There are still plenty of events left in this ‘summer of fun’
MADISON/HUNTSVILLE – Summer events may be winding down with beginning of school next week, but there are plenty of family-fun activities left to end this summer of fun the right way. Check out these fun events happening this week:
Biergarten
Recurring weekly on Thursday
4:30 – 7:30 pm
U.S. Space & Rocket Center
One Tranquility Base
No admission charged. Food and drink for purchase.
www.rocketcenter.com/Biergarten
Alabama Skies
Thursday, Aug. 1
Starting: 7 p.m.
U.S. Space & Rocket Center
One Tranquility Base
(256) 837-3400
www.rocketcenter.com/alabamaskies
Enjoy a guided tour of the night sky visible from the Huntsville area for the upcoming month, including stars, constellations, planets, deep sky objects, related mythological stories and updates of current astronomical discoveries. Prepare to be amazed by the wonders of the sky on the 67-foot INTUITIVE® Planetarium dome in this monthly summer event.
Greene Street Market at Nativity
Recurring weekly on Thursday
4 – 8 pm
Downtown Huntsville
Eustis Avenue from Greene Street to Southside Square
(256) 682-4429
No admission charged
Living Room Vinyl
Recurring weekly on Thursday
From: 6-8 p.m.
Stovehouse, 3414 Governors Drive
No admission charged. Food and drink for purchase.
www.stovehouse.com/events
On stage, two unlikely host DJs (who will be announced weekly) sit on an ugly green sofa spinning cuts from records they think you just gotta hear. Dancing be encouraged.
Columbus ships Pinta and Nina Tours
Aug. 2-13
9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Ditto Landing
293 Ditto Landing Road
ninapintatour@gmail.com
Admission charged
www.ninapinta.org
The Pinta and the Nina, replicas of Columbus’ ships, will be docked at Ditto Landing for self-guided tours. The Nina was built completely by hand and without the use of power tools. Archaeology magazine called the ship “the most historically correct Columbus replica ever built.” The original Pinta, also a caravel, was the first ship to site land in the New World. Historians consider the caravel the Space Shuttle of the fifteenth century. Both ships tour together as a new and enhanced ‘sailing museum’ for the purpose of educating the public and school children on the caravel, a Portuguese ship used by Columbus and many early explorers to discover the world.
Movies at Fern Bell Park
Friday, Aug. 2
Activities start at 6 p.m., movie at sundown
Fern Bell Park
6900 Whitesburg Drive SE
No admission charged
Bring a blanket or chair and a picnic to watch a movie under the stars. The movie will be Spiderman into the Spiderverse.
The PLT Party
Friday, Aug. 2
6:30 p.m.
Von Braun Center Propst Arena
700 Monroe Street
Admission charged
www.vonbrauncenter.com
This year’s PLT party features King & Country with special guests, Anthem Lights. Sadie Robertson will be the keynote speaker.
Summer Outdoor Movie Series
Friday, Aug. 2
Madison Public Library
Free admission
Join the fun on the patio of the Madison Public Library for family movie nights this summer. Movies start at sunset. Popcorn will be provided. Don’t forget your picnic blanket or chair. This week’s movie is “Into the Woods”.
Friday Night Live
Recurring weekly on Friday
From: 5-8 p.m.
Downtown Huntsville
Northside Square
No admission charged
www.downtownhuntsville.org
Come enjoy free music on the sidewalks and kick off your weekend right.
Madison City Farmers Market
Saturday, July 13
8 a.m. – noon
Beside Trinity Baptist Church
1088 Hughes Road, Madison
www.madisoncityfarmersmarket.com
Madison City Farmers Market is Madison’s original local, producer-only farmers market, founded in 2007. Everything sold at the market is grown or crafted by local farmers and craftspeople. Madison City Farmers Market vendors provide a wide selection of the freshest local veggies, fruits, cheese, eggs, meats, milk, herbs, honey, jams, relishes, home-baked goods, plants and flowers.
