Can’t Miss Alabama: Salute all those who have served and sacrificed
Give honor to all who have served in our nation’s armed forces Nov. 11, at the annual Veterans Day Parade in downtown Birmingham. (contributed)
National Veterans Day Parade
The nation’s oldest, longest-running Veterans Day parade will be Friday, Nov. 11, from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The 76th National Veterans Day Parade will be live and in person, along the streets of downtown Birmingham. Medal of Honor recipient Melvin Morris will serve as the Parade Marshall. Hank, a retired military working equine with 10 years of service, will be a special guest in the parade. The riderless horse, often called a cap horse or caparisoned horse, served at the funeral for Gen. Colin Powell, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and U.S. secretary of state. Read more about Hank here. Follow this link for the parade route. Follow on Facebook.
Give thanks to our courageous heroes. (Getty Images)
Here are other places and events around the state where you can observe Veterans Day:
Huntsville
- Nov. 10 – Huntsville/Madison County Veterans Week Dinner, 5 p.m., Von Braun Center.
- Nov. 11 – Veterans Day Parade, 11 a.m., downtown Huntsville.
- Nov. 11 – Veterans Day Appreciation Event, noon, Redstone Harley-Davidson in Madison.
Mobile
- Nov. 10 – Flag Raising Ceremony, 7 a.m., USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park.
- Nov. 10 – Veteran Parade, 10 a.m., downtown Mobile.
- Nov. 10 – Honors Luncheon, noon, Fort Whiting Armory.
- Nov. 10 – Parade of Flags Celebration, 3 p.m., USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park.
- Nov. 10 – Patriotic Concert, 7 p.m., USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park.
Birmingham
- Nov. 10 – National Veterans Day Awards Dinner, 5 p.m., Sheraton Birmingham Hotel.
- Nov. 10 – American Village Veterans Day Salute, 10 a.m., Colonial Chapel.
- Nov. 11 – UAB Veterans Day 5K, 8 a.m., UAB Mini Park.
- Nov. 11 – Alabama Veterans Memorial Foundation, open all day for self-guided tours, Alabama Veterans Memorial Park.
Tuscaloosa
- Nov. 11 – Veterans Day Celebration Parade, 8 a.m., Northport.
- Nov. 11 – Veterans Day Program, 10 a.m., Veterans Memorial Park in Tuscaloosa.
Montgomery
- Nov. 9-11 – Veterans Day Appreciation Week, 9 a.m., Montgomery Zoo and Mann Wildlife Museum.
- Nov. 11 – Veterans Day Celebration, 1 p.m., Riverwalk Stadium in Montgomery.
Auburn
- Nov. 10 – Auburn Veterans Day Ceremony, 10 a.m., Auburn Veterans Memorial.
- Nov. 10 – Opelika Veterans Day Service, 9 a.m., Cooper Auditorium in Auburn.
- Nov. 11 – Veterans Scholarship Gala, 6 p.m., Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center.
Tropic Falls honors veterans
This Veterans Day weekend, OWA Parks & Resort in Foley will honor and celebrate active and retired military personnel and their families at Tropic Falls. During regular park hours, all who have served the country will be eligible to receive a 25% discount on a general admission ticket with a valid military ID Nov. 10-12. Limit six general admission tickets. The ticket option applies to those entering Tropic Falls wishing to participate in rides and attractions. Children ages 3 and younger are admitted free.
Soldier’s Heart Retreat
Transformation Ministries is offering a retreat for veterans and their spouses struggling with negative effects of PTSD and other related issues Nov. 10-13 at Lake Martin. There will be guest speakers, counseling if requested, activities and food. Admission is free to attend except for a $50 nonrefundable registration fee. For more information, visit the website. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Homestead Hollow
Springville is known for good food and entertainment at its annual fall show. Festivalgoers will see pioneer demonstrations of blacksmithing, wood carving, wood stove cooking, quilting and whiskey making. Also take a tour of the cabins as they were built by the early settlers. The festival takes place Nov. 10-12. Visit the website for ticket information. Homestead Hollow is at 1161 Murphrees Valley Road.
Magic City Mac and Cheese Festival
Community Grief Support’s Junior Board will host its sixth annual Magic City Mac and Cheese Festival Sunday, Nov. 12, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Back Forty Beer Company in Birmingham. The festival is part competition, part celebration of the South’s ultimate comfort food and a fundraiser for Community Grief Support (CGS). More than 3,500 participants will taste various mac and cheese dishes from Birmingham’s favorite restaurants, food trucks, caterers, eateries, corporate teams and home chefs. Emceed by Janice Rogers, Fox 6’s Good Day Alabama co-anchor, the Mac and Cheese Festival is a family- and pet-friendly event, with live music by Southern Choice and a kids’ zone including balloon artists, face painting and crafts. There will also be local celebrity and kid judges to decide the overall mac and cheese winner. The proceeds will benefit CGS free grief services and programs to individuals and families in need. Tickets may be purchased at communitygriefsupport.org.
