Sips ‘n Strokes takes class to Ave Maria Grotto on Saturday evening
CULLMAN, Ala. - Sips ‘n Strokes of Cullman is packing up their paints and canvases for an on-site class at Ave Maria Grotto on Saturday evening at 5:00 p.m. The class, for budding artists, accomplished artists and everyone in between, will be taught by...
Alcoholics Anonymous celebrates 87th birthday
AKRON, OH. - “Alcoholics Anonymous saved my life. There’s no question about that. It’s the best thing that ever happened in my life. I was one of those that everybody that knew me thought I’d always be drinking. It was just the way it...
Local author and former CHS teacher holding book reading and signing at Karma’s Coffeehouse
CULLMAN, Ala. - Retired Cullman High School teacher and now, best-selling author, Dorenda Doyle, will present a reading and signing of her newly published memoir “How I Learned to Like My Mom: Forgive Those You Love Before it’s too Late” on Friday, June 17...
52 ODES TO JOY: THE 1-HOUR S.U.N.S. JOY LIFT
NEVER TRUST A GERONTOLOGIST UNDER 70! Please hear me saying that playfully. However, I’ve done my 70 years and spent much of it studying and practicing “joyful aging,” so you can totally trust me on this next thing which could seem an absurd assertion.
Can...
Preparations underway for 2022 2nd Fridays
CULLMAN, Ala. - Marking its 2022 return, 2nd Fridays in Cullman will hold its June celebration on Friday, June 10 from 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. along 1st Avenue in the Warehouse District.
The event, hosted by the Cullman Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center...
Hank’s Sport Bar and Rumors Deli hosts nationwide talent Jermaine ‘Funnymaine’ Johnson
CULLMAN, Ala. - Saturday night saw two best of the bests putting on a show for Cullman that was full of one-of-a-kind entertainment, specialty drinks and cathartic laughter.
Hank’s Sports Bar and Rumors Deli presented comedian and Alabama football aficionado Jermaine “Funnymaine” Johnson and Rod...
52 ODES TO JOY: S.U.N.S. SUMMER
ODE TO SUMMER
My longtime favorite season is summer.
Though fall, spring nor winter is a bummer.
At 70, this thought’s not a newcomer;
It came decades ago with my first frozen rummer.
“Summer afternoon” according to American-born British writer, Henry James, are the...
Lots of family fun planned in Hanceville this month
HANCEVILLE, Ala. - Hanceville is hopping this summer. After last weekend’s successful Grilled Cheese Festival, the city will be hosting a Bull Bash Weekend next Friday and Saturday, June 10 and 11.
Sponsored by the City of Hanceville and Double Creek Rodeo Company, the weekend...
Time-honored tradition Decoration Day observed across Cullman County
CULLMAN COUNTY, Ala. - Decoration Day, an annual observance still common throughout Cullman and North Alabama, has a history steeped in tradition, honor and homecoming.
With many family traditions falling to the wayside in the busy 21st century, Cullman is fortunate to have a stronghold...
Smith Lake Park celebrates 50 years with Memorial Day Festival
Saturday marked a very special day at Smith Lake Park as crowds poured in to help honor the countless men and women that have sacrificed for our country and celebrate the park’s 50th anniversary with this year’s Memorial Day Festival. There were arts and...
52 ODES TO JOY: S.U.N.S. AGE JOY LIBRARY
I LOVE LIBRARIES and I have a dream of a beautiful, FREE, public one with happy colors, patron-selected seating, art murals, craft/study/activity areas, cubbies, tall windows for lots of daylight, tech/STEM assistance, an array of books + lots of integrated programming.
This innovative library in...
The Town of Arley prepares for 49th Annual Arley Day festival taking place May 21
ARLEY, Ala. - The Town of Arley’s 49th Annual Arley Day community festival will be Saturday, May 21. The all-day event will last from 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at Hamner Park kicking off with a parade line up in the Dollar General parking...
Summertime fun hits Hanceville
HANCEVILLE, Ala. - The City of Hanceville is getting ready for summer with a calendar full of events for everyone’s enjoyment.
