Special Feature

Alabama’s premier, all-woodworking art festival will celebrate “Shavings, Smoke, and Sound” during its 5th year in Montevallo’s Orr Park on September 9, 2023. This All Star Shelby County Tourism and Recreation Award winning event will be held from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and admission is free.

Enjoy a uniquely Montevallo event with live chainsaw wood carving, woodworking artist vendors, Tim Tingle’s Whittling Contest, and a wooden boat race. Festival-goers will find everything from knives, wooden bowls, vases, jewelry, and toys, to handcrafted furniture, bird houses, ornaments, and more!

There will also be a classic car show—the 21^st Annual Cars by the Creek—a variety of children’s activities, and food vendors on site. New this year, a showcase of International Harvester antique tractors called “Tractors in the Trees” will be added.

Live music runs all day during the festival with a wide variety of styles. Musical acts include the Montevallo High School Jazz Band, Swanglish, The M-80s, The Chuck King Band, and Chase Stewart! The chainsaw carving exhibition will include a panel of well-known artists: Heather Bailey of Alabaster, Alabama; Justin Bailey of Alabaster, Alabama; Corey Lancaster of Princeton, North Carolina; Dave Marshalek of Shelbyville, Tennessee; and Dayton Scoggins of Heidelberg, Mississippi. Artwork created during the festival will be available for purchase. The fifteen freshly-completed sculptures will be available for a “Buy it now” price, and any remaining pieces will be auctioned off at 3 p.m. by Emcee “Dollar” Bill Lawson. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to local non-profits Boys & Girls Club, Montevallo Athletic Club, and Shelby Emergency Assistance.

The 21^st Annual Cars by the Creek car show welcomes all years, makes, and models of cars. Children’s activities will include a “make and take” art project, the “Balloon Guy,” Dr. Bob’s Traveling Snake Show, Alabama Wildlife Center, Music with Mr. Mac, inflatables courtesy of JAC’s Rentals, a petting zoo, games courtesy of the Boys & Girls Club, and more.

Tinglewood Festival is inspired by a special section of Orr Park, where local artist Tim Tingle has carved faces and creatures into the dead parts of living cedar trees since a fateful ice storm in 1993. The festival is organized by the Montevallo Chamber of Commerce, Montevallo Main Street, and the Montevallo Arts Collaborative as a signature event for the City of Montevallo. For more information, visit tinglewoodfestival.com, or visit the “Tinglewood Festival” Facebook Page. †

Special Feature

Birmingham-based Bible video game publisher, Foundation for Intelligent Media & Design (IMD Interactive), has developed and published a free Bible based video game for youth ministries to increase Scripture engagement. The Anointed: David Saves Keilah, is a third person action-adventure RPG following the early life of David from shepherd to king. The Anointed is the franchise dedicated to telling stories of the Bible’s mightiest heroes through gameplay, cinematography, and scripture.

According to the State of the Bible, published by Barna Group and the American Bible Society, Americans are less engaged in the Bible and only 5% of adults read their Bible 4-6 times a week in 2021. In contrast, the gaming industry continues to expand its footprint. IMD Interactive President Drayton Cosby believes that daily Bible reading is at an all-time low in America and that is contributing to the increased amounts of fear, anxiety, depression, and anger. “We want the Church and its members to know that IMD Interactive is fighting for them,” Cosby said, adding, “Showing future generations that God is searching for them is a big reason why we were led to merge the Bible and video games. To redeem the gaming space for His kingdom.”

The Anointed: David Saves Keilah delivers the narrative of 1 Samuel Chapter 22-23 in an interactive game play environment. The player is David, loyal servant, and military leader for king. Saul, who discovers the king’s jealousy has now turned to rage and is in hiding from the king and his army. The player can run, climb, scale walls, swing from ropes and ride a horse through their journey to save Keilah. The game play requires stealth, combat, and strategy to fulfill God’s plan and save the people from the Philistines, while being hunted by Saul.

IMD Interactive recently filled a new position for Director of Ministry. Reverend David Ely brings over 10 years of experience in development, fundraising and ordained ministry to help support IMD Interactive’s mission of delivering the Bible to generations of video gamers. “As a husband and father of four, I look forward to serving our churches and parents in particular in providing the opportunity to engage in God’s grand Story in such a unique and personal way,” Ely said.

