FLORENCE– 200 years! That’s how old the City of Florence, Alabama, will be in March 2018; and to celebrate, everyone is invited to the City’s Birthday Bash!
The celebration will take place at 3:30 p.m., on Monday, March 12, at Wilson Park in Downtown Florence.
Founded March 12, 1818, Florence was recognized as a potentially prosperous settlement by the Cypress Land Company, and the City has been going strong ever since. According to oral traditions, Florence earned its name from the Italian Surveyor Ferdinand Sannoner, who chose to name it for the famed city of Florence, Italy, which now serves as the City’s Sister City. Florence is also known as Alabama’s Renaissance City and is the largest city in the Florence-Muscle Shoals Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA).
Shortly after incorporation Florence grew, adding centers for commerce, banking and retail, among other things. The City became a seat of higher education in 1855, when Florence Wesleyan University moved to town. That University is now known as the University of North Alabama.
Starting with the birthday in March, each month will have a theme related to the City. April’s theme will be local architecture, whereas May recognizes the arts and June is Frontier Days. The themed months will run through November 2018, with more information being released as the events draw closer.
Schedule of Events
As of February 6, 2018
(Note that some themed events will be held during other
times of the year than the month in which they are listed.)
MARCH – Theme: Birthday Celebration
- Friday, March 2, 5:00 to 8:00 PM – FIRST FRIDAYS – Bicentennial Kick-off in Downtown Florence
- Monday, March 12, 3:30 PM – CITY’S BIRTHDAY PARTY in Wilson Park: The party will include the Mayor reading the proclamation, the time capsule dedication, recognition of former Mayors, performances of music/choirs, birthday cake, dedication of historical marker
- Monday, March 12 – TROWBRIDGE’S 5-CENT ICE CREAM CONES for its 100th Anniversary
- PARADE – Date to be determined
APRIL – Theme: Local Architecture
- Saturday, April 7, 10:00 AM – WALKING TOUR OF WILSON PARK and surrounding buildings including the Federal Court Room. Meet in front of the KD Art Center.
- Saturday, April 14, 10:00 AM – WALKING TOUR OF UPPER NORTH COURT STREET AND SEMINARY STREET. Meet in front of Roger’s Hall at UNA.
- Saturday, April 21 10:00 AM – WALKING TOUR OF WALNUT STREET. Meet at the corner of Hermitage Drive and Walnut Street.
- Saturday, April 28, 10:00 AM – WALKING TOUR OF FLORENCE CEMETERY. Meet inside the cemetery on Tennessee Street.
- Saturday, May 5, 10:00 AM—FORKS OF CYPRESS PLANTATION SITE & CEMETERY TOUR
- Sundays in April – ROSENBAUM HOUSE TOURS—All events begin at the Richards Center next to the Rosenbaum House Admissions and Gift Shop. Enter through double doors.
- Sunday, April 8, 2:00 PM—KEN BURNS DOCUMENTARY FILM ON FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT
- Sunday, April 15, 1:30 PM—HISTORICAL MARKER DEDICATION followed by talks with the Rosenbaum Family
- Sunday, April 22, 2:00 PM— BOOK SIGNING, RANDY HENNING, author of book on Aaron Green
The Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts Portrait Gallery will feature 17 paintings of our founding fathers and historic leaders throughout the month of April. Open Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
MAY – Theme: Arts
- May 5 – FABRIC – Event will highlight our history of fabric, quilting, and cotton
- May 12 – WOOD – Event will highlight our history of woodworking craftsmanship
- May 19-20 – ARTS ALIVE FESTIVAL
- May 26: CLAY – Event will highlight our history of clay as an art form
JUNE – Theme: Frontier Days
- February 15-17 – SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR EXHIBIT at Pope’s Tavern marking the 120th anniversary of that War and the sinking of the USS Maine
- June 2 – JOHN COFFEE CEMETERY Dedication Ceremony (Coffee’s birthday)
- June 2-3 – FRONTIER DAYS at Pope’s Tavern
- June 23 – KOREAN WAR VETERANS MEET & GREET at Pope’s Tavern
- November 3-4 – BATTLE OF FLORENCE – Re-enactment of the first Battle of Florence with infantry, artillery, and cavalry units at McFarland Park
- November 8-10 – WORLD WAR I DISPLAY at Pope’s Tavern for 100th Anniversary of the end of the war
- December 7 – “EVERY LIGHT A PRAYER FOR PEACE” PROGRAM at Pope’s Tavern, with “Pearl Harbor” display
JULY – Theme: Music
- July 4 – FOURTH OF JULY – Fireworks and Entertainment – McFarland Park
- July 20-29 – W. C. HANDY MUSIC FESTIVAL
AUGUST – Theme: Education
- Overall Goal: To celebrate the fact that, since 1820 (just two years after its founding), Florence has been known for its commitment to the education of its citizens
- School activities throughout the year
- Saturday, August 18 – ROAD RALLY – a community scavenger hunt to area historical sites
- ARCHIVES IN COLLIER LIBRARY at UNA open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. throughout the month
SEPTEMBER – Theme: Native American Heritage
- Art exchange involving Native American tribes in Oklahoma
- Sundays, September 9 and 23 – NATIVE AMERICAN PRESENTATIONS held at the Library
- Sundays, September 16 and 30 – NATIVE AMERICAN PRESENTATIONS held at the Indian Mound Museum
- Educational resource package for teachers in the 4th and 10th grades for use in their classrooms
- Traveling Museum
OCTOBER – Theme: Florence Homecoming
- Saturday, October 20 – REUNION AT THE RIVER – a family event – McFarland Park
- Saturday/Sunday, October 27-28 – ALABAMA RENAISSANCE FAIRE
NOVEMBER – Theme: Faith/Churches
- Sunday, November 18 – COMMUNITY CELEBRATION, Shoals Theatre
- Area historic churches will hold anniversary celebrations throughout the year
In addition to these events, the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library has developed an extensive online historical timeline exhibit detailing events that shaped and molded our community. It includes the above topics as well as a music timeline and an industry/agriculture/farming timeline for Lauderdale County. These timelines will be available throughout the year and for future generations.
For more information, go to: www.florence200.org; https://www.facebook.com/florencebicentennial/ or https://www.facebook.com/events/147567779233422/
Media Release/Sandra Morgan, Executive Assistant to the Mayor Steve Holt