Kicking off the entertainment was a bluegrass concert featuring Cotton Pickin’ Kids and Bama Blu-Grace this past Saturday night at the Hanceville Civic Center....
52 ODES TO JOY: SIMPLICITY POSITIVITY
When I get the urge to purge,
I first put on some music.
A little more punk and a little less dirge,
Then I’m trashin’, smashin’, thrashin’ like a lunatic.
“STUFF OWNS YOU…Wash it, dry it, fold it, iron it, have it cleaned, repair...
83rd Annual Cullman Strawberry Festival has record number of attendees
CULLMAN, Ala. - The Cullman Strawberry Festival on Saturday, May 7 was packed with people looking to buy farm fresh strawberries and enjoy the many festivities. Farmers began selling produce at 7:00 a.m. and most were sold out by the middle of the day,...
52 ODES TO JOY: ZEST FOR ZZZ
ODE TO ZZZ
ZZZ are A-okay methinks,
Each regarded with great esteem.
A long sleep or just 40 winks,
To doze, perchance to dream.
There is some irony in the fact I started a luxury brand which sold many thousands of silver-topped casters of...
Strawberry Festival Senior Day makes triumphant return Friday
CULLMAN, Ala. - “I’m just happy to be anywhere these days,” laughed Ben Kerny as he walked into Friday’s celebration of the Strawberry Festival Senior Day.
He and hundreds of Cullman seniors descended on the Active Adult Center in Cullman, celebrating their triumphant return after...
Cullman County Public Library to hold a Strawberry Festival book Sale May 7
CULLMAN, Ala. - The Cullman County Public Library is holding a Strawberry Festival Book Sale on Saturday, May 7 from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. The sale will take place inside the library and books will be 50 cents each. Most of the books...
Country music community mourns the loss of Naomi Judd
FRANKLIN, Tenn. – The country music community was rocked today with the tragic news of the sudden passing of country music giant Naomi Judd.
Hailing from the Appalachian foothills of Ashland, Ky., mother and daughter duo, The Judds, were first discovered by RCA label head...
52 ODES TO JOY: FLANEUR JOY
ODE TO WANDERLUST
I long to walk there, maybe there and then there.
More joy-filled I’ll return, you may surely trust.
In my lifetime, I shall flaneur everywhere,
Just my feet, my daydreams and wanderlust.
“I love to go a-flaneuring” just doesn’t have quite...
2nd Annual Doggy Pawgeant taking place at Strawberry Festival May 7
CULLMAN, Ala. - The 2nd Annual Doggy Pawgeant is one of the many events to take place the day of the Strawberry Festival, with a start time of 1:00 p.m. It will be right after the baking competition on the mini-stage located right in...
52 ODES TO JOY: BLOOMIN’ JOY
ODE TO BLOOMING
Stealthily, they commanded the hill,
Though no cannons nor bombs were booming.
No movement detected, all seemed deadly still.
Then, victorious as any army, all the flowers were blooming.
The earth is blooming with the joyous laughter of flowers. In my...
Friends of the Library to host Author’s Night on April 21
CULLMAN, Ala. - The Friends of the Public Libraries of Cullman County are hosting an Author’s Night on April 21 from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. at the Traditions Bank Processing Building at 107 3rd Ave NW. 15 different local authors will have tables...
Local author Connie Pearson will be releasing book ‘100 Things to do in Huntsville and North Alabama Before You Die’ April 21
HARTSELLE, Ala. – Local writer Connie Pearson will be celebrating the release of her new book “100 Things to do in Huntsville and North Alabama Before You Die,” on April 21 at the Hartselle Chamber of Commerce starting at 10:00 a.m.
In the book, Pearson...
52 ODES TO JOY: BEGIN AGAIN & AGAIN
ODE TO REINVENTING
Any given day can be a time to start over,
It just takes hard work, luck and good intention.
So, let’s go look for a four-leaf clover
And joyfully welcome our next reinvention.
“I’ve been a puppet, a pauper, a pirate,...