Food Truck All-Stars – Brunch Edition
Saturday, Aug. 3
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Downtown Huntsville
100 Northside Square
No admission charged. Food and drink for purchase.
www.downtownhuntsville.org
Enjoy your favorite brunch foods and local music. Then take in the charms of the historic district or shop the galleries and boutiques downtown.
Walking Tours of Historic District
Recurring weekly on Saturday
9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Alabama Constitution Hall Historic Park & Museum
109 Gates Avenue
No admission charged
Make a guided tour through the historic district to learn about Huntsville’s role in Alabama becoming a state and other contributions made by past residents. The park gift shop and Piper & Leaf will be open at 9 am.
Planetarium Show
Recurring weekly on Saturday
Doors open at 7 pm, program at 7:30 pm
Von Braun Astronomical Society Planetarium
Monte Sano State Park
(256) 539-0316
Admission charged
www.vbas.org
The Market at MidCity
Recurring weekly on Sunday
2-6 p.m.
The Camp
5909 University Drive
Huntsville’s newest market for farmers, artisans, makers, growers, musicians and more! Mark your calendar for every Sunday, March through November 2019. Now accepting applications at https://www.explorethecamp.com/market-vendor
Lumberyard Market
Recurring weekly on Sunday
12-4 p.m.
A.M. Booth’s Lumberyard
108 Cleveland Avenue
No admission charged
www.amboothslumberyard.com
Visit Downtown Huntsville’s backyard for fresh produce, creative art/craft items and unique treasures.
Concerts in the Park
Monday, Aug. 5
6:30 -8:30 p.m.
Big Spring Park
200 Church Street
No admission charged
www.artshuntsville.org
The 2019 series features great local and regional bands performing in beautiful Big Spring Park. Bring your own seating. Come hear music from the Uorthodocs and Milltowne. Dogs on leashes are welcome. Picnics are welcome. Food trucks will be along Williams Avenue with additional offerings in the park. The menus include Asian fusion from Pearl Asian Cuisine, gourmet sandwiches from In the Bun, BBQ from Badd Newz BBQ, mega-burgers from The Piled High Grill, flavorful shaved ice from Iceworks, specialty hot dogs from Golden Years Diner, homegrown iced teas from Piper and Leaf, cool treats from Suzy’s Pops, gourmet popcorn from Yum Yum’s, and ice cream from Handel’s Ice Cream.
ONGOING EVENTS
Peace, Love, Rock & Roll: Elliott Landy’s Vision of Woodstock
Huntsville Museum of Art
300 Church Street
(256) 535-4350
Admission charged
www.hsvmuseum.org/peace-love-rock-roll-elliott-landys-vision-of-woodstock
Photographer Elliott Landy has his finger on the pulse of the Woodstock generation. In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Woodstock, Peace, Love, Rock & Roll captures and preserves Landy’s vision of that influential event. Through a handpicked selection of images, you’ll experience what it was like to be part of the ’60s, sharing the spirit of hope, optimism, and belief in a world made better through peace, love and music. From Joe Cocker in his tie-dyed pullover shirt, to the fans descending the metal sound towers, to the sea of humanity stretching from stage to horizon, Landy captured it all in images as vibrant today as they were a half century ago. Special admission price on Thursdays after 5 pm.
A New Moon Rises: Views from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera
Through August 11
Huntsville Museum of Art
300 Church Street
(256) 535-4350
Admission charged
www.hsvmuseum.org
As the 50th anniversary of man’s first step on the moon nears, get ready to see the moon like never before. A New Moon Rises features amazing, large-scale, high-resolution photographs of the lunar surface taken over the last decade. Captured by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC), the images are stunning: from historic Apollo landing sites to towering mountains rising out of the darkness of the lunar poles. Special admission price on Thursdays after 5 pm.
Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Celebration Moon Landing Reenactments
Through December 31
U.S. Space & Rocket Center
One Tranquility Base
Admission charged
Experience a live reenactment of the lunar landing daily at 2 p.m in the Davidson Center.
Apollo: When We Went to the Moon
Through December 31
Recurring daily
From: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
U.S. Space & Rocket Center
One Tranquility Base
Admission charged
www.rocketcenter.com
To celebrate the Apollo 11 50th Anniversary, this exhibit will highlight what was “the Great Space Race”.
