Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area

Young Learners' Series: Arthur C. Parker
2022-11-19 10:00 - 11:30 (America/Chicago) | Florence Indian Mound and Museum, Florence, AL
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, the programs will explore 12 Native American figures through their biographies, contributions, hopes & accomplishments. Each program is designed for ages 6-12 & has a creative component with hands-on learning. All events are free.

Programs are the third Saturday. Students will receive a passport of the 12 different programs. Prizes will be awarded to students who collect eight, 10 and 12 stamps throughout the year. Some programs will require students to be outside.

Register here.

Appalachian Teaching Project
2022-11-17 17:30 | AL
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 (and hopscotch!), enjoy giveaways and free snacks. We will be showing the movie “Back to the Future” in the nearby Courtland Trail Depot.

Trail Care: TVA Native Plant Garden
2022-11-12 09:00 - 12:00 | TVA Native Plant Garden, Muscle Shoals, AL
Help us steward our community’s native plant garden at the TVA Muscle Shoals Reservation. Click here to register.

Trail Care: TVA Native Plant Garden
2022-11-05 08:00 - 11:00 | TVA Native Plant Garden, Muscle Shoals, AL
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 from Alabama Master Gardener Margie Anderton. Wear closed toe shoes & clothes you don’t mind getting dirty and bring work gloves if you have them. Meet at the pavilion near the garden. Register here.

Colbert County Recreational Trails Master Plan Community Engagement Event
2022-11-03 17:00 - 18:30 | Leighton Town Hall, 8900 Main St, Leighton, AL, Leighton, AL, 35646, United States
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 routes for connectivity among recreation resources. The plan will also help Colbert County think about new areas for recreation development. Come join us and share your thoughts about bike routes, hiking trails & new kayaking access points!

Colbert County Recreational Trails Master Plan Community Engagement Event
2022-11-01 17:00 - 18:30 | Sheffield Public Library, 316 Montgomery Ave., Sheffield, Alabama, 35660, United States
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 among recreation resources. The plan will also help Colbert County think about new areas for recreation development. Come join us and share your thoughts about bike routes, hiking trails & new kayaking access points!

Pro tip: Stop at the Carriage before the meeting & pick up a beverage before joining us.

Young Learners Series -- Mussels
2022-10-15 10:00 - 11:30 | Florence Indian Mound and Museum, Florence, AL
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.

Tennessee River Litter Tournament
2022-09-24 08:00 - 11:00 | McFarland, Riverfront & Wildwood Parks, Florence & Sheffield, AL
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 your organization! Get ready to put on your free T-shirt and keep the Shoals beautiful! Check-in begins at 7:30 a.m. at McFarland & Wildwood parks, Florence, and Riverfront Park, Sheffield. Lunch provided for volunteers. You may also participate by checking out a free MSNHA kayak at Wildwood Park or by bringing your own. Kayakers should arrive at 7:30 a.m. for a 2-2.5-hour paddle down Cypress Creek after a safety & skills presentation, taking out at McFarland Park around 11 a.m. If registering for a tandem kayak, bring someone with you as the boats are too large to maneuver alone. If you register for a kayak & can’t attend, cancel ASAP so someone else may sign up! Kayakers must know how to swim & must wear personal flotation devices on the water (paddle & PFD provided to renters). Minors must be accompanied by an adult. Register here.

Kids in Kayaks Docent Training
2022-09-24 03:00 - 17:00 | McFarland Park, Florence, AL
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 with other docents & staff. An MSNHA staff member will carry out the overall coordination of each Kids in Kayaks program. Register here.

McFarland Doubles & Beginner Clinic
2022-09-17 | McFarland Park, Florence, AL
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, come out from 8 a.m. to noon for a doubles tournament raising money for SRDG’s Florida College Scholarship. Register here.

Village School workday
2022-09-17 | Village One School, Sheffield, AL
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. Wear sturdy shoes & clothes that can get dirty. Register here.

Pride at the River
2022-09-10 | Cox Creek Canoe and Kayak Launch, Florence, AL
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. We’ll start at Cox Creek Canoe and Kayak Launch in Florence, kayak down Cypress Creek approximately 5 miles on mild Class I waters & finish at Wildwood Park. The paddle will last around 1.5 hours. All levels of experience welcome. We’ll begin with a safety & skills presentation & will shuttle everyone back to their cars at the end of the paddle. Participants will be equipped with a kayak, paddle, life jacket & water shoes at no cost. Dress prepared to get wet. We’ll have dry bags for your phone & other items as well as logo hats & shirts for you to wear or keep. Water, snacks & sunscreen available. Bringing your own kayak? Select “I’ve got my own boat” when registering. Paddlers should be 13 years of age or older. Register here.

Native Plant Garden Trail workday
2022-09-10 | TVA Reservation, Florence, AL
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.

Paddle for Pedals
2022-09-09 | McFarland Park, Florence, AL
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 at Shelter 1 for a single-person kayak & help into the water. Winners are participants with the fastest time:

Top overall male & female students will win an e-bike and helmet.
Trophy to RSO with the fastest time.
Trophy to top male & female Greek organizations with the fastest times & $250 to the philanthropy of the winning organizations.

