Archive for the ‘Huntsville Alabama Events Information’ Category

Bridge Street Town Centre of Huntsville, Alabama is one of the latest attractions to our area. This attraction is thought of as something very special for our residents as well as visitors to the Huntsville, AL area. Within this wonderful shopping, dining and movie going extravaganza you’ll find an outdoor shopping experience like no other in the North Alabama area. There are plenty of restaurants to choose from, to name a few:

Outdoor shopping has never been more interesting. There is an abundance of shopping attractions within the centre. A few are listed below:

Bridge Street Town Centre also has a wonderful movie theatre called Monaco Pictures which is a 14 Screen Cinema right there within the complex. There is VIP seating available located in the upper section of the theatre for a small extra charge. Within the VIP seating section alcoholic beverages are served to movie goers of legal drinking age. Go catch a movie then kick back at the bar or outdoor patio and enjoy your favorite cocktail.

Bridge Street Town Centre offers Venetian gondola rides through the scenic waterways there. The gondola rides are certainly out of the norm for the Huntsville, AL area. You’ll feel like you’re right in the Heart of Venice as your personal gondola guide takes you on a scenic and possibly romantic tour of Bridge Street on the 10 acre lake. Many have celebrated anniversaries, birthdays, proposals, weddings and more on these fantastic rides. Also for the young and old alike there are paddle boats available. Take the tour on your own and get some exercise while you’re at it. For children, or the very young at heart, there is a gorgeous carousel ride located by the Piazza del Lago food court by the lake. Also for children is the Pop jet fountain located in the South district near Customer Service. The Westin Huntsville Hotel blends sophistication, elegance and classic southern hospitality, offering everything

a business traveler demands and everything a vacation visitor desires including: spacious rooms and suites, exceptional dining and complete conference and catering facilities.

Visit Bridge Street Town Centre of Huntsville, AL while you're in town and see for yourself all of the great attractions offered there.

The Huntsville Spring Festival of Flowers is once again in full swing. With the wide array of flowers all showing off their best dressed blooms, this is one of the most looked forward to festivals in the area. Beginning March 31st thru April 30th Huntsville is proud to say this is one of the Southeast's Top 20 Tourist Attractions.

For those who are residents of Huntsville homes this is a special treat. The festival is held in the Botanical Gardens on Bob Wallace Avenue. The spring spectacular features tulips, dogwoods, azaleas and wildflowers galore. The beauty of the mixture of colors is one of the most beautiful sights of the festival. 

The Bonsai Show is scheduled for April 28th and 29th. This is also the grand opening days for the Ishii Bonsai Display Garden. The Huntsville, AL real estate companies in the area look forward to this special event. Reminding the areas residents of the huge Easter Egg Hunt with over 8,000 eggs hidden and waiting, the event is hosted by a DJ and snacks are served for the children.

The Spring Plant Sale is another event that everyone looks forward to with much excitement. For the members only there is a one day sale on April 16th and the public has a two day sale on the 17th and 18th.  This is looked on by those who own Huntsville homes as a harbinger of spring.

The flowers include houseplants, shrubs, trees, vegetables, roses, orchids and perennials. These are all plants that have been proven to grown in the northern Alabama area. There are also master gardeners on hand to test your soils pH level. Check out this great plant sale and the vendors who are available with accessories for your garden.

If you are into photography, the Wildflower Photography Workshop is essential. The instructors teach the basics of photographing nature and then out into the Botanical Garden for the real thing. This is one interesting workshop for amateurs and semi-professionals. A competition and exhibition is also held during the Spring Festival of Flowers.

This is a great time to see what some of the Huntsville, AL real estate owners have done with their lawns when it comes to planting the types of flowers featured at the Festival. Many of these flowers were purchased at past spring festivals. The abundance of color at this time of the year makes everything seem fresh and new.

If you have recently purchased one of the Huntsville homes in the area and need a few tips, the Garden Chat every weekday in April at noon will be where you want to go. The chat is held at Clementine's at the Garden. The information you gather here will be quite helpful with the plan for your own garden.

The public wants to know about orchids and how to grow these exotic looking plants. The Heart of Dixie Orchid Society meets every month on the third Monday. Their meetings are held at the Botanical Gardens and in preparation for their yearly Orchid sale they will be discussing different aspects of growing the orchid each month.

