Wow! You can really tell that it is late summer. September, when vacations are over and everyone settles back into their school/work routine, towns have their festivals, and events. Of course, here in the South every weekend activity competes with football, so it better be a fun time. Here’s a list of what I found to be fun, family events. I can’t include everything so I’m probably leaving out something you know about. But, hey, leave a comment posting the event and I’ll be sure to get it listed.
Each Saturday 5 Rivers holds classes for 5th-7th graders from 11:30-2pm; reservations required because space is limited. Topics will include Plants, Backyard Habitats, Weather with Alan Seals, Coastal Cleanup, Alabama Turtles and a Turtle Derby on the Delta. Some classes have age restrictions (elementary students only), others are for the family. For more information: www.outdooralabama.com
Every Saturday from 10am to 2pm the Hot Shop at the Orange Beach Art Centerhas glass art classes. The center is located at 26389 Canal Road. It costs $20 for the Ornament Class and $35 for the Paperweight Class; the center is also hosting Glass Blowing for Beginners classes Sept 5 and 12. For more info: www.orangebeachartcenter.com
Fairhope is holding its 1st Annual Elderberry Festival at the Fairhope Historical Museum on Saturday, September 5 starting at 10am. The festival will celebrate the Elderberry, a lowland weed, prevalent everywhere in Baldwin County that sustained Indians, Colonials, Pioneers and Single Taxers with folk remedies, jams, jellies, pies, baked goods and wines.
Baldwin County celebrates its Bicentennial this year. Here’s a link of events for the year:www.co.baldwin.al.us/uploads/Community%20Events%20List%20-%20revised%2020090625.pdf
Want to learn about tailgating food? Distinctive Kitchens Culinary Arts Center presents International Cuisine ~ Kicked Up Tailgating on September 17. The center is located at 4790 Wharf Parkway, Orange Beach. Price is $44.95; 6pm to 8pm; reservations are required. For more info: 251 224-1776 or www.dk4u.com You’ll learn how to throw a “kicked-up” tailgating party. The menu will include: Pork and Chipotle Tacos, New Orleans Muffuletta, Lamb Burgers with Spinach and Red Onion and Chicken Wings with Red Hot Honey Glaze; Yum!
22nd Annual Coastal Clean Up is September 19th all over the country. You can choose to help on any of Alabama’s beaches and waterways. For more information go to www.alcoastalcleanup.org or call 251-621-1216. If you’re going to be out of Alabama and want to help go to www.oceanconservancy.org to sign up. Here are some cool stats: just in Alabama, over the past 20 years, there have been over 48,ooo volunteers removing over 900,000 pounds of marind debris from a total of 2,847 miles of coastline. Surely you can find a spot to clean. I was shocked at the amount of trash on the beach at Gulf Shores public beach this past weekend. Had we had a trashbag with us, believe me we would have filled it (an we’ve done it before, too). Please remember to clean up after yourself at the beach, on your boat, by the river, lake or stream. And, don’t let those plastic grocery bags get left behind. Sea Turtles and other creatures can die from ingesting them. They look like jelly fish to these creatures and that’s what they like to eat…jelly fish, not plastic bags. And smokers…lend me your ears: our beaches are not ashtrays. I don’t care it you want to smoke but take your butts with you when you leave. How disgusting it is to have your child play on the beach and find them picking cigarette butts out of the sand. Doesn’t that gross you out? I’ve now stepped down from my soapbox…on to other events:
Maizing Family Fun Farm begins September 19 and runs through October 31. Open Friday to Sunday 10am-6pm. The farm is in Elberta at 27695 Woerner Rd. Price: children 3 and under are free; children 4-12 years old $8.00; children 13 + and adults $12.00 For more info 251-747-1368 or www.elbertacornmaze.com This years attractions include: Corn Maze Hay Bale Maze (for little ones) Hay Rides U-Pick garden Pumpkin Patch Lawn Mower Races Antique Tractors Live Farm Animals Corn Cannon Play area and Gift Shop. They’ll have a Haunted Maze for Halloween!
Want to learn about the weather? Where: University of South Alabama Baldwin County Campus Performance Center located at the corner of Summit Street and St. James Avenue in Fairhope. September 20 at 3pm. “Picture This Weather” is sponsored by the Distinguished Lecture Series. It’s free to the public. Alan Seals, WKRG-TV’s Chief Meteorologist, will speak about the weather. This may be the same talk he’s giving at 5Rivers only for an older crowd, maybe not. For more information call 251-928-8133
Now here’s the busiest weekend:
Fall Encampment and Battle Reenactment at Historic Magee Farm is scheduled for September 25-27. Magee Farm is located at 6222 Highway 45 in Kushla, AL. It is one of the many locations in the area where the civil war battles took place. The event opens at 9am-5pm. They’ll have living history demonstrations throughout the day on Saturday. Battles are at 2:pm both Saturday and Sunday. Call for price info or just have cash on hand. 251-675-1863 or www.historicmageefarm.com
The 32nd Annual Pensacola Seafood Festival (ok, it’s not in Baldwin County, but close enough and sounds like fun) on September 25-27 at the area around Seville Square in downtown Pensacola. It’s free. Hours: Friday, Noon-10pm; Saturday, 10am-10pm; Sunday, 11am-5pm. There’s also a 5K run that starts on Saturday at 8:00 a.m. beginning at Seville Quarter. For more info: www.fiestaoffiveflags.org/SeafoodFestival/index.html
21st Annual Jubilee Festival in Olde Towne Daphne is September 26-27. It’s free to the public; 10am-5pm each day. The festival will feature fine arts and crafts exhibitors, live entertainment, festival food, Kids Art in the Park. For more info: www.eschamber.com
Calling all Ghost Busters: SanRoc Cay In Orange Beach presents: An Evening with Ghost Hunters on September 26 from 7pm-9pm. It’s free. You’ll get an introduction to ghost hunting and learn about the equipment they use. You’ll also see actual footage shot by the Pensacola Paranormal Society. www.sanroccay.com
2nd Annual Turtle Derby on the Delta at 5 Rivers in Spanish Fort will be on September 27. It starts at noon and the race is at 2pm. Adopt your rubber turtle for $5.00. There will be other things to do as well. The proceeds will benefit the uninsured patients and special programs of Covenant Hospice of Mobile County. What a cool family event. For more info: www.alabamafiverivers.com
59th Annual Baldwin County Fair is September 29-October 3 at the Robertsdale Fairgrounds. For more information on tickets call 251-947-3492. Fair hours: 5pm to 10pm Tuesday-Friday; Noon to 10pm Saturday. Celebrating Baldwin County’s Bicentennial. Along with the usual fair attractions and events there will be a Wild West Show.
Jubilee Race for Life 5K is September 26. Jubilee Race for Life benefits the medical work of Bayside Medical Missions, an Eastern Shore based non-profit organization. This year’s race is dedicated to the Portoviejo, Ecuador La Vida Surgery Center which provides reconstructive surgeries for persons of limited financial resources. The run/walk Starts on Collage at the Baptist Church. music, awards, food, prizes, t-shirts and fun. To register: www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1731274 or www.baysidemedicalmissions.org
Enjoy!
Life Along the Gulf Coast 