We will grill hamburgers & hot dogs and have games to play while you watch the races & wait for your turn. Vans will shuttle participants from Commons parking lot to McFarland Park. No prior kayaking experience required — there will be a safety demonstration beforehand. Hosted by the Steele Center for Professional Selling and the UNA chapter of the American Marketing Association with UNA’s Outdoor Adventure Center & MSNHA. Bellamy Florence is sponsoring partner. Register here. Email unasalescenter@una.edu with questions.

Singing River Disc Golf Course work day
2022-08-27 | Singing River Disc Golf Course, Florence, AL
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.

Young Learners Series: Crawfish
2022-08-20 | Florence Indian Mound and Museum, Florence, AL
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 aimed at elementary-level students. Register here.

Village One School Workday
2022-08-20 | Village One School, Sheffield, AL
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 resource. Go to https://thevillageschoolfoundation.org/ to learn more.
For this workday, we’ll paint the main hallway & cleaning the remaining interiors & exteriors. Wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirt/paint on as well as close-toed shoes. Refreshments provided! Register here.

Singing River Disc Golf Course work day
2022-08-13 | Singing River Disc Golf Course, Florence, AL
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 would be helpful.

Operation Pollination -- Leafcutter bees and building your own bee hotel
2022-08-13 | Florence Indian Mound and Museum, Florence, AL
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 for one out of every three bites of food we take each day, but their populations are in jeopardy. Despite over 80% of flowering plants relying on pollinators, pollinator species have declined dramatically since the mid-20th century from habitat loss, pesticides, parasites and invasive species. A second program focused on pollinators’ fall harvest is Nov. 12. Participation is free. Registration is required – go here to sign up. For more information on this event or future programs, email msnha@una.edu or call 256.765.5028.

Trail Care: TVA's Native Plant Garden
2022-08-06 | TVA Reservation, Florence, AL
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 the garden’s trails as we learn about native plants from Alabama Master Gardener Margie Anderton. Wear closed toe shoes & clothes you don’t mind getting dirty and bring work gloves. Meet at the pavilion near the garden. Register here.

W.C. Handy Music Festival -- Percy “Sledgefest”
2022-07-30 | Main Street, Leighton, AL
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 p.m. – Deak Harp, rolling into town! 8:30 p.m. – Howell Sledge & the Revue featuring Muscle Shoals Horns Featuring Blue Water Whiskey, Deak Harp, DJ J-Rock, Howell Sledge & The Revue, Pat Jamar, Taylor Grace, Travis Wammack & The Snakeman Band, WeRoc Entertainment.
Other sponsors include Bank Independent, Singing River Trail, WZZA Radio, Alabama Music Hall of Fame and LaGrange Mountain Spirits.

Handy Party
2022-07-23 | Soul Wingery, Florence, AL
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 the Best, as well as giveaways from Taco Mama. You can also swing by Singin’ River Brewery and pick up a blue cup beverage. Can’t wait to see you there!

Young Learner's Series -- Food
2022-07-16 | Florence Indian Mound and Museum, Florence, AL
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 to explore the early history of the Shoals through hands-on learning. Programs cover Native American history & culture and have a creative component. All events are free. This program is sponsored by Florence Department of Arts and Museums and MSNHA. The Florence Indian Mound Museum is 1028 S. Court St. Florence. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday and 1-4 p.m. Sunday. Call 256-760-6427 for details.

Guided Tour: History of the Civilian Conservations Corps
2022-05-21 | TVA Reservation, Florence, AL
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 terrain. Meet at the TVA Reservation Road Trailhead, Muscle Shoals. Wear sturdy shoes and dress in layers. UNA students needing rides should email Rebecca Harris at rharris12@una.edu. Seats available first come, first served. Register here.

Shoals Storytelling Festival
2022-05-19 - 2022-05-21 | Shoals Theatre, 123 N. Seminary St., Florence, AL
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 rich in history, stories & music. Tickets needed for all storytelling performances — single-day or multiple days available. Visit www.shoalsstorytelling.com for tickets & schedule.

Village One Schoolhouse Work Day
2022-05-07 | Village One School, Sheffield, AL
Join us from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, May 7, as we help the Village School Foundation restore the schoolhouse of U.S. Nitrate Plant Village One. We’ll learn about the history of Village One — built during WWI in 1918 in the design of the Liberty Bell — and continue renovating the schoolhouse’s main hallway. We may paint, plaster & help with a variety of other tasks. Wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty in & closed-toe shoes. No experience required. Register here. UNA students needing rides may email Rebecca Harris at rharris12@una.edu. Rides available first come, first served.

Project Threadways Symposium
2022-04-21 - 2022-04-23 | Alabama Chanin – The Factory, Florence, AL, AL
Join us as we explore how textiles are used as a vehicle for expression, how the act of making supports community organization & how material culture documents activism and movements throughout history. The 2022 Project Threadways Symposium will offer in-person & virtual experiences. In addition to the presentations, in-person guests will experience the local community—steeped in textile history—through food, drink, conversation, a workshop & off-site events. Speakers includes Carrie Barske-Crawford, MSNHA director; Jessamyn Hatcher & Thuy Lin Tu, professors of Global Studies at New York University; Janneken Smucker, professor & historian at West Chester University; artist & author Carolyn Mazloomi; singer-songwriter Rosanne Cash; artist Diana Weymar, of Tiny Pricks Project; and designer Barbara de Vries. The symposium is presented in partnership with the MSNHA, the Center for the Study of Southern Culture & Alabama Chanin. Details & registration at projectthreadways.org/symposia-events