The Anointed: David Saves Keilah is an early access release of the upcoming franchise blockbuster The Anointed: Heart of David, which is available for free on Steam. Steam is a video game digital distribution service and storefront. The service is the largest digital distribution platform for PC gaming. The David Saves Keilah Steam store page showcases an in-game trailer, photos, and mapping, among other features. To subscribe, donate or keep up with the latest information about IMD Interactive, visit imdinteractive.org.

Are We There Yet?

The American Village in Montevallo has a new summer program for 2023 that has a special focus on spies and family fun! Visitors will be able to take part in a linear story that will be offered twice each day, beginning at 11 a.m., and then again at 1 p.m. The American Village will also offer a whole host of other vignettes that can be seen before, during, and after this linear portion, which allows families to have a full day of entertainment.

Hidden Heroes- A Revolutionary Spy Adventure. Visitors will be drawn into the world of George Washington’s Culper Spy Ring and learn about all of the interesting ways that secret information is being sent. They will be entrusted with a secret message to deliver to the local Apothecary. The message is revealed, but unfortunately guests are captured by redcoats and detained! In the end, however, they are saved (come and see just how this happens); and once safely in the encampment, the secret information is handed over to a Continental Army soldier so that a warning can be given. Now that the visitors have risked their lives behind the scenes, are they willing to step upon the battlefield and join the army? 

In addition to Washington’s Spy Adventure, guests of the American Village can also experience other summer vignettes including:

• Patterns of Industry (18th Century Clothing)
• Puppet Show
• 18th Century Justice
• Games on the Green
• Meet a Famous Patriot (Martha Washington, John Adams, Abigail Adams, Mercy Otis Warren, Phillis Wheatley, Samuel Adams, or Thomas Paine)
• Apothecary
• Keeping the Home Fires Burning
• Tavern Table Games

Summer admission is $11 adults, $10 youth, $9 seniors and free to children 4 and under, veterans and active military. Hours of operation are Tuesdays-Saturdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (except July 4-5). Learn more at www.americanvillage.org. †

Special Feature

Save the date for the 22nd Annual Gardendale Magnolia Festival on April 21-22, 2023 at the Gardendale Civic Center. Each year the community enjoys a wide variety of entertainment including free fun activities hosted by area churches.

Art Extravaganza. Every year Decatur Highway Church of Christ teaches free art classes in the Civic Center and provides all the materials. Church secretary Karen Hogeland coordinates the art classes. “We look at this as a way to give back to our community,” Hogeland explains, adding, “It’s a great way to reach out and meet people.” This year, children can participate in four sessions on Saturday including watercolor pens, string art, and sand art. Children of all ages are welcome to stay for one session or all four!

Kid Zone. Gardendale First Baptist Church creates a free Kid Zone each year full of inflatables and fun games. “It’s a great opportunity for us to serve the city and community,” explains New Member and Outreach Pastor, Phil Cronin. Children are invited to come to the Kid Zone and enjoy a variety of inflatables, putt putt games, sand art, and more. Cronin believes being a part of the Magnolia Festival gives the church a way to engage the community and “let them know that church is more about loving others and helping the community.” Each child that visits the Kid Zone will receive a Gospel of John booklet.

The Magnolia Festival will also host 160+ vendors, a car show, pooch parade, petting zoo, artisan demonstrations, pony rides, live music and more! Be sure to come hungry because there will be a wide variety of food vendors with items like cheesecake funnel cakes, shrimp and oyster po’boys, tamales, polish sausages, roasted corn and sweet potatoes, bbq ribs, kettle corn, gelato, and more! For more details about the Magnolia Festival, visit www.magnoliafestival.org.

-Melissa Armstrong

Special Feature

It can be difficult to find movies the whole family can enjoy together. The just released film, Jesus Revolution is a great option that is in theaters now and has ties back to the Magic City.

Birmingham native Jon Erwin, one of the producers and directors of  Jesus Revolution, is no stranger to producing faith-based films. He and his brother, Andrew, directed October Baby, I Can Only Imagine, Moms’ Night Out, Woodlawn, and more. “We like to tell stories that can inspire the whole family and change people’s lives. We love the power of true stories,” Erwin says. When he was just 16 years old, his dad Hank Erwin gifted his sons a camera. “We started making all kinds of videos in Birmingham and it’s where we began to hone in on our craft,” he remembers. Today, the brothers are know as The Erwin Brothers.

