Events

Event Categories

Photo Contest

Our annual photo contest is live! Show us your best pics of the MSNHA's natural beauty. It's easy to enter -- simply post your pics on Facebook or Instagram with #msnhaphotocontest23 & we'll do the rest. Include whatever you want people to know about your image -- where you took it, what the photo shows, […]

Village One School Workday

Village One School Sheffield, AL

Join our efforts to restore the Village One School with the Village School Foundation. The building is a WWI-era school & community center that's one of the most historically significant in north Alabama. The Village School Foundation seeks to repair the building so it continues to be a community & educational resource. Each person may […]

Athens Storytelling Festival

Athens State University 300 N Beaty St, Athens, AL, Athens, AL, United States

We plan to be in-person this year, so join us as we move our tent a little to the east to the Athens State University campus. It will be a crisp fall weekend spent listening to stories of adventure and excitement ... a place where memories & magic are captured & spun into tales that […]

Shady Lady 5K & 10K

Joe Wheeler State Park 4401 McLean Drive, Rogersville, AL, United States

You don’t need to be a lady to run in the League of Outdoor Women’s Shady Lady Trail run this year! The race is open to men, women, children, aliens, kangaroos, etc. All funds benefit League of Outdoor Women programming so come show the women in your life how much you support their outdoor adventures! […]

Young Learners’ Series: Chief Levi Colbert

Florence Indian Mound and Museum Florence, AL

Chickasaw Chief Levi Colbert is the subject of this month's Young Learners' Series program. Colbert is also known as Ittawamba Minko, which translates to Bench Chief. He was born in 1759 in the Chickasaw Nation & was later an important leader of the Chickasaws. He & his brother, George Colbert, were avid negotiators & interpreters; […]

Concert at McCandless Hall — The Riverside with Will Paustian

McCandless Hall, Athens State University 302 Bryan St., Athens, AL, United States

Save the date for The Riverside with opener Will Paustian as part of the Scout House Concert Series. Perfectly beautiful acoustics. Comfortable & charming with great talent! Tickets $15.

$15

Muscle Shoals Songwriters Festival

The Muscle Shoals Songwriters Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to bring songwriters & music lovers together from all across the globe. The festival celebrates and gives a platform to diverse voices, experiences & points of view; invests in songwriters by providing education, collaborative tools & opportunities that break down music industry […]

YOUNG LEARNERS’ SERIES:  Storytelling

Florence Indian Mound and Museum Florence, AL

Native American Storytelling is an important practice historically and in the present.  Stories shared over generations help keep Native American culture alive. Join us for a short informational presentation on storytelling and how it shaped & sustained different Native American cultures. After the presentation, students can create their own stories with an interactive animal activity, […]

LOW hike benefitting Cane Creek Nature Preserve

Cane Creek Canyon Nature Preserve 251 Loop Road, Tuscumbia, AL, United States

Help support Cane Creek Canyon with our donation-based fall hike at Cane Creek Nature Preserve! Donate on the Land Trust of North Alabama website, https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx..., or with cash at donation box onsite. A donor has pledged to match up to $100,000 for donations received by the end of 2023, so let's take advantage of that. […]

Colbert County Trail Master Plan Community Input Meeting

Leighton Public Library 8740 Main St., Leighton, AL, United States

Join the MSNHA and National Park Service's Rivers, Trails & Conservation Assistance Program and Colbert County communities to share feedback on the draft trail maps for Colbert County. We'd love to hear your thoughts on other recreational resources -- kayak launches, camping areas and parks, as well. Drop in anytime during the session. We'd love […]

Colbert County Trail Master Plan Community Input Meeting

Sheffield Public Library 316 Montgomery Ave., Sheffield, Alabama, United States

Join the MSNHA and National Park Service’s Rivers, Trails & Conservation Assistance Program and Colbert County communities to share feedback on the draft trail maps for Colbert County. We’d love to hear your thoughts on other recreational resources — kayak launches, camping areas and parks, as well. Drop in anytime during the session. We’d love […]

Young Learners’ Series: Native American Finger Weaving

Florence Indian Mound and Museum Florence, AL

Join us for a program and activity about Native American Finger Weaving, a traditional artform in many Native American and Indigenous nations. In the Cherokee tradition, finger woven regalia was historically used for men. It was used for adornment and item trading with others. In the past, Chickasaw women would gather in groups to weave. […]

Young Learners’ Series: Native American Jewelry

Florence Indian Mound and Museum Florence, AL

Join us for a short informational presentation on the art of Native American jewelry making past and present. After the presentation, students will have the opportunity to create their own beaded jewelry to take home or share as part of our youth education exhibit. The program is free. Jewelry is an important form of art […]

Young Learners’ Series: Pottery

Florence Indian Mound and Museum Florence, AL

The Florence Indian Mound Museum is hosting a series of children’s programs exploring the early history of the Shoals through short lessons & hands-on learnings. Each month features a practice relating to Native American culture. Participants will explore the history & cultural meaning behind each practice while engaging in an activity related to that topic. […]

TVA Native Plant Trail Workday

TVA Native Plant Garden Muscle Shoals, AL

TVA Nature Trail Free Public  · Anyone on or off Facebook Join us in learning about native plants & stewarding the TVA Nature Trails as we prune invasives along the TVA Native Plant Garden Trail. The garden & its trails have enhanced habitat for local wildlife and provided accessible recreation opportunities to our local community for decades, […]

Village School Work Day

Village One School Sheffield, AL

Please wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty in -- such as jeans -- and wear closed-toe shoes. Feel free to bring work gloves, as well. We'll provide supplies & direction, so no experience necessary. If you're not able to stay the whole morning, please stop by anyway to say "hi" and see what we're […]

