Published On: 03.03.22 | 

By: Shirley Jackson

Can’t Miss Alabama spotlights Women’s History Month and more

Reflect and recognize the courage, ambition and strength of women.

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Stay tuned for events featuring female artists, vendors and Freedom Riders.

 

The Freedom Rides Museum honors Women’s History Month

The Freedom Rides Museum in Montgomery, a historic property of the Alabama Historical Commission, will present a series of weekly virtual conversations each Friday beginning March 4 at noon in honor of Women’s History Month. Programs will feature conversations with women who were either involved in the Freedom Rides or whose history intersected with the Freedom Riders. To join the event, visit the Freedom Rides Museum on Facebook.

Highlights Tour for Women’s History Month at the Birmingham Museum of Art

Save the date during Women’s History Month at the Birmingham Museum of Art (BMA) for Wednesday, March 23 from noon to 12:30 p.m. Celebrate with a tour by Rachel White, director of Learning and Engagement, as she spotlights women artists whose work is represented in the BMA collection. Each Highlights Tour offers an intimate look at specific areas of the BMA collection with a BMA curator or educator. Learn something new from the collection of more than 27,000 works of art.

Celebrate women in the arts at UAB

Celebrate Women’s History Month at Women in the Visual Arts Family Day presented by UAB’s ArtPlay Saturday, March 5 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Abroms-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts (AEIVA). Participants will learn from local female artists and immerse themselves in the history of legendary artists. Tours of AEIVA’s galleries will feature exciting spring exhibitions. Artists include Ann Trondson and Melissa Yes, co-directors of Vinegar, a nonprofit organization that champions artists in Birmingham and beyond. Yes is program coordinator in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Art and Art History. Register for the event here.

Students install art inside the Abroms-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts (AEIVA) for the 2019 Bachelor of Fine Arts Exhibition. (Steve Wood)

Women’s History Month in Mobile

Join the city of Mobile for celebrations honoring the contributions of women throughout March.

Festivities include:

  • Women Supporting Women: Every Monday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., shop until you drop at the women-owned pop-up market along the Mobile River (101 South Water St.) with music and food trucks.
  • Loda Artwalk: Stroll the streets of downtown Mobile Friday, March 11 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and celebrate women’s history. Follow along on Loda Artwalk on Facebook and Instagram.
  • Words of Women: Follow @mobileparkandrec every Wednesday to hear empowering messages from women in and around the area.
  • Sip ‘n’ Paint: Wrap up the Women’s History Month celebration Monday, March 28 with an evening of sipping and painting at Cooper Riverside Park (101 South Water St.). The cost is $25 for an 8-by-10-inch canvas and painting supplies. Those attending must be 21 or older. There will be music, vendors, food trucks and adult beverages available for purchase. Register here.

Learn more about events here.

Faith and Politics Conference

The Faith and Politics Institute will host its annual Civil Rights Pilgrimage to Alabama featuring members of Congress, including Rep. Terri Sewell of Alabama’s 7th Congressional District. The pilgrimage will make stops at the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery and the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma March 4-6. For more information, email jphillips@lrymediagroup.com.

Selma to Montgomery March Commemoration 

The annual Bridge Crossing Jubilee is underway through Sunday, March 6 in Selma. The event will commemorate the 57th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, the Selma to Montgomery March and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. It is the nation’s largest annual civil rights celebration, which has been attended by three sitting presidents, hundreds of civil rights leaders and thousands of people. Festivities include golf, workshops, a parade and a festival. The complete schedule is here. To learn more, visit selma50.com.

Exceptional Foundation Chili Cook-Off

The 18th annual Chili Cook-off is set for Saturday, March 5 from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. benefiting The Exceptional Foundation. The community event features more than 100 teams competing for prizes, such as People’s Choice, Most Team Spirit and Best Chili. The public is invited to taste every chili and vote for personal favorites. The family-friendly event will feature live music, a kid zone and all the chili you can eat. The venue is the parking lot at Brookwood Village. Admission is $15 and children ages 12 and younger are admitted free. Link here for tickets.

Birmingham Bottling: Soft Drinks in the Magic City exhibit

Have you ever heard of Mission Orange, Try-Me Cola, National Dope, NuGrape, Jersey Creme, Glee Ola, Gay Ola or Wiseola? Discover these brands and more at Vulcan Park & Museum’s latest exhibit, Birmingham Bottling: Soft Drinks in the Magic City. Presented by Coca-Cola Bottling Co. United, Birmingham Bottling tells a comprehensive story about Birmingham’s soft drink history, complete with the inventors and innovators, marketers and visionaries. Visitors can view the Birmingham History Center’s collection of vintage bottles from companies including Coca-Cola and Buffalo Rock through January 2023.

Monroeville Literary Festival

Musician Rick Carter will take part in the Monroeville Literary Festival Friday, March 4 at the Old Courthouse Museum. The singer, songwriter, band leader and entrepreneur will tell stories from the release of his new book, “Fables and Stories: Tales From an Alabama Troubadour,” perform songs and discuss his music during the Songwriter Workshop from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Sales and signings of his book will be at the Bird’s Nest Gift Shop following each presentation. A highlight of past events, the presentations of the Harper Lee Award for Alabama’s Distinguished Writer and the Truman Capote Prize for Alabama’s Distinguished Writer of Literary Non-Fiction or the Short Story will continue as a part of the festival. For the complete schedule or to learn more about the festival, visit monroecountymuseum.org. The venue is at 31 N. Alabama Ave.

Bo Bikes Bama Fundraiser

Registration is open for the annual charity bike ride led by two-sport pro legend and Alabama native Bo Jackson. The event raises money for the Governor’s Emergency Relief Fund, which provides crucial disaster preparedness and management resources in the state. The ride is Saturday, April 23 in Auburn. Riders will have the option to ride in person in Auburn, choosing between 20-mile and 60-mile routes, or an at-home option. Those riding from home are invited to ride any route of their choosing on April 23 and share photos on social media. Additional events and opportunities include a VIP Experience and reception and silent auction, as well as fundraising and sponsorship opportunities. Registration will close Sunday, April 3 at 8 p.m. Rider packets, including T-shirts and purchased merchandise, will be mailed in advance to in-person and at-home riders. To keep everyone safe, plans may change because of the pandemic. Donations are welcomed. Email info@bobikesbama.com or follow this link for frequently asked questions. The venue for in-person rides is the Auburn Arena.

Prattauga Art Guild Hosts Brian Bohanan Folk Art Exhibit

The Prattauga Art Guild will feature the work of Alabama folk artist Brian Bohanan March 3-April 10 at the Prattville Creative Arts Center and Gallery. Bohanan is a self-taught artist who creates works on discarded objects, which he feels brings a renewal of purpose. A major theme in his work is his “Trees of Life,” which represent the ideas of renewal, recycling and a second life. Bohanan will give a talk at the Creative Arts Center, 342 South Chestnut St., Sunday, March 6 at 2 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. The Prattville Creative Arts Center and Gallery is open Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit prattvilleal.gov, or call the Prattville Cultural Arts Office at 334-595-0850.

Cottontail’s Village

The annual Cottontail’s Village is back at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex. Shop around for arts, crafts, gifts and food. A spring vendor exhibit will be on display. Tickets are available online or at the venue box office 30 minutes before doors open. Adult tickets are $7 and $8 at the door. The exhibit is March 4-6 Friday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Follow on Facebook.