Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area

Young Learners' Series: Weaving
2024-06-15 10:00 - 11:00 (America/Chicago) | 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
2024-06-22 17:00 | River Heritage Trail, 15 Hightower Place, Florence, AL, 35630, 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 your preference!) in this beautiful spot. Invite your friends and family to join you after the run for live music at the amphitheater featuring Coffee Black!
All proceeds from the Artsy Fartsy 5K & 1-mile Fun Run will help support MSNHA arts-focused projects.
For full Heritage Area Hustle Race Series details, including volunteer and sponsorship opportunities, go here.

'Native Flora' launch
2024-06-29 14:00 - 17:00 | All the Best, 128 E. Tennessee St., Florence, AL, 35630, 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 and vines you can find in spring & summer. It will be available as a free online resource thanks to the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area.

The Shoals' RiverTowns Community Paddle on Waterloo's 2nd Creek
2024-07-13 09:00 - 12:00 | Waterloo Boat Ramp, Lauderdale County Road 14, Waterloo, AL, 35677, 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 Waterloo Boat Ramp.

Kayaks, personal-flotation devices, paddles & other necessary equipment are provided free of charge. Participants must already know how to swim.Reserve a kayak — either single- or two-person — when you register (comes with required equipment, including PFD). You also can bring your own boat (kayaks, canoes & standup paddle boards are fine). Simply select the “I’ve got my own boat” option when you register.If you register & can’t attend, cancel your reservation. Not doing so takes a spot away from someone else. Tickets on sale April 18.Check your email ahead of the event. You’ll receive a confirmation email from Eventbrite & a pre-event reminder with additional details. Any changes to the paddle due to weather will also be communicated via email.See you outside!

Shoals RiverTown's Community Paddle on Waterloo's 2nd Creek
2024-07-13 09:00 - 12:00 | Waterloo Boat Ramp, Lauderdale County Road 14, Waterloo, AL, 35677, 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 begin & end our paddle at the Waterloo Boat Ramp in Waterloo.Kayaks, PFDs, paddles & other necessary equipment are provided, free of charge. Participants must already know how to swim to participate.Reserve a kayak — either single or two-person — when you register (comes with required equipment, including PFD). You are also welcome to bring your own boat (kayaks, canoes & SUPs are fine) — just select the “I’ve got my own boat” option when you register.If you register & can’t attend, please cancel your reservation. Not doing so takes a spot away from someone else.Check your email ahead of the event for a confirmation email from Eventbrite & a pre-event reminder with additional details. Weather-related changes to the paddle will also be communicated via email.

Young Learners Series: Pottery
2024-08-17 10:00 - 11:30 | 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 in a student-made exhibit or to take home. Together we will learn how & why pottery was made in the past and how it is still created & shared today!Young Learners Series at the Florence Indian Mound Museum is a series of free children’s programs where elementary-age students explore the early history of the Shoals through short lessons & hands-on learning exercises. Each month features a practice that relates to Native American culture. Participants explore the history & cultural meaning behind each practice while engaging in an activity related to that topic.

Shoals Area Invasive Plant Project
2024-09-27 09:00 | Cane Creek Canyon Nature Preserve, 251 Loop Road, Tuscumbia, AL, 35674, 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
2024-10-26 09:00 - 13:00 | Joe Wheeler State Park, 4401 McLean Drive, Rogersville, AL, 35652, 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 of Outdoor Women, so come show the women in your life how much you want to support their outdoor adventures! Entrants can register for all three races at once using the multi-race bundle option to save $5 on each race fee.
For full Heritage Area Hustle Race Series details, including volunteer and sponsorship opportunities, visit our website at https://msnha.una.edu/heritage-area-hustle-race-series/.

Alabama Plants Series: Herbal Medicine Workshop
2025-02-23 13:00 - 14:00 | Pope’s Tavern Museum, 203 Hermitage Drive, Florence, AL, 35630, United States
Florence Arts and Museums & MSNHA are launching the Alabama Plants Series. Host Summer McCreless will teach participants historic natural recipes for different balms & oils and how they can e used today.McCreless owns Mothering Herbs and is a second-generation herbalist. With more than 30 years of experience & education in plant identification, she’s taught herbal education and plant identification & uses in north Alabama for more than 17 years.The Alabama Plant Series is a set of six free workshops hosted at Pope’s Tavern Museum and sponsored by the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area. These workshops will connect Native American cultures, Alabama plants and products rooted in early traditions.

