Helen Keller
TUSCUMBIA – The Helen Keller Festival Board announced plans today (Thursday) for the thirty-sixth annual Helen Keller Festival which will be celebrated June 23-29 in Tuscumbia, Alabama. On the last full weekend in June each year, and in the days preceding, thousands of visitors and locals gather in the town of Helen Keller’s birth. They come, not only to pay tribute to one of the most significant women of America’s history, but also to have fun! In doing so, they also learn about the contributions made to society by Keller on behalf of individuals who suffer disabilities. Keller, herself blind and deaf from early childhood, is recognized as “America’s First Lady of Courage.” Events scheduled throughout the seven days are centered in downtown Tuscumbia, at the Helen Keller Home, and in the city’s Spring Park, located at the south end of Main Street.
William-Gibson writer of the miracle worker
Setting the stage for the festival, “The Miracle Worker” by playwright William Gibson, will be presented on Friday, June 27, and Saturday, June 28, in an outdoor theater at the Keller Home, Ivy Green, on the very grounds where Helen Keller played as a child and learned the meaning of words. The award-winning play, in its 53rd season at Ivy Green, dramatizes Helen’s childhood in Tuscumbia, especially the experiences with her teacher, Annie Sullivan. As Helen’s teacher spells the word “water” into her hand while pumping water, the child grasps the meaning of language in the play’s dramatic conclusion. Curtain time is 8:00 p.m. both evenings, with gates opening at 6:30 p.m. Each performance is signed for the hearing impaired. Reserved and general admission tickets are available and touring of the home is included. Ivy Green is also open for tours, Monday – Saturday, 8:30 – 4:00 p.m. and during special festival hours on Sunday, 11:00 – 4:00 p.m. Admission is charged. For more information about the play or to reserve seats, call 256-383-4066 or visit the website, www.helenkellerbirthplace.org.
Ahbee Orton – 2014 recipient of the Award of Courage
The media event was held on the grounds of Ivy Green, the birthplace of Helen Keller. The day was also marked by the announcement that the Keller Award of Courage recipient for this year goes to 14-year-old Ahbee Orton of Florence.
These photos are of today’s media event:
Event photos by Sheri Wiggins
The Quad-Cities Daily will publish an event schedule just before the Festival. However, for those readers who can’t wait, here is the list as provided by The Helen Keller Festival.
Movie Nights kick off the festival on Monday and Tuesday. June 23rd and 24th. Bring your blankets and lawn chairs into Spring Park and enjoy a special screening on Monday of the acclaimed documentary, “Muscle Shoals,” featuring the incredible history of the area’s recording industry and plenty of Muscle Shoals music. Then on Tuesday, the academy award-winning 1962 version of “The Miracle Worker,” starring Anne Bancroft as Annie and Patty Duke as Helen, will be presented. Movie Nights are a new addition to the Helen Keller Festival. Movies begin at dusk and there is no charge.
First Presbyterian Church, Tuscumbia, will offer a mid-week praise concert on Wednesday, June 25, beginning at 6:30 p.m. with the Swinging River Jazz Band, followed by The Voice of Lee, a 17-member vocal group offering harmonies and high energy performances. Come by early for free hot dogs and drinks.
No celebration is complete without a parade, so at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 26, the Helen Keller Festival Parade will be led through downtownbyits grand marshal Mike McMackin, founder of the Helen Keller Festival. Parade organizers anticipate this being one of the largest parades in festival history.
A Downtown Street Party will follow the parade in Tuscumbia on Thursday, June 26. Main Street will be blocked off between Fourth and Sixth Streets creating a venue for a live music concert at 7:00 by The Ben Parker Project, winner of the prestigious Muscle Shoals to Music Row Battle of the Bands. Stores will remain open late and crafters have been invited to set up booths along the sidewalks. This free event is sponsored by the merchants of Market 35674.