Burritt Backpack Explorers
Through September 1
Recurring weekly on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
Tue-Sat 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sun 12-5 p.m.
Burritt on the Mountain
3101 Burritt Drive
Admission charged
www.burrittonthemountain.com
Just in time to celebrate Alabama’s Bicentennial, Burritt on the Mountain debuts its new and original discovery program for children and adults. Children ages 4-12 can choose one of 5 adventure backpacks filled with scavenger hunt clues for exploring nature trails, the historic park and barnyard plus Dr. Burritt’s marvelous mansion. A special keepsake is also included. Adults without children will enjoy Time Travel Trivia through 200 years of Alabama history.
Making Alabama
Recurring daily
Huntsville Botanical Garden
4747 Bob Wallace Avenue
No admission charged
www.hsvbg.org
This free exhibit is a celebration of 200 years of statehood presented by the Alabama Humanities Foundation in partnership with the Alabama Department of Archives and History and the Alabama Bicentennial Commission. The exhibit showcases the decisions and turning points that shaped Alabama history, culture, and geography through artistic interactive displays and teaching resources.
Rockets on Parade
Through December 31
Recurring daily
www.rocketcenter.com
Have you spotted any of the miniature Space Launch System replicas displayed around town? In July 2019, the Rocket City will commemorate the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11’s historic journey to the moon and look to the future of space exploration with a celebration of America’s Next Great Ship, NASA’s Space Launch System. Rockets on Parade is a way to note our city’s ongoing contributions to the American space program with designs specific to the Rocket City, the monumental achievements of the Apollo program, the future of space travel or through unique artistic expression. See how many you can find while exploring.
Space Craze: A Space-Age Journey through Pop Culture
Recurring daily
U.S. Space & Rocket Center
One Tranquility Base
Admission charged
Space Craze explores the public fascination with all things space through the lens of popular culture as seen in everyday household items, toys and games, and popular entertainment. This nostalgic exhibit features touchstones across generations of artifacts from G.I. Joe to Snoopy to commemorative memorabilia. The exhibit is part of the yearlong celebration of the 50th Anniversary Apollo 11 mission to the moon.
www.rocketcenter.com
The Purdy Butterfly House
Through September 30
Recurring daily
Huntsville Botanical Garden
4747 Bob Wallace Avenue
Admission charged
www.hsvbg.org
This beautiful, soaring 9000 square foot natural stone and steel beam structure overlooking the entrance pond is home to thousands of native butterflies, tadpoles, frogs, button quail, turtles and other critters.
Vietnam: The Real War Photographs from the Associated Press
Through October 6
Huntsville Museum of Art
300 Church Street
(256) 535-4350
Admission charged
www.hsvmuseum.org
To cover the Vietnam War, The Associated Press gathered an extraordinary group of superb photojournalists in its Saigon bureau, creating one of the greatest photographic legacies of the 20th century. From Malcolm Browne’s photograph of the burning monk and Nick Ut’s picture of a 9-year-old running from a napalm attack to Eddie Adams’ photograph of the execution of a Viet Cong prisoner, Vietnam: The Real War contains images that both recorded and changed history. Special admission price on Thursdays after 5 pm.
We the People: Alabama’s Defining Documents
Through August 11
Huntsville Museum of Art
300 Church Street
Admission charged
www.hsvmuseum.org
In the summer of 1819, forty-four delegates met in Huntsville to draft Alabama’s first constitution, the defining document that provided the framework for the state’s government. Two-hundred years later, the Constitution of 1819 is returning to the city as part of a special exhibition curated by the Alabama Department of Archives and History.
For two centuries, Alabamians have been engaged in a civics conversation. Whose voice matters? What do we value? What is the role of state government? Who can vote? The people of Alabama have debated these issues through political conventions, referendums, and in the courts. And at crucial moments in history, these fundamental questions have been answered in the state’s principal governing documents: its constitutions. This exhibition will explore how these documents, some of the most important in state history, reflect their framers’ values, hopes, and fears.