Bad Kitty 5K & 10K

Wildwood Park State Route 13, Florence, United States

The Bad Kitty 5K & 10K is the first event part of the inaugural Heritage Area Hustle Race Series. The Heritage Area Hustle Race Series is MSNHA’s annual challenge & fundraiser designed to support MSNHA’s programs & projects related to outdoor recreation, arts & culture and equity of access to natural & cultural resources. Participate […]

Young Learners Series: Music

Florence Indian Mound and Museum Florence, AL

The Florence Indian Mound Museum hosts a series of children’s programs that explores Shoals early history through short lessons & hands-on learning. Each month features a practice relating to Native American culture. Participants explore the history & cultural meaning behind each practice and engage in an activity related to that topic. March's program is on […]

Herbal Soap-Making Workshop

Pope's Tavern Museum 203 Hermitage Drive, Florence, AL, United States

Florence Arts and Museums is partnering with Summer McCreless, an herbalist who specializes in regional plant and material knowledge, to conduct a series of workshops, presentations & demonstrations where participants can explore aspects of our region’s tangible history. Her herbal soap-making workshop includes the history of Southeastern native plants plus processes & uses in soap […]

TVA Native Plant Garden Trail Workday

TVA Native Plant Garden Muscle Shoals, AL

Join us in learning about native plants & stewarding the TVA Nature Trails as we prune invasives along the TVA Native Plant Garden Trail. The garden & its trails have enhanced habitat for local wildlife and provided accessible recreation opportunities to our local community for decades, but we need your help to maintain it. Our […]

Young Learners’ Series: Dance

Florence Indian Mound and Museum Florence, AL

This month's program is Native American Dance. Native American dance is an important practice historically & in the present. Dance has been shared over the ages to celebrate special events in life such as welcoming visitors, marking the change of seasons & celebrating friendships as well as many different ceremonies. Join us for a short […]

Village School Work Day

Village One School Sheffield, AL

Join us with Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area for our next volunteer event at the Village School, 200 Chickamauga St., Sheffield. We'll provide supplies and direction, no experience necessary. Please wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty in, such as jeans and closed toe shoes. Feel free to bring work gloves as well. If you're […]

Young Learners’ Series: Weaving

Florence Indian Mound and Museum Florence, AL

Learn about traditional weaving of the Hopi and the Pueblo People. The Young Learners will learn about this special art 10-11 a.m., Saturday, June 15. A family event, appropriate for ages 5-12…grownups are free to participate, as well!!

Artsy Fartsy 5K and 1-mile Fun Run

River Heritage Trail 15 Hightower Place, Florence, AL, United States

The Muscle Shoals National Heritage area is full of music makers and other talented artists. To support the arts in the MSNHA, we are excited to announce the Artsy Fartsy 5K and 1-mile Fun Run at Florence’s new River Heritage Trail! We promise you won’t want to miss running, skipping, hopping, rolling or strolling (whatever […]

‘Native Flora’ launch

All the Best 128 E. Tennessee St., Florence, AL, United States

Come out celebrate the launch of digital magazine "Native Flora" at All The Best coffee & record shop. Enjoy snack specials & giveaways including a limited run of printed copies. "Native Flora" is a zine series highlighting native plants found in northwest Alabama and their role in the ecosystem. The first issue includes forbs, graminoids […]

The Shoals’ RiverTowns Community Paddle on Waterloo’s 2nd Creek

Waterloo Boat Ramp Lauderdale County Road 14, Waterloo, AL, United States

The Shoals’ Tennessee RiverTowns program hosts a community paddle at Waterloo’s 2nd Creek. Join us for an interpreted tour along led by MSNHA Director Carrie Crawford. We'll watch for wildlife & explore local history on this beginner-friendly paddle experience lasting around two hours and four miles. We will begin and end our paddle at the […]

Shoals RiverTown’s Community Paddle on Waterloo’s 2nd Creek

Waterloo Boat Ramp Lauderdale County Road 14, Waterloo, AL, United States

The Shoals’ Tennessee RiverTowns program is excited to host a community paddling event at Waterloo’s 2nd Creek! Join us for an interpreted tour along 2nd Creek led by MSNHA Director Carrie Crawford. We will watch for wildlife & explore local history on this beginner-friendly paddle experience lasting around two hours and four miles. We will […]

Young Learners Series: Pottery

Florence Indian Mound and Museum Florence, AL

August's Young Learners Series is about Southwestern Native American pottery making.Pottery is an art that has been practiced over 4,000 years by the Native American tribes of the Southwest. The art & practice of pottery making was historically used for utilitarian purposes & ceremonial practices. Children can create pottery pieces with air-dry clay to share […]

Village School Workday

Village One School Sheffield, AL

Join us for our next volunteer event, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 17. We'll provide supplies and direction -- no experience necessary. Work will include anything from cleaning, painting, scraping, to yard work, to organizing materials and more. Email or get in touch via social media to sign up and/or alert us […]

Shoals Area Invasive Plant Project

Cane Creek Canyon Nature Preserve 251 Loop Road, Tuscumbia, AL, United States

Explore volunteer & learning opportunities about removing invasive plants in the Shoals. (Under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.) Co-sponsored by TVA, Alabama Cooperative Extension System and Land Trust of North Alabama. Register at aces.edu/go/shoalsinvasives

Shady Lady Trail 5K, 10K and Half Marathon

Joe Wheeler State Park 4401 McLean Drive, Rogersville, AL, United States

You don’t need to be a lady to run in the League of Outdoor Women’s Shady Lady Trail 5K, 10K and Half Marathon that's part of the Heritage Area Hustle Race Series! The race is open to men, women, children, aliens, kangaroos, etc. All of the funds raised go to support programming for the League […]