An all-around good time is what the Spring Festival of Flowers is all about. If you are not careful you just might learn something while you are there.

"Art is a BLAST!" This is the theme of the 28th Annual Panoply Festival in Huntsville, AL. A tradition for the Huntsville area this festival is held every year in the last full weekend of April. Starting at 5:00 p.m. Friday, April 24th, the festival kicks off with an array of exciting activities.

Big Spring International Park in downtown Huntsville is the setting for the weekend extravaganza that includes competitions in photography, visual art, playwright competitions and fiddling as well as Alabama's own local talent. This festival is a favorite of the young and young at heart alike. The wide assemblance of talent and activities is what makes the draw of the crowd well over 100,000 every year.

Artists abound whether it is of the typical type or weaving, pottery sculpture or airbrushing. The artist create masterpieces on site while you watch. "Arts in Action" is a huge draw every year for the crowd that enjoys watching the artists at work. They will be happy to explain their chosen field and answer any questions for the aspiring artists in the crowd. Who knows? You may find your next masterpiece here.

The Arts Central Tent is open for viewing the array of art available all year through the Huntsville Arts Council. They will have brochures listing the year's upcoming shows and special events. Don't forget to enter the drawings for artwork, tickets and other great items.

This is a family fun weekend with kid friendly shows and their own "make-n-take" activities. The wide array of food available will tickle the palate. There are even fun competitions for the food vendors with a "Taste of Panoply". Of course, you know the real winners are the festival goers who get to eat the food. 

Mountain Valley Songwriters Competition will be joining the festival for the 9th year in a row. The competition will be on Saturday and is judged only on the music and lyrics; not the singer's voice. So you may win even if you cannot carry a tune. However, if you want you can have someone else to sing your song for the competition.  Another great feature of the festival is the 10 minute playwright competition. This allows anyone to submit their script for consideration of being produced by a panel of judges. You may be a novice or an established playwright. The theme is determined every year and the winners enjoy their play being produced plus a $50 stipend. 

The Panoply Arts Festival is just what the name implies - a magnificent array of the best in the Huntsville, AL real estate area when it comes to art of all kinds. From face painting for the kids to the different cultures represented, this is one of the most diverse events in the area. The top off every night of the festival are the fireworks which light up the sky with a bevy of colors. Nightly at 9:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and closing night at 8:00 p.m. this is one of the much anticipated parts of the evening.

It is hard to choose a favorite part of the festival as the whole experience is so much fun. The one thing you will like about the Panoply Festival is it is good wholesome fun for the entire family. So whether you are a new visitor, yearly returning arts fanatic, or a Huntsville, AL home owner, come and enjoy the art, enjoy the food and best of all enjoy yourself!

The Huntsville AL Real Estate Historic District is brimming with history and accompanying historic districts, of which the city has three - Twickenham, Old Town and Five Points.  Twickenham was the first to be named a historic district within the Huntsville, AL real estate area and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.  The name Twickenham was named by LeRoy Pope and came from the originating name of Huntsville, after Twickenham, England.  Architectural designs include Federal and Greek Revival styles which were introduced back in the early 1800's; the most pronounced home, the 1819 Weeden House Museum, is that of female artist and poet, Maria Howard Weeden, and is open to the public, along with several other historic homes within this district.

Old Town was the second historic district to be named and added to the National Register in 1978.  Dement and Lyncoln Streets, and Randolph and Wlaker Avenues roughly surround this area and features homes of many styles including Federal, Greek Revival, Queen Anne, California Bungalow and Prairie School.

Five Points, a popular area for homeowners to search for Huntsville, AL homes to purchase, is the third and final historic district within Huntsville.  The neighborhood has retained its 19th century grid layout of wide, parallel streets, narrow but deep lots rear parking access.  The Five Points Historic Preservation District began as part of the 1892 East Huntsville Addition and grew slowly over the course of a century.  This historic district was just recently named as such in 1999.

The Huntsville Convention & Visitors Center provides a walk-through of the different historic districts on Saturday mornings and are free of charge.  For both tourists and Huntsville residents, it's a must see/must do!

Below is a slideshow of some of these historic homes for your enjoyment:

If you are in the area looking at the Huntsville homes that are available for sale, you may want to stop for lunch or dinner at one of these fine Huntsville, Alabama restaurants. For dine in or take out, McAlister’s deli will offer up a gigantic chalkboard filled with over 100 items for lunch and dinner. There is bound to be something on this menu that sounds tempting.

