The Shoals Storytelling Festival, a Top 20 Events in the Southeast, began in 2011 as the Front Porch Storytelling Festival on the campus of the University of North Alabama. In 2017, the Festival moved to the historic Shoals Theatre in downtown Florence & was renamed The Shoals Storytelling Festival, acknowledging its home in an area […]
Join us as we tour the First Quarters & Reservation Road Trails in the TVA Reservation Complex, 10-11:30 a.m. & learn about the history of the Civilian Conservation Corps in Alabama and the Shoals! Carolyn Barske Crawford, Ph.D. & MSNHA director, will lead our approximately 2-mile hike along both flat paved trails & uneven dirt […]
Florence Indian Mound Museum's Young Learner's Series on Southeastern Foods is 10 a.m. Saturday, July 16. The program will focus on foods grown & made by the Southeastern peoples in our area. Students will create an exhibit about what they have learned. Sign up at www.florencealmuseums.com/young-learners. YLS is a series of elementary-age programs for students […]
Join us for the second annual Handy Street Party, 7 p.m., Saturday, July 23, in front of Soul Wingery on Poplar Street in Florence. We've got an awesome line up - JRNL, Thad & Company and Billy Allen & the Pollies. DJ Kylo will be on stage between sets. Food from Soul Wingery and All […]
You're invited to Leighton's first Percy Sledge-W.C.Handy Music Festival performance, Saturday, July 30. Free admission! Bring chair & cooler and enjoy historic downtown Leighton. Schedule: 2:30 p.m. - Taylor Grace, Shoals Singer-Songwriter 3:45 p.m. - BlueWater Whiskey 4:45 p.m. - Pat Jamar, smooth southern R&B! 6 p.m. - Travis Wammack & the Snakeman Band! 7 […]
Join us at the TVA Reservation in Muscle Shoals, 7-10 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 6, as we help restore the reservation's Native Plant Garden. The garden was started in 2002 by the Shoals Wildflower Society. Volunteers from SWS & other local groups have maintained it for two decades, but help is needed! We will prune along […]
Operation Pollination, a program focusing on bees and other pollinators through hands-on experiences, begins at the Florence Indian Mound Museum, 9 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 13. Participants will learn about the leafcutter bee, one of Alabama’s most important summer pollinators, and will build and take home a bee hotel for their home gardens. Pollinators are responsible […]
We need a few more volunteer hours at the new Singing River Disc Golf course, 450 Country Club Drive, Florence, to reach the finish line! Work days are from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Aug. 13 and Aug. 27. RSVP at @singingriverdiscgolf Facebook page. Pants & leather gloves are recommended. Hedge clippers, chainsaws & trimmers […]
Join us as we continue restoring Village One School with the Village School Foundation, from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Aug. 20. A WWI-era school & community center, this is one of the most historically significant buildings in north Alabama. The Village School Foundation's mission is to repair the building for a community & educational […]
The Florence Indian Mound Museum's Young Learners Series continues with a program on crawfish, 10 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 20. The free program for elementary-age students focuses on crawfish in Chickasaw & Cherokee stories. Participants will create an exhibit about what they have learned. The Young Learners Series covers Native American history & culture and is […]
We need a few more volunteer hours at the new Singing River Disc Golf course, 450 Country Club Drive, Florence, to reach the finish line! Work days are from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Aug. 27. RSVP at @singingriverdiscgolf Facebook page. Pants & leather gloves are recommended. Hedge clippers, chainsaws & trimmers would be helpful.
The Steele Center for Professional Selling invites University of North Alabama students to participate in a free kayak race, 2-5 p.m., Friday, Sept. 9. Paddle for Pedals will be at McFarland Park between Shelters 1 and 2. Check-in at Shelter 1 to receive your heat number. When heat numbers are called, go to drop-in point […]
Help us steward our community's Native Plant Garden Trail at the TVA Reservation. We will continue our work, 7-10 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 10, to restore the reservation's Native Plant Garden as we prune invasives along the garden's trails and learn about native plants from Alabama Master Gardener Margie Anderton. Register here.
Thanks to the 2022 DEI Community Impact Grant from the Tennessee RiverLine, the first Pride at the River Event is the Pride Paddle down Cypress Creek for all LGBTQ and allies, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 10. Our collaboration team includes UNA, MSNHA, PFLAG Florence-Shoals & UNA Mitchell-West Center for Social Inclusion. […]
Join us from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Sept.17, as we continue our efforts to restore the Village One School with the Village School Foundation! Each person may contribute in a way they are most comfortable, as we continue plastering & painting the main hallway, cleaning up the auditorium, organizing old records and landscaping outside. […]
Disc golf is for everybody! Come find out for yourself at 2 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 17, at McFarland Driving Range. MSNHA & Singing River Disc Golf are hosting a disc golf clinic for both beginners & those wanting to improve their game. And if you want to get familiar with the sport before the clinic, […]
Become a Kids in Kayaks docent for youth ages 11-18. Kids in Kayaks help develop an appreciation for paddling culture & the Tennessee River. This training, 3-5 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 24, at McFarland Park, Florence, teaches docents how to set up, run & take down program learning activities. During Kids in Kayaks sessions, you'll be […]
Join Keep the Shoals Beautiful for the 7th Annual Tennessee River Litter Tournament, 8-11 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 24! Fish for litter in the water, on the shorelines at Riverfront or McFarland Park, or anywhere that matters to you in the Shoals! Enter 13-gallon trash bags of litter to compete for cash prizes solo or with […]
October's Young Learners Series, at the Florence Indian Mound Museum, focuses on the importance of freshwater mussels to the Southeastern peoples. Students will create an exhibit about what they've learned. The programs help elementary-age students explore Native American history & culture in the Shoals through hands-on learning exercises.