Comic book artist Tone Rodriguez to visit Camelot Books and Comics on April 21
CULLMAN, Ala. - Tone Rodriguez, comic book artist, writer and creator best known for his work with Bongo Comics on titles like Futurama, The Simpsons and hit series Stray Dogs, will be visiting Camelot Books and Comics Thursday, April 21 from 11:00 a.m. –...
Hop on over! Several Easter events happening in Cullman this week
CULLMAN, Ala. - With Easter just a week away, Cullman has several events to celebrate that are sure to be hits with the whole family! Don your Easter basket, get out and enjoy the warmer weather with these local Easter egg hunts and more!...
Sweet Success: Strawberry baking competition now accepting entries
CULLMAN, Ala. - Strawberry pie. Strawberry cobbler. Strawberry cake. The 83rd Annual Strawberry Festival will see the return of the strawberry baking competition spanning three categories.
“Our Strawberry Festival Baking Competition is always a sweet part of festival day! The competition includes three different categories...
52 ODES TO JOY: YOU & JOY BIRDS
ODE TO JOY BIRDS
The singing kind are such joy birds,
One rarely hears a whiner.
Chirping, tweeting, hummingbirds
Make a fine day even finer.
My family’s Alabama farm was a certified Audubon Sanctuary. We didn’t just love birds and protect their habitats; birding...
‘A Badge for Brooksie’
CULLMAN, Ala. – In 2019, Cullman County Courthouse welcomed its newest court officer: Brooksie, a then two year old “goldendoodle” facility dog to help victims – especially children – navigate the often intimidating experience of court cases. She was trained to sense increasing heart...
Ben South and the ‘perpetual gift of curiosity’
CULLMAN, Ala. - Over the course of its history, Cullman has been home to many great creators and artists in all mediums. One hometown “consummate creative,” as he put it, has been drawing inspiration from the natural world and the concept of “southernness” here...
52 ODES TO JOY: FOUR, JOYFUL SEASONS
ODE TO FOUR, JOYFUL SEASONS
Spring is joyful, then there is also this,
Summer is such sunny bliss.
Autumn is a sweet molasses kiss, and
Winter is time to joyfully reminisce.
THE FOUR SEASONS: spring, summer, fall and winter were mostly named for “planting...
Picked fresh: Cullman in preparation for 83rd Annual Strawberry Fest
CULLMAN, Ala. - Celebrating its 83rd year, The Cullman Strawberry Festival has organizers excited to return to full strength for this year’s event to Downtown Cullman and Depot Park. The festival will be held May 7 from 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
“This year's Strawberry...
Cullman County Museum April Walking Tours preparing for five weekends (UPDATED)
CULLMAN, Ala. – This spring will mark the 10th anniversary of the Cullman April Walking Tours and with five weekends this year, the Cullman County Museum has much in store for visitors.
Museum Director Drew Green helped kick start the program locally when he joined...
52 ODES TO JOY: THE FUN, S.U.N.S. USA PLANTRY
ODE TO A PLANTRY
Old Mother Gantry went to her pantry,
Looked angry, then trashed it all, blankly.
She restocked as a fun, healthy plantry.
“I declare, my dears,” said Mom Gantry, “I’m not acting grandly,
But, I give a damn about goodness,...
52 ODES TO JOY: The Fun S.U.N.S. Longevity Diet
ODE TO A FUN, HEALTHY DIET
Try as I might,
A fun, healthy diet
Seems an oxymoron in daylight
And a darker mystery at night.
What if eating well could be all fun and games? Play with your food? Eat a seriously, good-for-you, healthy...
Confederate Memorial Park to host Civil War Living History & Skirmish
Marbury, Ala. - Confederate Memorial Park, a historic property of the Alabama Historical Commission, will host a special living history event on Saturday, April 23, from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Using authentically reconstructed Civil War barracks, living historians will present outdoor demonstrations on a...