Using Kudzu
2025-03-09 13:00 - 14:00 | Pope’s Tavern Museum, 203 Hermitage Drive, Florence, AL, 35630, United States
Kudzu is not a native plant to Alabama but thrives in the state’s ecosystem. Led by Beth Phillips, this workshop will familiarize people with examples of the different types of kudzu products & recipes. There will be an in-depth talk about the uses of kudzu, non-toxic methods of control & ways to process the plant for use in products & recipes.

Soap Making Workshop
2025-03-23 13:00 - 14:00 | Pope’s Tavern Museum, 203 Hermitage Drive, Florence, AL, 35630, United States
People in Alabama have used plants for many purposes, including soap recipes. This workshop teaches historic & homemade soap making and the evolution of that process. Over time, soap has been used medicinally with specific herbal combinations to bring a more centered and healthy state. Today soaps are used for cleansing the body & enjoying the infusion of native plants through the senses. Participants will get a small bar of soap to take home.This workshop will be led by Summer McCreless, owner of Mothering Herbs and a second-generation herbalist. McCreless has been practicing herbalism for over 17 years, teaching herbal education & plant identification and uses in North Alabama. She has over 30 years of experience and education in plant identification in the United States.

Household Hazardous Waste Day
2025-07-12 08:00 - 12:00 | Florence Coliseum, 702 Veterans Drive, Florence, AL, 35630, United States
Drive through bring hazardous household items such as latex & oil-based paints along with other painting materials, motor oil, antifreeze, pool chemicals and more. No farm or business waste accepted. Co-sponsored by Lauderdale County, City of Florence and TVA.

W.C. Handy Festival Songwriter Showcase
2025-07-19 15:00 - 19:00 | Village One School, Sheffield, AL
Featuring a variety of talented songwriters and performers from around the Shoals. Proceeds benefit the Village School Foundation.

WC Handy Festival Songwriter Showcase
2025-07-20 15:00 - 19:00 | Village One School, Sheffield, AL

Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention Concert Series
2025-09-04 19:00 - 21:00 | McCandless Hall, Athens State University, 302 Bryan St., Athens, AL, 35611, United States
The Seldom Scene was established in 1971 in a basement in Bethesda, Maryland. The original line-up–our Founding Scene Fathers–included John Starling on guitar, Mike Auldridge on Dobro, Ben Eldridge on banjo, Tom Gray on double bass & John Duffey on mandolin.
Charlie Waller, a member of the Country Gentlemen, is credited for the band’s name. Expressing doubt that the new band could succeed, Waller reportedly asked Duffey, “What are you going to call yourselves, the seldom seen?”
The band performed weekly at the Red Fox Inn before securing a residency at the Birchmere Music Hall in Alexandria, Virginia. The rest is history.
With their inventive take on bluegrass, The Seldom Scene has showcased both original material and interpretations of songs from limitless genres.

Tennessee Valley Old Time Fiddlers Convention
2025-10-01 - 2025-10-04 | Athens State University, 300 N Beaty St, Athens, AL, Athens, AL, 35611, United States
Bring the family and enjoy a uniquely American experience whose roots are buried deep in the Appalachian Mountains and beyond. It’s a musical and cultural experience that will thrust you into a simpler time where families were bound by the music they created and the stories they told.

Archaeology at Pope’s Tavern: Spinning
2025-10-05 12:00 - 17:00 | Pope’s Tavern Museum, 203 Hermitage Drive, Florence, AL, 35630, United States
Textile artisan & fiber arts instructor Emily Wallace will offer a closer look at the craft of yarn spinning in Alabama, exploring the skills, materials & preparation required to turn raw fiber into thread. Participants will gain insight into how this hands-on practice shaped daily life and connected people to their materials.

Wallace is a textile artisan & fiber-arts instructor from north Alabama, where she explores both historic & modern approaches to producing fiber goods by hand. She teaches textile workshops at the Burritt Folk School in Huntsville & tends a small flock of conservation breed sheep at her home.

After the workshop, Archaeology at Pope’s Tavern will continue its excavation of Test
Unit 7.

Village School Workday
2025-10-18 10:00 - 13:00 | Village One School, Sheffield, AL
Join us for our next volunteer event at Village One School. 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 to specialized skills you might share. 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 not able to stay the whole morning, please stop by anyway to say “hi” and see what we’re up to!
