Winter is a perfect time for festivals, watching the eagles soar and visiting a museum with a celebrated permanent collection.
Take advantage of the cooler temperatures to enjoy family fun across Alabama.
Heritage Harbor Days
Foley is home to the Heritage Harbor Days, an award-winning cultural exchange in the form of a three-day celebration held Nov. 5–7.
Beginning in 2001 as a national first between Foley and Guymon, Okla., the event has received national recognition.
Every year Foley hosts a festival that showcases a different region of the country. This year Foley has partnered with Maggie Valley, N.C.
Kathy Danielson, director of the Foley Convention and Visitors Bureau, said, “Maggie Valley will bring to Foley its version of mountain music, North Carolina barbecue and Appalachian storytellers.
“There will also be cloggers, crafters, educational displays and more as they share their mountain way of life with the residents of coastal Alabama,” Danielson added.
Foley will also showcase its heritage during the three-day celebration with boat builders, net makers, an antique car show and a children’s art village.
The fresh seafood and fried green tomatoes are always popular at the festival.
For more information, call 251-943-1200 or visit www.foleycvb.com, and click on the link to Heritage Harbor.
National Peanut Festival
Known as the “Peanut Capital of the World,” Dothan hosts the annual National Peanut Festival Nov. 5–13.
Dothan produces more than 65 percent of all the peanuts produced in the United States, and celebrates with a nine-day festival. The city welcomes more than 163,000 visitors to the festivities.
Bob Hendrix, executive director of the Dothan Convention and Vistors Bureau, said the event pays homage to Dothan’s agricultural heritage. “The event is held to honor farmers and all aspects of agriculture and agribusiness featuring livestock, exhibits, competitions, crafts and hobbies,” he said.
“There is a recipe contest, carnival rides, entertainment, pageants and a parade where the street is covered with peanuts.”
For more information, call the National Peanut Festival Fairgrounds office at 334-793-4323, the Dothan Convention and Visitors Bureau at 334-794-6622 or visit www.dothanalcvb.com.
Eagle Weekends
Eagle awareness has been a tradition at Lake Guntersville State Park for the last 17 years.
The pure enjoyment of watching the eagles soar keeps visitors returning each January weekend to this north Alabama state park.
Park ranger Mark Jackson said the first tour will begin Jan. 8, 2005, at 5:45 a.m. Those wishing to go on this first tour should meet at the park office on Alabama Highway 227 at Short Creek.
The park will host field trips to other locations every Saturday afternoon at 4:30 p.m., beginning from the park office. Weekend retreats and eagle tours are also available.
For more information, call park ranger Mark Jackson at 256-571-5440, park naturalist Amanda Glover at 256-571-5445 or visit www.800alabama.com and click on quick link/state parks.
For information on all 24 Alabama state parks call 1-800-ALAPARK.
Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art
Auburn University is the home of the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art.
The museum’s permanent collection contains the Louise Hauss & David Brent Miller Audubon Collection.
The collection is rich in Audubon’s most famous series — Birds of America.
Hayden Brown, assistant director for the museum, said, “John James Audubon is recognized as providing one of the earliest and most accurate records of American wildlife through drawings, paintings and engravings.
“The museum’s collection is composed of more than 100 of Audubon’s most important prints, and is considered one of the Southeast’s largest collections of prints by the 19th-century master.”
For information, call 334-844-1484 or visit www.julecollinssmithmuseum.com.
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