Camelot Books and Comics hosting Georgina Cross book signing
CULLMAN, Ala. - Author Georgina Cross, hailing from the Huntsville/Madison area, will be signing copies of her latest mystery thriller at Camelot Books and Comics on March 26 from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Her titles include “The Stepdaughter,” “The Missing Woman” and the...
52 ODES TO JOY: LAUGHTER
LAFF EVRY DAY!
Laff, laff for your brain and your heart.
Laffing makes you strong.
Laffing makes you smart.
Laffter is good for us in evry way.
Laff evry nite and laff evry day!
“Always laugh when you can. It is cheap medicine.”—Lord Byron
“He...
Cullman live music venues welcome new and diverse bands
CULLMAN, Ala. – Cullman is truly a town that embraces the arts, and the music scene here is vast, consisting of a well-connected group of artists and assisting music venues that need support from the community to continue to create spaces for creative and...
52 ODES TO JOY: A JOYFUL LONG LIFE
Too Young to Be Seventy—by Judith Viorst*
Deep in my heart I believe I’m
Too young to be seventy.
There are times when I’m wearing my baseball cap and my jeans
That I even can imagine that, glimpsed from the rear, I might be mistaken
For someone who...
2022 Miss Southerner and Fair Queen Representative pageants held at CHS Saturday evening
CULLMAN, Ala. - Cullman High School hosted the 2022 Miss Southerner and Fair Queen Representative Pageant Saturday evening in the Cullman High School Gym. The Fair Queen contestants were Kathryn Dueland, Ashton Henderson and Carrie Betts. The Fair Queen Representative contestants completed interviews with...
52 ODES TO JOY: THE FOUR GARDENS to GROW JOY
AN ODE TO GARDEN JOY
A book and a glass of wine in a garden is all I need;
A sip, the sunshine, some slumber and a read.
All the planting and watering was hard work, indeed.
Now a relaxing reward—WAIT! Is that...
52 ODES TO JOY: BOOK JOY
ODE TO BOOK JOY
Books are magic transportable.
Free libraries make them quite affordable.
It is well-known but still reportable,
Libraries need us to stay supportable.
John Grisham hoped he could make a living as a writer. I wasn’t so sure of his career...
St. Valentine’s Day: Just where did it come from?
Love can be a confusing thing, so it’s fitting that the calendar day devoted to love should be the subject of some confusion itself. Feb. 14 is the day marked on the calendars of multiple Christian traditions to celebrate the feast of St. Valentine....
Picking the perfect Valentine’s Day roses
AUBURN UNIVERSITY, Ala. – Roses and Valentine’s Day go together like bread and butter. Unfortunately, some roses can begin to droop and wilt after only a few days. Make the love last this year by choosing long-lasting roses, or even growing bushes full of...
52 ODES TO JOY: S.U.N.S.
ODE TO S.U.N.S.*
Smile-making is thinking and doing, all positively done.
Uniting is connecting with someone and with everyone.
Neighboring is sharing and often making others Number One.
Spellbinding is being “all in” and star-stunned for the joy run.
*There are billions of...
Hard at work: Blue collar Alabama in photographs
Each and every job is different and unless you have done that occupation, you may not realize the challenges involved. My page, Alabama at Work, is a salute to the hardworking people of this state.
An Alabama power crew of men, all leaning on a...
52 ODES TO JOY: SPELLBINDING
ODE TO SPELLBINDING
Hocus pocus, fully focus.
Cast off the spell of the phone,
And fully succumb to the joy zone.
Presto, change-o, feel the glow.
Find your mojo in the flow.
A dictionary definition for SPELLBINDING is “holding one’s attention completely, rapturously, as though...
Exquisite Miniatures by Wes and Rachelle Siegrist at Wallace State’s Burrow Museum
HANCEVILLE, Ala. — The Evelyn Burrow Museum at Wallace State Community College welcomes EXQUISITE MINIATURES, an exhibition of miniature paintings by Wes and Rachelle Siegrest, to campus this spring from February - April. Admission is free.
EXQUISITE MINIATURES consists of 50 signature paintings including landscapes, portraits,...
