island Watersports in Foley will open the summer with two wet attractions, an Aqua Play and Wake Park, which are the first of their kind in coastal Alabama. The Aqua Play, by Union AquaParks, offers recreational waterplay on two inflatable obstacle courses in the lake at OWA. Guests will slip and slide, trying not to fall off, as they test their versatility and rush across the obstacles. The Wake Park is a two-tower cable system by Sesitec System 2.0 stretching across the lake at OWA, operated by professional wakeboarder T.J. Allen and his wife, Caitlin. Their team will provide hands-on training with the cable system to help guests glide across the lake with certified lifeguards on hand to ensure a fun, safe experience. Allen and his team will coach and give lessons to those looking to improve their wakeboard skills. For those new to watersports, Gravity Island Wake Park offers a “get up guarantee” to enhance the experience for every rider. Once open, reservations will be available online or onsite at the OWA Island Boathouse or Starting Dock behind Lucy’s Retired Surfers Bar & Restaurant. Sign up for email updates at gravityislandwatersports.com.