There are many exciting recreation initiatives happening across north Alabama, including Tennessee RiverLine & Singing River Trail. MSNHA is working with the National Park Service's Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program to develop a master trail-development plan for Colbert County that will connect communities to both the RiverLine and SRT plus suggest routes for connectivity […]
There are many exciting recreation initiatives happening across north Alabama, including the Tennessee RiverLine & Singing River Trail. MSNHA is working with the National Park Service's Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program to develop a master trail-development plan for Colbert County that will help connect communities to both the RiverLine and the SRT plus suggest […]
Join us at the TVA Reservation, Muscle Shoals, 7-10 a.m., as we continue restoring the Native Plant Garden. The Shoals Wildflower Society started the garden in the early 2000s & have maintained it with other local groups, but help is needed! We will prune invasives along the garden's trails as we learn about native plants […]
Help us steward our community's native plant garden at the TVA Muscle Shoals Reservation. Click here to register.
But don't worry -- we'll watch the movie indoors where it's warm! Join the University of North Alabama’s Appalachian Teaching Project in the downtown Courtland Park, 5:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 17, as we celebrate the history of Courtland and think about its future. Learn about the Singing River Trail & Tennessee RiverLine, play lawn games […]
The Florence Indian Mound & Museum's Young Learners' Series, 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, focuses on Arthur C. Parker, Seneca, a museum director & archaeologist and an early advocate for Native American Heritage Month. The Young Learners' programs explore the early history of the Shoals through short lessons & hands-on learning exercises. Beginning this month, […]
Sick of turkey & shopping? Come join the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area at the historic Shoals Theatre, in Florence, 7:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 25, & dance off some of the stuffing you consumed the day before. Thad & Company will start the show, followed by Lilly Hiatt. Then Billy Allen and the Pollies will […]
The Florence Indian Mound Museum hosts a series of children’s programs exploring 12 Native Americans through their biographies, contributions, hopes & accomplishments. Students will be given a passport and will receive a stamp for each program attended -- awards are given at six, nine & 12 stamps. December's program, 10 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 17, focuses […]
The Florence Indian Mound Museum is collaborating with the Alabama Chapter of the Trail of Tears Association to host a series will focus on different aspects of Southeastern Native American history & culture. Presentations will be both in-person & recorded. Author & lecturer Paul Matheny's presentation will examine the reasons for the removal of the […]
The Florence Indian Mound Museum is hosting a series of programs for students to explore Shoals' early history. The programs explore 12 Native Americans through their biographies, contributions, hopes & accomplishments. Students will be given a passport with the 12 figures & receive a stamp for each program attended. Students who collect six, nine or […]
The MSNHA is excited to bring you the 2023 Bad Kitty Trail run, which has 5K & 10K options. The race will begin on the campus on the University of North Alabama & finish in Wildwood Park. It does include approximately a mile of road running before the trail run begins. At the race's conclusion, […]
After the Bad Kitty 5K/10K Trail Run, 8 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 11, join the after-party from 9 a.m. to noon to celebrate all that Wildwood Park has to offer. We'll have food by Rivertown Coffee, music by Coffee Black, shopping with outdoor & recreation vendors and a silent auction to benefit MSNHA recreation programs. Register for […]
The Florence Indian Mound Museum is hosting a series of children’s programs for students to explore early Shoals history through short lessons & hands-on learning. The programs explore 12 Native American figures through their biographies, contributions, hope & accomplishments. Students receive a passport with the 12 figures & a stamp for each program attended. Students […]
Join in 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 18, as we continue restoring Village One’s School with the Village School Foundation. Each person may contribute in a way they are most comfortable. We'll be cleaning and organizing various sections of the interior and preparing for the next phases of restoration. This may include cleaning, scraping and […]
Become a community paddle leader with the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area! Create accessible & memorable experiences for others to enjoy the natural wonders of the Tennessee River & its tributaries throughout 2023 in the Shoals' RiverTowns program. Whether you are an experienced kayaker or have never touched a paddle, all are welcome to participate. […]
Cultural musicologist Christopher Reali will discuss the process of writing his 2022 book, "Music and Mystique in Muscle Shoals," and what he learned about Muscle Shoals music along the way. Based on years of archival and oral history research, the book is one of the most comprehensive histories of the music that rocked the world.
You asked for longer hikes and we are happy to oblige! Join us for the ladies-only 12.2-mile hike into the Bankhead Forest along the Pine Torch Horse Loop trail. This trail is rated moderate to challenging but will show the beauty that Bankhead never fails to provide. Meet at the trailhead at 9 a.m. and […]
The Florence Indian Mound Museum is hosting a series of children’s programs on the Shoals' early history using short lessons & hands-on learning. The programs explore 12 Native American figures through their biographies, contributions, hopes & accomplishments. Students will be given a passport with the 12 figures & a stamp for each program attended. Students […]
Learn about essential native plants and how they support wildlife at Esther's Eatery & natural wine shop. Everyone goes home with a plant! Wildlife gardening enthusiast Abbie Hyche will highlight five native plants, their benefits to wildlife and functions in the landscape. Everyone will be given a native plant to add to their garden. Additional […]
The Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area is excited to begin our 2023 paddling season with a community paddling event on Cypress Creek! We will learn about the Tennessee RiverLine and the history of Cypress Creek while exploring the creek's waters, watching for wildlife & enjoying an easy, beginner-friendly paddle experience lasting around 2 hours and […]