If you think you are in the mood for Thai food, Phukets Thai Restaurant is your stop for soups and salads and pork filled rolls, curries and more. This is a premiere eating spot and you will find their food delicious. You may have to look around at the Huntsville homes several times just so you can come here to eat. What place would be complete without an Italian restaurant and a Mexican restaurant?  Lucinaos Italian is the Huntsville connection and Rosie’s is the Mexican restaurant that you will want to try next.

Emma’s Tea Room is an exceptional treat in Huntsville homes. This is a Victorian décor home that is perfect for lunch or tea. Named for the owner’s daughter this is the perfect place to take your daughter to lunch or go with a friend. You will not regret the decision from the moment you walk up the steps to the grand porch. The friendly atmosphere the residents of Huntsville provide make it just like home. With the friendly atmosphere, if you are looking for Huntsville homes due to a relocation or for whatever reason you have chosen the right place.

If you would like more information on the Huntsville homes area and places to visit (and eat!) please visit my website for a vast array of links to some great sites.

September 26-28, 2008

Big Spring Jam is a three-day music festival which takes place each year in Huntsville, Alabama. Originating in 1993, the Jam traditionally happens on the fourth weekend in September, beginning Friday and ending Sunday. Featured musicians come from all over the country, consisting of rock, country, alternative, christian and more.  Bands are various, from local, emerging talents, old favorites, and the favorites of todays's hits.  Big Spring Jam also holds an annual 5 kilometer race.

An odd title of for beginning of autumn event, but in actual fact the festival is actually named after the location it is held at within Huntsville, Alabama, Big Spring International Park , which is in downtown Huntsville, convenient to Huntsville home owners and easy to find for visitors.

Being a not-for-profit event, Big Spring Jam is unlike the average large music event, where proceeds  benefit local charities, health and human services agencies, and arts and entertainment organizations not only in Huntsville, Alabama, but throughout North America.  It is organized each year by the Huntsville Heritage Foundation along with the Von Braun Center.

Some of my favorite bands that will be hitting the stages this year include:

Buckcherry  ~  Kansas  ~  Kenny Rogers  ~  Mercyme  ~  Sister Hazel  ~  Styx  ~  The Guess Who  ~  The Presidents of the United States of America ~  Three Dog Night

Here's a map of where your fun begins!

Tickets range from $25 for single day to $60 for the full "Jam Fan Weekend"!  Tickets cease to be sold after Sept. 26^th at Noon.

For more information on other upcoming events with the Huntsville homes area, please contact me anytime - I'd be happy to suggest places to visit or attractions to see.

Huntsville, Alabama is one of the premiere places to visit if you want to experience the true south. If you are planning a trip to this area to purchase your next Huntsville home, you may want to take some time to check out some of the attractions that are sure to make a return visit a must. The scenery in this southern town is something to behold and many of the new Huntsville homes are made to reflect the deep history of this area. Of course, there are older homes that do the same.

If you are here searching for a Huntsville home, take some time to enjoy what the area has to offer, such as the Huntsville Botanical Garden. This encompasses 110 acres of land with the most stunning flowers you will ever see. There are paths through the woods and an aquatic garden that takes in about 5 acres. A garden railway will be a thrill for the kids and a butterfly house which is open every year from May to September.

Another renowned attraction is the Constitution Village which is a large part of the history of Alabama. The true to life Federal building are open for touring. The unique part of this attraction is the villagers who are dressed to resemble the people of the era.

No visit would be complete without a stop at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center. The largest space attraction in the world, this is definitely worth a stop on your visit. Do not forget the U. S. Space Camp Training Center where everyone can try a simulated mission, which also has summer programs for the kids to experience what its like to be in space.

For more information on Huntsville, AL attractions, please visit my website where I have an extensive list of top places to visit.  You may also bookmark this page for future visits, where you can learn more about Huntsville, Alabama and what this wonderful southern town can offer you.

What a great city we live in!  Today I found out that we are rocking the "WOWW" world!  What's WOWW?!  Wipe Out Wireless Waste, of course!