City of Hanceville preparing for warm-weather events
HANCEVILLE, Ala. - Though winter's chill will be for another month at least, some cities in Cullman are already working to spread the word about summer events in the works. Amy Moctezuma, assistant park director for the City of Hanceville, recently announced two such...
52 ODES TO JOY: NEIGHBORING
ODE TO NEIGHBORING
Neighbors come in lots of flavors;
Lovers, haters, givers, takers.
Not to belabor, though no message greater,
Love all neighbors on God’s green acres.
The surest way to add more joy to your life is to add joy to others. “Those who...
President of the Cullman Beekeeping Association teaches candle making class at the Agriplex
CULLMAN, Ala. - As a part of the Cullman County Extension Office and North Alabama Agriplex’s Prepare for the Fair Series, Phillip Garrison, president of the Cullman Beekeeping Association, taught a candle making workshop Tuesday evening at the Agriplex. He taught the class to...
52 ODES TO JOY: UNITING
ODE TO UNITING
(Dedicated to John Lennon and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.)
I have a dream and I’m inviting
All to end the fighting and begin uniting.
Imagine a dream of no more dividing, black and whiting;
A bit of history rewriting, one world uniting.
I have...
52 ODES TO JOY: SMILE-MAKING
ODE TO SMILE-MAKING
When you’re smiling, the muscles it takes are 17.
But, when you’re scowling, it takes 43 and looks so mean.
When you’re smiling, you look better even on frumpy days with bad hair.
Smiles are always in fashion, it’s the very most important thing...
Cullman County Master Gardeners share 2022 initiative for feeding birds during the winter
CULLMAN, Ala. - The Alabama Master Gardeners are educators trained by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. During their last meeting, they discussed taking an initiative to feed birds in the winter to help them stay healthy during their migration. On December 9, the group...
Local band ‘Don’t Think Twice’ to play show at Cullman venue/restaurant Valley Tavern and Grille this month
CULLMAN, Ala. - Local band “Don’t Think Twice” will be appearing at Valley Tavern and Grille Friday, Jan. 21. Valley Tavern and Grille is a restaurant attached to the Cullman Bowling Alley and has been renovated in more recent years to allow a fun...
She Reads: 2022 Recommended Reading List
CULLMAN, Ala. - Well, here we are, we have made it to the conclusion of 2021 and as we’re introduced to 2022, we might as well crack open a new book or two. I know somebody’s New Year’s resolution had to be to read...
52 ODES TO JOY in 2022
Ode to AMERICAN JOY-GIVERS
My country ‘tis a sunny land of joy-giving heroines and heroes,
Like Don Ho, Quentin Tarantino, Edgar Allen Poe and Rudolph Valentino.
And, lest we forget, Henry David Thoreau also Bill, James and Marilyn, the Monroes.
We’ve got mounds of joy-giving jesters and clowns
In...
Skating in the Park offering an exciting way to ring in the New Year
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - For those looking for a fun New Year’s activity and who enjoy gliding on ice, Skating in the Park in Huntsville has you covered. Since opening on November 19, the skaters have not stopped.
The rink will be open to skate until...
Local heritage group decorates Confederate graves
CULLMAN COUNTY, Ala. - Members of Cullman County’s Sons of Confederate Veterans Organization, Thomas Jefferson Denney Camp #1442, got together Saturday, Dec. 11 to decorate the graves of over 35 Confederate Soldiers. The group visited seven cemeteries in the area, placing wreaths and grave...
365 AMERICAN JOY-GIVERS for 2021: The Holiday Island Birthday Party
“Let’s get away from sleigh bells. Let’s get away from snow.
Let’s make a break this holiday, dear, I know the place to go.
How’d ya like to spend the holidays on Holiday Island?
How’d ya like to spend the holidays away across the sea?
How’d ya like...
The Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament holds Christmas Open House event
HANCEVILLE, Ala. - The Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament, home to Our Lady of the Angels Monastery, held its Christmas open house all day Saturday, Dec. 18. The grounds were decorated with Christmas lights, and a huge Christmas tree was fully decorated in...
