Reasons to Celebrate in Monroe County

No matter the season, you’ll always find a reason to celebrate in Monroe County. A full line-up of special events, many linked to the County’s literary heritage, span the calendar.

Many of the celebrations can be attributed to the success of hometown girl Nelle Harper Lee and regular visitor Truman Capote. Tomboy Nelle grew up to become Pulitzer-Prize-winning Harper Lee, author of To Kill a Mockingbird. Although Lee set her story in the fictional county seat of Maycomb, she penned a novel that reverberates with the same lazy day rhythms she enjoyed during her childhood in Monroeville. Acclaimed author Truman Capote spent time here as a child, becoming a close friend of Lee’s, and is thought to be the inspiration for Scout’s summertime friend, Dill. Drawing on his Monroeville experiences, Capote wrote such short stories as The Thanksgiving Visitor and A Christmas Memory. He wrote his best-selling novel Other Voices, Other Rooms in Monroeville and New Orleans.

Pegged as the Literary Capital of Alabama, Monroe County hosts a variety of theatrical and historical events, beginning in late February with Heritage Arts Festival. The festival is held at City Square, and features exhibits and sale of crafts, quilts, art and woodcarvings. Platters of soul food, a fashion show, gospel music and ethnic dance round out the festival.

In early March, people line up at the old courthouse or burn up the phone lines to reserve tickets for the early May production of the two-act theatrical version of To Kill A Mockingbird, staged every year in the Old Courthouse. In mid-March, two celebrations pay homage to Alabama’s earliest residents and settlers. Alabama River Heritage Days showcases Creek Seminole traditions, 1812 frontier camps, river music, and cultures at Alabama River Museum at the Claiborne Lock & Dam, 20 miles north of Monroeville. In Excel, the Annual Pioneer Days Arts and Crafts Show features children’s activities, clogging, arts, an antique car show, crafts and lots of food.

From April through May, the Annual Monroe County Arts Council Show attracts visitors to the Monroe County Heritage Museums. In early April, Rikard’s Mill (a restored, water-powered 1845 grist mill) reopens for the season withan arts and crafts show, milling, pioneer life and blacksmith demos, a barbecue cook-off contest, music and more.

In keeping with Monroe County’s literary tradition, hundreds of writers arrive in early May for the annual Alabama Writers Symposium, sponsored by Alabama Southern Community College. Also in early May, residents of all ages get moving for a cause during the Relay for Life, an all-night event at Monroe County High School to support the American Cancer Society. Participants enjoy games, food, entertainment, music and a woman-less beauty pageant.

In mid-May, folks head over to Uriah for the Cotton Patch Festival, an arts and crafts festival sponsored by Uriah Arts Council.

In June, young girls take the stage in the Monroe County Junior Miss Program, held in Nettles Auditorium at Alabama Southern Community College.

In July, educators and Mockingbird aficionados come to Monroeville for the Annual Teacher’s Workshop for To Kill A Mockingbird. The “Scenes and Stories of Monroeville” slide show is designed for teachers and readers of the novel. In this slide presentation, valuable information is given about the author, Harper Lee, and her hometown of Monroeville.

Duffers take to the fairways and greens in early August, teeing off during the three-day Annual Lucien Jones Golf Tournament, held at the Vanity Fair Golf & Tennis Club.

When autumn rolls around and cooler breezes stir the air, residents head to the Monroe County Fair to partake in some old-fashioned fun. In early October, the fairgrounds come alive with carnivals, livestock judging and entertainment. In mid-November, Cane Syrup-Making Day draws crowds who watch a restored 19th-century mule-driven cane mill and furnace make cane syrup at Rikard’s Mill.

The first weekend in November brings crowds in to Monroeville’s Whitey Lee Park for the annual Mockingbird Market, a two-day shopping extravaganza held at Monroeville’s Community House, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce. This is a great occasion for Christmas shopping for such items as silver and glassware, linens, jewelry, clothing and accessories, and food. Just before Thanksgiving, the Peterman Station Arts & Crafts Show entertains festival goers with arts and crafts, music, entertainment, food and children’s activities set up along the streets of nearby Peterman.

On the first Saturday of December, Monroeville ushers in the holidays with the City of Monroeville Christmas Parade, Holiday Market and Tree Lighting, held in Monroeville’s Downtown Square. The all-day community event features a Christmas Parade, complete with floats, marching bands, costumed characters and Santa Claus. Following the parade, a holiday market takes place on downtown square. Photos are taken with Santa, and horse and buggy rigs clip-clop down the streets. Church choirs and choral groups, including Alabama Southern and Southern Exposé, entertain throughout the day. The Lighting of the Tree and the Mayor’s Annual Christmas Address take place as darkness falls.