Since last year, there has been an ongoing competition in conjunction with Keep America Beautiful, where each city, categorized on population numbers, compete to see how many cell phones can be recycled and generate proceeds to local community improvement and revitalization projects.  Huntsville real estate owners, residents and city officials chose the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life as their project recipient.

As of June 30, 2008, Operation Green Team (that's Huntsville's team name) has taken the lead in two categories:  "Most Phones Received" and "Most Based on City Population"!   The contest deadline is November 30, 2008.

So exactly happens to all these wireless phones?  Each phone is shipped to Keep America Beautiful's recycling partner, ReCellular. Those that are still functioning, are refurbished and reused, making it a cheaper way for people both in the U.S. and other countries around the world to have access to a cellular phone.  Non-functional phones are dismantled and recycled and then used within other products such as replacement cell phone parts, automotive bumpers, road barriers, faucets or pipes, jewelry, and aftermarket rechargeable battery packs.

Contact the Green Team at 256-532-CLEAN to find out how you can keep Huntsville’s lead and raise funds for The American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.

So, all you Huntsville Alabama home owners.  What will your children be doing this summer?!  There are many choices for the kids to stay entertained, including the notarized SPACE CAMP and AVIATION CHALLENGE at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center Museum, right here in Huntsville.

Using space and avaiation as the basis to educate and amuse children between 7-18 years, the SPACE CAMP (founded in 1982), and AVIATION CHALLENGE (1990), has topics including math, science and technology. 

Programs range from 3 to 8 days, where your children will build their skills in teamwork, and work on self confidence and communication with peers through state-of-the-art simulations, missions, rocket building and robotics.  The children will learn everything they need to know about Space Shuttle Systems and life aboard the Orbiter and Space Station. They'll experience space food, learn to sleep in space, and even how to go to the bathroom in space!

The AVIATION CHALLENGE programs, divided into three groups - Mach I (ages 9-11), Mach II (ages 12-14), and Mach III (ages 15-18) also range from 3 to 8 days, with similar character building efforts achieved through state-of-the-art high performance jet simulation, scenario-based missions, land and water survival training and flight dynamics.

This dynamic facility also offers X-CAMP activities.  These are very similar to what the space shuttle and aviation crews will do to train before being added to active flight status, ending the camp experience with a four hour X-Race where the children will put their training to the ultimate test.  

In addtion to program-specific training, each child will also experience all that the U.S. Space & Rocket Center Museum has to offer during their camp time.  The cost of the camps include all meals, lodging, program materials and activities.  Security and medical are at hand 24-hours a day.  You can find out more about this one-of-a-kind experience by calling the Museum directly at 1-800-63 SPACE.

Huntsville Alabama home owners really have an amazing opporunity here to give their children an experience of a lifetime! 

For three days (right on cue - the last full weekend of April - April 25th through the 27th) Huntsville, AL becomes an Artstravaganza! For the past 25 years, the Panoply Arts Festival has "hit the streets" in the heart of Huntsville Alabama, and this year is no different.

A perfect family environment that children, teens & adults alike can enjoy, this outdoor festival features presentations, demonstrations & fun, while promoting & enhancing the arts. Activities range from the "Official Alabama State Fiddling Championship," to hands-on workshops, "Homegrown Talent Contest", various stages featuring jazz, bluegrass, gospel, musical theater, ballroom dancing, a songwriter’s showcase, kid-friendly performances, an interactive drum circle & more.

This jam-packed feast of all your senses has been ranked in the "Top 20 Events" by the Southeast Tourism Society. In fact, Gov. Bob Riley announced the outdoor phenomenon as one of Alabama's Top 10 Tourism Events for the year in 2007! Without fail, Panoply continues to satisfy the entire Tennessee Valley & neighboring states by bringing the arts to life.

Huntsville, AL skies will be illuminated all three nights with a jaw-dropping display of fireworks to end the day off with a bang! Friday and Saturday nights fireworks begin at 9 p.m. and Sunday's at 8 p.m.

The kids will revel in the FREE hands-on activities in both the Kids Art Yard and Panoply’s unique "Global Village". Here, several “workshops” will help your child uncover some hidden talents in the artist sense, including the Panoply Percussion Tent and the Stamp it Out! Tent (greeting card making).

It truly is a MUST GO event! Maybe I'll see you there!

Check out other upcoming events in Huntsville, AL.

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