The City of Cullman celebrates German roots with Christkindlmarkt Dec. 17-18
CULLMAN, Ala. - Cullman hosted its first German-themed Christkindlmarkt (Christmas market) on Friday, sponsored by the Town of Cullman. The German theme is an homage to Cullman’s German heritage, much like the Weihnachtspyramide, which has been assembled and displayed next to the Cullman County...
365 AMERICAN JOY-GIVERS for 2021: The Creating Joy Birthday Party
“Where flowers bloom, so does hope.” These words, spoken by U.S. First Lady Lady Bird Johnson, inspire all to create joy and cultivate optimism across America. It is the triumphant, joy-creating message of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas where we...
365 AMERICAN JOY-GIVERS for 2021: The Starry Starry Night Birthday Party
“Starry Starry Night” by Vincent van Gogh, one of the most joy-giving paintings in the history of art, is a major crowd-pleaser at MOMA (Museum of Modern Art, NYC). Hold on, mama, MOMA is our destination for “The Starry Starry Night Birthday Party.”
Mr. van...
Dreher’s plays host to Chamber event ‘Burgers and Brews’
CULLMAN, Ala. - The Cullman Chamber of Commerce held its Burgers and Brews event at local Dreher’s Cocktail Bar & Restaurant Monday evening. While the $30 tickets were exclusive to Chamber members, this event was built around the idea of bringing people together for...
Pet adoptions during the holidays—the pros and cons
CULLMAN, Ala. – Gifting adopted pets for Christmas can often be a wonderful and creative idea for the holidays. However, though some people would be excited to receive a pet for Christmas, others may be unprepared. Some adoption shelters are of the opinion that...
Arley Senior Center Christmas party taking place Dec. 6
ARLEY, Ala. - The Arley Senior Center will be holding a bingo, potluck and silent auction Christmas party at the Arley Fire Department on Dec. 6 from 5-8:30 p.m. There will be prizes for bingo, as well as desserts provided by the center. This...
365 AMERICAN JOY-GIVERS for 2021: The Wonderful World Birthday Party
“The Wonderful World of Disney,” a hugely popular television show on Sunday nights for 25 years, gathered America around a tribal fire for magical storytelling. The theme song was classic Disney--“When You Wish Upon a Star.”
The joy-giving stars we are celebrating this week have...
Cullman continues holiday tradition with Christmas Parade and tree lighting ceremony
CULLMAN, Ala. – This 2021 holiday season saw a return to tradition Friday evening when Cullman celebrated its annual Christmas in Cullman parade and tree lighting. The parade took place down 1st Avenue, running from Busy Bee Café, through the Warehouse District and concluding...
365 AMERICAN JOY-GIVERS for 2021: The Life as Opera Birthday Party
“Opera is when a guy gets stabbed in the back and, instead of bleeding, he sings,” wrote American joy-giver, Robert Benchley. Another music critic wrote, “Opera is like a husband with a foreign title…expensive to support, hard to understand and therefore, a supreme social...
Cullman Forge meets every first Sunday at Peinhardt Living History Farm
CULLMAN, Ala. - The Alabama Forge Council is a non-profit organization founded in 1985 by Jim Batson to teach and promote the art of blacksmithing. Mr. Batson wanted to have groups all over the state to make it more accessible. The Cullman chapter was...
Sacred Heart Church holds annual Turkey Bazaar
CULLMAN, Ala. - The Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church Knights of Columbus held their annual Turkey Bazaar Saturday evening, awarding parishioner Andy Gravemen the special prize, a five-foot hanging porch swing donated by Nathaniel Lynn, owner of Lynn's Woodworks.
The long-standing bazaar featured frenzied...
Miss Alabama to compete in Miss USA pageant Nov. 29
TULSA, OK - Miss Alabama, Alexandria Flanigan of Cullman, will be competing in the 70th annual Miss USA pageant to be held on Nov. 29 at the Paradise Cove Theatre of River Spirit Casino Resort in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The event will be broadcast at...