Art & Crafts
A large number of artists and crafters offering a variety of handmade goods and art are expected to participate in the Helen Keller Festival Arts & Crafts Show. Festival organizers state that this year’s arts and crafts will hold something that fits within every person’s budget, while maintaining the level of quality that is expected at the Helen Keller Festival. The show opens at 12:00 noon on Friday, June 27, running until 8:00 p.m. that evening, On Saturday, June 28, the hours are 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. and on Sunday, June 29, from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. A popular children’s activity tent, Imagination Station, will provide fun, hands-on projects on Saturday.
The Tennessee Valley Museum of Art, located on Water Street and North Commons, W. (across the street from the Helen Keller Home) will offer special exhibitions within the museum, Tuesday, June 24 – Saturday, June 28, 9:00 am-5:00 p.m. Admission is $5.00 adults, $3 children. Free admission will be granted on Sunday, June 29, 1:00-3:00 p.m. The 2014 Helen Keller Art Show of Alabama is a juried competition of works by Alabama children who are visually impaired, blind or deaf blind. One child’s art piece is selected each year to receive the Patty Johnson Award and is retained in permanent collection. In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the museum, the works of art center founder, Ethel Davis is on display in the main gallery. This self-taught local artist was considered a visionary and her work shows a progression of extraordinary talent. Call the Tennessee Valley Museum of Art for information at 256-383-0533 or visit www.tvaa.net.
Musical Entertainment in Spring Park, featuring Headliner Concerts:
The musical line-up in Spring Park on Friday, June 27, begins at 5:00 p.m. with classic rock and country music performed by CC Jags, followed at 6:00 p.m. by up-and-coming Country/Soul singer Holli Mosley from Mobile, Alabama. FAME Studios will be releasing her first EP this year. Second Creek will play a high energy set at 7:00 and Voodoo Bayou will take the stage at 8:00 p.m. The band’s distinctive New Orleans sound is equal parts Louisiana Roots Rock, Delta Blues and Country and Funk fusion.
Performances throughout the day on Saturday, June 28, beginning shortly after noon, will include back- to-back performances by Kaid Wright and Jordan Dean. Country artist and award-winning songwriter (“I’m Alabama”) Joseph Baldwin will perform next, then Shane & Wendell, offering their special blend of bluegrass to rock.Wrapping up the afternoon into the evening will be the popular local band KGB (Kerry Gilbert Band), featuring diverse vocal harmonies in a variety of styles, the Wildwood Ruminators, with arootsy, laid-back vibe and Travis Wammack, unarguably one of the best Muscle Shoals session guitarists to work in the studios and to entertain fans in the Muscle Shoals area.
Rising country singer/songwriter Leah Turner will open at 7:15 for concert headliner Jo Dee Messina, who will perform at 8:30 p.m. Turner offers a sassy and fun performance that is emotional and strong at the same time, just like her music. She toured with Brad Paisley and is set to release her self-titled EP. Debuting in 1996 with the hit single “Heads Carolina, Tales California,” Jo Dee Messina has charted 9 number one singles, 16 Top 40 singles, and sold more than 5 million records worldwide. Festival entertainment chairman Fletcher Brown said that he sought women for this year’s headline concert, to pay tribute to Helen Keller, “America’s First Lady of Courage.”
A Sunday morning Praise and Worship will be sponsored by Calvary Baptist Church, 9:30 – 12:30 a.m. The Mizells kick off the evening at 6:00 p.m. Evangelist David Nasser will be speaking and well-known Contemporary Christian band Kutless performs at 7:00 p.m. to wrap up the 2014 Helen Keller Festival.
For complete information about performers and the entertainment schedule, visit the website: www.helenkellerfestival.com or refer to the printed schedule which will be available at information tables throughout Spring Park and at other sites around the area. Contact entertainment chairman – Steifon (Fletch) Passmore, archer1222@gmail.com.
1 comment
How can I get in the my music event to scudle to come play live music? thanks Billy.