TUSCUMBIA — Country star Neal McCoy, who had huge hits in the ’90s, will headline Tuscumbia’s 45th annual Helen Keller Festival this week.
The festival kicks off Thursday with a parade downtown at 6 p.m., culminating with a party on Main Street.
Helen Keller, who lost her sight and hearing as a toddler, was born in Tuscumbia on June 27, 1880. Her accomplishments and advocacy for the deaf and blind led to numerous accolades and awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
The Keller Festival at Spring Park is the biggest event of the year for Tuscumbia and features family friendly entertainment, food, and “The Miracle Worker,” a play about Keller’s early life and her time with teacher Anne Sullivan. Performances are at Ivy Green, Keller’s birthplace, Friday and Saturday. Visit The Miracle Worker at Ivy Green for ticket information. Tours of Ivy Green are also available throughout the festival.
Of course, no Shoals-area festival is complete without music.
Thursday night’s street party features Malcolm Singleton, Southern Breeze, and Drive. Friday’s entertainment kicks off with Yes Trespassing at 6:30 p.m., followed by Moon Tree, then headliner Mix Tape, an ’80s tribute band.
Tremayne gets things going on Saturday at 5:30 p.m., followed by Outlaw Apostles and Tristen Gressett.
McCoy will then take the stage as the festival’s main headliner. In 1993, McCoy had back-to-back No. 1s with “No Doubt About It” and “Wink” from his platinum album “No Doubt About It.”
Vocal Union brings the festival to a close Sunday at 7 p.m. with its “old-time” gospel music and message.
Bring your lawn chairs, blankets, fans, and your willingness to have a good time. Visit https://helenkellerfestival.com/site/ for more information.
The festival also features an art marketplace Friday, Saturday and Sunday with artists and vendors from across the Southeast at Spring Park. Additionally, a car and truck show and a superhero run take place Saturday.
Admission to the musical festivities is $5 on Friday and Saturday; the music is free Thursday and Sunday. Parking is available downtown, and a free trolley to Spring Park stops every 15 minutes at the locations below, starting at 4 p.m. Friday, and 11 a.m. Saturday. The bus is also handicap-accessible.
- Water Street, at the courthouse
- Indian Street across from Helen Keller Birthplace
- Calvary Baptist Church on Commons
- Deshler High School on Commons
- Broad Street
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