‘Christmas at the Grotto’ returns with expanded schedule
CULLMAN, Ala. - St. Bernard Abbey’s Ave Maria Grotto, Cullman’s most popular attraction and one of Alabama’s must-see tourist destinations, will open evenings following Thanksgiving for the third installment of “Christmas in the Grotto.” The multi-weekend festival will see the Grotto park covered in...
365 AMERICAN JOY-GIVERS for 2021: The Carnegie Hall Birthday Party
How do you get to Carnegie Hall? PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE. Only the most-accomplished performers play Carnegie Hall. Built in 1891 by the philanthropist visionary Andrew Carnegie and originally called the “Music Hall,” it was first a venue for the Oratorio Society of New York...
5th Annual Bernard Blues and BBQ sees another successful year
CULLMAN, Ala. – The 5th Annual Bernard Blues and BBQ took place Sat-Sun, Oct. 30-31. Friends of Saint Bernard, along with faculty, staff and students, braved the cold rain on Saturday to support the works of talented artist and craftsmen from across the Southeastern...
365 AMERICAN JOY-GIVERS for 2021: The O Happy Day Birthday Party
“Oh Mickey, you so fine.” At “The O Happy Day Birthday Party,” we’ll see ya round like a doughnut with Mickey Mouse, Georgia O’Keeffe, P.J. O’Rourke and Whoopi Goldberg as Sister Deloris sings, ‘O Happy Day.’”
Our party destination is the “Concrete Donut.” That’s what...
‘American Pickers’ to film in Alabama
NEW YORK, NY. – “The American Pickers” are excited to announce their return to Alabama! The History Channel’s hit television series is making plans to film episodes throughout the state in February 2022.
“American Pickers” is a documentary series that explores the fascinating world of...
365 AMERICAN JOY-GIVERS for 2021: The Stars and Stripes Forever Birthday Party
Royal Princess Grace Kelly grew up in a charming two-and-half-story American Colonial-style house at 3901 Henry Avenue, Philadelphia, PA. This is our destination for “The Stars and Stripes Forever Birthday Party.”
The house was built in 1928 by Grace Kelly’s dad, John B. Kelly, a...
365 AMERICAN JOY-GIVERS for 2021: The Trick or Treat Birthday Party
The invitation for “The Trick or Treat Birthday Party” this Halloween weekend suggested fun costumes inspired by the American West—“YEEHAW, y’all come as your favorite singing cowboy or cowgirl.” This was “come as you are” for Roy Rogers, Will Rogers and Kinky Friedman but...
365 AMERICAN JOY-GIVERS for 2021: The Tonight Show Birthday Party
(Announcer): “From ‘Television City’ in beautiful Burbank, California—It’s ‘The Tonight Show Birthday Party’ with Johnny Carson and this week’s special, joy-giving guests: singer/songwriter Katy Perry, Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, Moss Hart, New York comedy icons Fanny Brice and Fran Lebowitz, that ‘Family...
An in-depth guide to local fall fun
CULLMAN COUNTY, Ala. - Fall is finally here and with it are many fun seasonal events! From craft shows to fall festivals, there are a range of things going on around town, for families and friends of all ages.
Nightmare in Vinemont - Oct. 22...
October 2021 events you won’t want to miss
CULLMAN, Ala. - This October, there are loads of activities for friends and family of all ages throughout Cullman. As most know, October ushers in the series of months that contain the most holidays for the year. From October 1st – January 1st, there...
365 AMERICAN JOY-GIVERS for 2021: The JOY to the Max Birthday Party
The Reynolda House Museum of American Art in Winston-Salem, NC is our destination for “The Joy to the Max Birthday Party.” Completed in 1917, this 34,000-square-foot historic home was created for Katherine Smith and R.J. Reynolds, founder of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. Reynolda is...
365 AMERICAN JOY-GIVERS for 2021: The I Love Saturday Night Birthday Party
We are in Bedford, New York about an hour north of Manhattan for “The I Love Saturday Night Birthday Party.” Set amid 250 acres of rolling lawn and woods, this is the home of Ricky and Ralph Lauren. The popular, “RL” branded towels in...