Jon Erwin has fond memories of growing up in Birmingham. While he and his family currently live in Nashville, Tenn., they often visit the area. In fact, he first discovered the June 1972 Jesus Revolution issue of  Time magazine while he was in Birmingham directing the film Woodlawn. “I was so blown away by an entire high school being saved from violence and racial tension to a spiritual awakening,” Erwin says, adding, “I almost didn’t believe it was true.” He began studying the time this happened and bought a copy of the issue on eBay. “It was this sweeping spiritual awakening that started in Cali. and eventually swept the entire nation,” Erwin explains. The more he studied, the more he realized that we are in a very similar time today. He remembers thinking, “I want to make a movie about this so I can feel this movement a little bit and experience what revival must feel like.” It took seven years to bring the compelling story to the big screen.

Jonathan Roumie, who plays Jesus in the hit show The Chosen, plays evangelist Lonnie Frisbee in Jesus Revolution. Erwin says that Roumie “does such an amazing job. He is an incredible actor, but an even better person,” adding, “he brings an intensity and love of the role that is just incredible.” Erwin hopes viewers are entertained throughout the movie and laugh and cry. “I hope people come out of the theater saying, ‘If that happened once, it can happen again.’” To learn more about Jesus Revolution, visit www.jesusrevolution.movie.

-Melissa Armstrong

Are We There Yet?

In a day of family fun, patriotic music and birthday cake, the American Village in Montevallo will celebrate the 291st birthday of the Father of our Country, George Washington, on Monday, February 20.

Washington’s birthday holds special meaning for the American Village. The land on Highway 119 in Montevallo where the American Village campus is now located was purchased on Washington’s birthday, and their first school program began on Washington’s birthday. 

Originally established in 1885 in recognition of President George Washington’s birthday of February 22, the holiday became popularly known as Presidents’ Day after it was moved as part of 1971’s Uniform Monday Holiday Act, an attempt to create more three-day weekends for the nation’s workers. Presidents’ Day is now popularly viewed as a day to celebrate all U.S. presidents, past and present.

Visitors to the American Village on President’s Day will enjoy family-friendly activities with their staff of costumed historical interpreters from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and can share birthday cake with George Washington at noon. This year’s celebration includes a very special patriotic music concert at 2 p.m., featuring the 18-member Cahaba Chamber Chorale and 89 students in the Ramsay High School Choral Department. The combined choirs will present Randall Thompson’s Testament of Freedom, based on the writings of Thomas Jefferson. Other selections will include Shenandoah, Zion’s Walls, and Lift Every Voice and Sing. The concert, entitled Made in the USA, is designed to highlight the ideals of what it means to be an American, engaging the spirit of our Founders and their aspirations for our Nation – Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. The classical, jazz, and spiritual choral selections are all by American composers – from Colonial times to the present day. Admission to the American Village on President’s Day will be $11 for adults and youth, $9 for seniors, and free to veterans, active military and children ages 4 and under. Learn more at www.americanvillage.org. †

Special Feature

Experience the Christmas story come to life at local live nativities in and around Birmingham!

The Baptist Church at McAdory presents for the 7th year their Live Nativity Story on December 16-18 from 6 p.m.- 8 p.m. in the wooded area directly behind the church located in McCalla.

A combination of tractor and open wagons provide a “hay-ride” and narrative exploring the life of Jesus. The event makes use of live costumed characters, outdoor sets and lighting to tell the story of Jesus. All are welcome to come and experience the Gospel story reenacted by church members and other volunteers. Learn more at www.bcam.info.

Each Advent season Briarwood Presbyterian Church hosts a Walk Through Nativity. Hundreds of Briarwood members come together to depict the birth and life of our Lord in 14 biblical scenes with narrated drama using live actors and animals (including a camel!) Won’t you plan on joining us this year? Come anytime between 6:45 p.m.- 8:45 p.m. on December 7-9 and take an easy, 1/4-mile stroll that is wheelchair and stroller friendly. Admission is free, but the message is priceless! The church is located at 2200 Briarwood Way, Birmingham, 35243. Learn more at www.briarwood.org/nativity. 

Brookview Wesleyan Church in Irondale invites you to visit their Live Nativity on December 10 from 6 to 8 p.m. Rain date is December 11 from 6 to 8 p.m., www.brookviewchurch.org. Mountain Brook Baptist Church will also host a Living Nativity for three evenings- December 20-22 from 7:30 to 8 p.m., www.mbbc.org. †