FLORENCE – Pat Burney, Florence Bicentennial Committee Chair, announced that local makers, workshops, and one-of-a-kind keepsakes are all on the agenda for Florence’s Bicentennial Celebration during the month of May. From a tour of the Forks of Cypress Plantation, to a bicentennial t-shirt workshop at The Factory, there is something for everyone.
Mayor Holt said, “We are so pleased with the Bicentennial Celebration thus far and appreciate the on-going participation. This is an exciting year for our City! As a reminder to our citizens, we have many souvenir items available for purchase on the Bicentennial website that you will want to keep as mementos of this once-in-a-lifetime celebration.”
Mayor Steve Holt
“For May, expect to get a little messy; expect to learn a lot; expect to have a great time,” said Florence City Councilwoman Michelle Eubanks who is also a member of May’s Bicentennial Sub-Committee. “We are very fortunate to have such incredibly talented individuals living right here in Florence who are willing to share their talents. It would be impossible not to want to celebrate that,” she said.
There is a series of workshops planned, and the public is invited to participate. The t-shirt workshop, Saturday, May 5, will give participants the opportunity to explore the creative process with The School of Making team in a hands-on, two-hour workshop at Alabama Chanin.
Or, maybe you yearn to be a wood worker? The Wood and More Wood workshop with John Moody on 
Saturday, May 12, will look back at our woodworking past, including the tools and techniques used; participants will leave with a local wood-sourced cheeseboard.
And as a bonus, the Bicentennial Committee has scheduled a workshop featuring Stacey Hamner at Reclaimed Spirit, Saturday, May 12. Participants will enjoy making their very own commemorative tea towel with a special bicentennial logo; they’ll also learn a little about hand lettering.
In addition, the University of North Alabama will hold a Clay workshop on Saturday, May 26. UNA Ceramics Professor Aaron Benson will teach interested participants how to work with clay; the result will be two functional objects.
May is already home to First Fridays, Arts Alive, and the Shoals Storytelling Festival, and each celebrates a wide variety of artisans and crafters. The Bicentennial events enhance that and give participants a chance to learn directly from expert craftspeople as well as to have a hands-on opportunity to make a special Bicentennial memento.
For a full list of Florence Bicentennial events taking place in May and to sign up and purchase tickets for the workshops, visit https://florence200.org/the-arts/.
Schedule of Events
Go to www.florence200.org for Event Details
MAY
- Friday, May 4, 5:00 to 8:00 PM – FIRST FRIDAYS –Downtown Florence
- Saturday, May 5, 10:00 AM—FORKS OF CYPRESS PLANTATION SITE & CEMETERY TOUR
- Saturday, May 5 – FABRIC – Event will highlight our history of fabric, quilting, and cotton, conducted by Alabama Chanin
- Saturday, May 12 – WOOD – Event will highlight our history of woodworking craftsmanship, conducted by John Moody
- Friday & Saturday, May 18-19 – SHOALS STORYTELLING FESTIVAL, Shoals Theater
- Saturday & Sunday, May 19-20 – ARTS ALIVE FESTIVAL
- Saturday, May 26: CLAY – Event will highlight our history of clay as an art form, conducted by Aaron Benson
- Monday, May 28, 11:00 a.m. – Memorial Day Ceremony – Veterans Memorial, Veterans Park
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. Visit: https://www.flpl.org/
https://www.facebook.com/florencebicentennial/ or https://www.facebook.com/events/147567779233422/
Media Release/Sandra Morgan/Executive Assistant to the Mayor of Florence
