When it is cold outside, enjoy touring Alabama’s museums where you will find prints from the old masters and a variety of America’s landscapes.
Also take the children to roam with a few dinosaurs at a popular science center. For outdoor fun, try a festival where you can witness an old-fashioned lumberjack competition.
McWane Center
Downtown Birmingham is roaring with dinosaurs. The McWane Center hosts a prehistoric landscape with a presentation created by the renowned Kokoro Dinosaurs — DinoROARS! The exhibit is on display until Dec. 31.
“Visitors will come face-to-face with animatronic dinosaurs, including the popular tyrannosaurus and stegosaurus, as well as a 34-foot-long apatosaurus and 15-foot maiasaura nest with eggs and hatchlings,” said Tom Grasse, vice president of marketing for the McWane Center.
Children head straight for the Dino Dig box, where they can become dinosaur-detectives while excavating replicas of dinosaur bones and fossils. With goggles on and brush in hand, children work feverishly to whisk away debris. They can also make dinosaur rubbings as well as numerous other crafts and activities.
Smile! A “dino-mite” photo area is provided where visitors can pose next to a triceratops and Tyrannosaurus rex.
At the Explore! Museum Collections Center, visitors can view the curious creatures that once roamed Alabama.
In addition to DinoROARS!, McWane Center is also featuring its new fossil lab where visitors can see paleontologists excavating a real 4 1/2-foot tylosaur skull. For information call 1-877-4-MCWANE or visit www.mcwane.org.
Huntsville Museum of Art
In the wake of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, several artists took part in a national program to paint the beautiful landscapes of America.
According to the Huntsville Museum of Art’s Web site, the exhibition SEA TO SHINING SEA: A Reflection of America presents these works, which will remind viewers of the natural wonders of our country.
Organized by the Haggin Museum of Art in Stockton, Calif., the show features 50 artists who represent various ethnic and racial backgrounds, as well as different regions of the country.
The exhibit will take place Feb. 26–April 9, 2006. For information call 256-535-4350 or visit www.hsvmuseum.org.
Jackson Fall Festival
The Jackson Fall Festival in downtown Jackson in Clarke County will take place Nov. 5 featuring Pine City arts and crafts, entertainment and the annual lumberjack competition.
Also on the lineup are an annual antique car show and a motorcycle charity ride. Children will enjoy Kid’s Fest, which features inflatable slides, rock and wall games, moonwalks, obstacle courses and more.
For information call 251-246-3251 or visit www.touralabama.org and search according to the event date.
Birmingham Museum of Art
The Birmingham Museum of Art has an array of exhibits during the winter months.
The museum is featuring Old Masters to Modern Method: Prints from the Birmingham Museum of Art through Dec. 31.
This collection is a rich survey of the museum’s rarely exhibited collection of fine art prints from the late 15th century to the present day.
Also on display through Dec. 31 is the exhibit Stitching Beauty: Kuna Indian Textiles from Panama.
For information call 205-254-2566 or visit www.artsBMA.org.
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