COVID-19 Halloween safety tips for 2021
COLUMBUS, OH - Recently, the Columbus Department of Health released a list of tips on how to make trick-or-treating and other Halloween festivities safer for participants of all ages. As the second holiday season during the COVID-19 pandemic approaches for everyone, there are always...
365 AMERICAN JOY-GIVERS for 2021: The Twistin’ Party
We are twistin’ and turnin’ on a plywood structure built atop a barber chair. This gyrating contraption was created in the early days of America’s space program here at Morehead Planetarium, the site of “The Twistin’ Birthday Party.” Think stargazer Neil Degrasse Tyson meets...
Wallace State celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
HANCEVILLE, Ala. — Wallace State Community College will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with events at both the main campus in Hanceville and at the Oneonta campus centers.
Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from Sept. 15 - Oct. 15 each year to recognize the countless contributions of...
The people behind the Hay People
CULLMAN, Ala. - Each fall, Cullmanites mark the times with colorful mums around downtown, and the annual appearance of the hay people is a public reminder that Oktoberfest is almost here. The two practices share a common origin.
In 1999, Cullman residents Pat and Philip...
Cullman’s Oktoberfest starts Thursday
CULLMAN, Ala. - This Thursday evening, Cullman will kick off its 40th Oktoberfest at the Festhalle, tapping the kegs, striking up the band and kicking off the city’s biggest celebration. But what is Oktoberfest, and why does Cullman observe it?
On Oct. 12, 1510, the...
Chambers 1st Annual Fall Festival has strong first-time turnout
CULLMAN, Ala. - Chambers Farm & Garden Supply held their 1st Annual Fall Festival Saturday with over 50 total vendors present. The event saw a steady stream of attendees from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
First-time vendor Adeline Dinehart featured her business, Hart Designs, which...
365 AMERICAN JOY-GIVERS for 2021: The Breakfast at Tiffany’s Birthday Party
Breakfast at Tiffany’s is now a literal “thing,” not just the title of a Truman Capote novella and an Audrey Hepburn movie. Inside Tiffany & Company’s iconic, flagship jewelry store at 727 Fifth Avenue in New York City, is The Blue-Box Café.
This is our...
Hanceville Music Fest features popular country band Confederate Railroad as headliner for Saturday event
HANCEVILLE, Ala. - A small but lively crowd came out to Hanceville’s Veterans Park Saturday night to enjoy the Hanceville Music Fest featuring country rock band Confederate Railroad. Many of those in attendance travelled from neighboring states to see the show despite threatening skies....
Chambers Fall Festival to take place this weekend
CULLMAN, Ala. – This week, Chambers Farm & Garden Supply will be hosting their First Annual Fall Festival for the community Saturday, Sept 25. The event will take place from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. in the lot behind Chambers, at 404 McNabb Dr...
365 JOY-GIVING AMERICANS for 2021: The Playin’ With Fire Birthday Party
When fire-hot lightning strikes sandy beaches, naturally occurring glass sculptures are often created below the melted sand. Sandy beaches surround all sides of Seattle, so it is a perfect place to locate the most comprehensive collection of works by northwest glass sculptor, Dale Chihuly.
“The...
365 AMERICAN JOY-GIVERS for 2021: The Whatcha’ Got Cookin’ Birthday Party
We cruise through acres and acres of red dirt, northern Alabama cottonfields to our destination for “The Whatcha’ Got Cookin’ Birthday Party.” In the 1936 Olympic games hosted by Adolf Hitler in Berlin, Germany, a single man gave great joy to Americans, winning four...
Arab’s 2nd Annual Sugarfest sees great weather and huge turnout
ARAB, Ala. - The 2nd Annual Sugarfest was held Saturday, Sept. 4 at Arab City Park. The festival kicked off at 8 a.m. and lasted until 10 p.m., with many events including the Sugar Rush 5K, Cornhole Tournament, Sugar High Rides and Amusements, Sweetie...
