You are invited to our introduction to Alabama 200 Bicentennial August 4th

ATHENS–  On Thursday, August 4^th 2016 Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association will be hosting Ms. Jay Lamar for an introduction on our Bicentennial program coming up in 2017-2019. As most of you know, Athens and Mooresville will turn 200 years old in 2018. However in preparing for the State of Alabama turning 200 in 2019, the celebration will begin with the founding of counties to our south such as Mobile who will be 200 in 2017.

Ms. Lamar is the executive director of the Alabama Bicentennial Commission, appointed in early 2014 by Governor Bentley. She has agreed to spend two days with us to go over any information we need.

The celebration will be divided into 3 areas of concentration during the 3 year progression. In 2017 we will celebrate our ‘Places’ – 2018 we will honor our ‘People’ – then in 2019 we will tell our ‘Stories.’ We will start at the beginning to include each step of the way of our growth and development and our hardships as well.

The meeting will be at 2PM, held at McCandless Hall on the grounds of Athens State University, who are serving as a partner in this endeavor. Ms. Lamar, executive director of the Alabama Bicentennial Commission, will personally discuss the Bicentennial and answer questions you may have. McCandless Hall is located at 300 N. Beaty Street to the right of Founders Hall.  There will be another meeting on this same information on Friday Aug 5th at the Rotary meeting in the Ballroom at Athens State University. 

Some of the thingds being discussed at these meetings will be Committees for: art, research, games, Schools, Churches, Businesses & industry, Agriculture, Displays, Exhibits, Historical documents, genealogy, Photographs, Artifacts, Story-telling, Dancing/drama/re-enactments/music, Old fashion food, Vendors, local authors & artists, Games for children, mural painted buildings as selfie stations, barn quilts, home quilts, a cotton picking day, a greased watermelon contest, a Domino contest at the Visitor Center, we will bring back the beard growing contest from the 150 anniversary, and many other great ideas we will come up together.

If possible, please RSVP to GuestServices@VisitAthensAL.com (Ms. Doris Black, secretary) for a count of how many to expect on Thursday Aug 4^th – seating is limited.

Media Release/Teresa Todd,TMP
Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association, President