Youth Soccer Tournaments to Fill Hotel Rooms Two Weekends in May

Hundreds of youth soccer players from across the state of Alabama will make their way to Decatur the first two weekends in May for the Alabama Soccer Association (ASA) Division I and Division II State Cup tournaments. The Division I State Cup Preliminaries (U13-U14) and Division II State Cup (U11-U13) will take place May 2-4, 2014 with the Division I State Cup Final Four (U13-U14) and Division II State Cup Final Four (U13 only) following May 9-11. All tournaments will take place at the Jack Allen Recreation Complex and the Spirit of America Fields at Point Mallard Park.

Decatur has played host to the ASA’s youth soccer tournaments since 2007, except in 2011 when the city of Decatur withdrew from hosting because of the devastation and hotel demand from the April tornado outbreak. Previous tournaments have produced an economic impact of over $220K for the city of Decatur, bringing in athletes and their families who stayed in local hotels, made purchases in gas stations and convenience stores, and dined in restaurants over the course of two weekends.

The Division I tournament is a top level qualifying event with winners advancing to regional tournaments where an invitation to the US Youth Soccer National Championships – the crown jewel of competitive youth soccer - is on the line. The Division II tournament decides which teams are Division II state champions and will represent Alabama in the USYSA Region III President’s Cup, which will also take place in Decatur June 12-15, 2014.  

ASA is the governing body for all soccer clubs in Alabama who qualify to participate in these events. For more information on the State Cup tournaments, visit the ASA’s website at www.alsoccer.org.

The Jack Allen Recreation Complex contains 10 international size lighted fields with laser-graded certified sports turf and a computerized irrigation system. With the additional fields located in Point Mallard Park, Decatur has quickly become known nationally as a top rated soccer tournament location. For more information on the Jack Allen Recreation Complex, visit www.decatursports.com or www.decaturmorgansports.com.  

43rd Annual Racking Horse Spring Celebration Set for April 23-26

The second largest Racking Horse Show in the United States returns to Decatur April 23-26, 2014 at the Morgan County Celebration Arena. Featuring different classes and divisions of Racking Horses, the Spring Celebration is expected to attract entries from over 25 states competing for honors, as well as over $30,000 in prize money.

The competition begins each night at 6 p.m. with the Grand Champion to be announced on Saturday evening, April 26. On Friday, children are invited to participate in the “Stick Horse” class. This event allows children to bring their own stick horse for friendly competition in the arena. Every participant receives a ribbon. On Saturday, there will be a horse sale beginning at 10 a.m. in the Sale Barn.   

General admission Wednesday through Friday is $6 per person, Saturday is $10 per person, and free for children 6 years old and under. The Morgan County Celebration Arena located at 67 Horse Center Road (off Highway 67 East) in Decatur.

For additional information on the racking horse breed and a current show schedule, contact the RHBAA at 256.353.7225 or visit its website at www.rackinghorse.com.

Strut Your Mutt at Downtown Decatur’s 3rd Friday Set for April 18

Downtown Decatur’s 3^rd Friday will hit the streets April 18^th and this month’s celebration invites four-legged companions to come strut their stuff in a parade through the downtown area. Along with the dog parade, this month’s 3^rd Friday also offers a visit with the award-winning Belle Chevre goat cheese creamery, live music, a classic car cruise-in, the Songwriter Series at the Princess Theatre, and other family-friendly activities.

3^rd Friday gets underway at 5 p.m. and festivalgoers are invited to spend the evening looking at a wide variety of antique cars along Bank Street and 2^nd Avenue while enjoying some of the area’s best musicians. Slated to perform on the Main Stage, located at the corner of Bank Street and Church Street, is 5 o’clock Charlie. Throughout the evening, The Morgan County Dulcimer Association, Austin High school Jazz Band, Scott Boyer, the Ben Parker Project, Laura Lynn Hardy, and the U.S. Army Materiel Command Rock Band will also entertain festivalgoers as they make their way down Bank Street and 2^nd Avenue.

The highlight of the evening is set to take place at 6:30 when the dog parade, sponsored by Downtown Dawgs, makes it way down Second Avenue to Bank Street and ending at Founder’s Park. Participants must register beginning at 6 p.m. in front of The Antique Basket on Second Avenue. All participants will receive a free goody bag.

The Cupboard on Bank Street will host a visit with Tasia Malakasis from the award-winning Belle Chevre who will be providing a free artisan goat cheese tasting from 5 to 8 p.m. Along with the yummy goat cheese samples, Queen Bee Jam will offer free jam tastings.

Live music can also be found at the Princess Theatre located on 2^nd Avenue. Presented by Budweiser, the Jim Parker’s Songwriter Series will be held at the Princess Theatre and will feature Lisa Carver (www.reverbnation.com/lisacarver) and Aaron Barker (www.texasheritagesongwriters.com/inductee/aaron-barker/). Tickets are $10 each.

There will be plenty of entertainment for children throughout the evening including a Kids Zone on Second Avenue by Bank Independent. The Carnegie Visual Arts Center will offer activities and art on Bank Street. From 5 to 7 p.m., children and adults are invited to take a step back in time with a free tour of the Old State Bank.

The downtown area boasts an eclectic mix of restaurants and a variety of locally owned boutiques line the streets offering plenty of dining and shopping opportunities for festivalgoers. Casa Grande Park on 2^nd Avenue will be filled with craft vendors selling handmade items and artists and artesian goods vendors will be set up along Bank Street selling their works of art.

Additional activities taking place in the downtown area include the Beautiful Edge – A Paul Mitchell Focus Salon’s Cut-A-Thon in Jones Park with proceeds benefiting the Decatur Animal Services and Relay for Life and the Hospice of the Valley Celebrating Life 5K and Remembrance Mile Walk at the Hospice of the Valley Memory Garden located at 240 Johnston Street SE. The 5K gets underway at 7 p.m. with the Remembrance Mile following at 8 p.m.

MCATS will provide transportation between Bank Street and Second Avenue for $1 per person, per ride. Pickup locations are at the Alabama Center for the Arts parking lot on Second Avenue and beside Tammy Eddy Antiques and Interiors on Bank Street.

Participating streets in 3^rd Fridays include 2^nd Avenue, Bank, Market, Moulton, Grant, and Johnston streets. Hours are 5 to 9 p.m. Admission is free.

The Downtown Merchants Association wishes to thank the City of Decatur Parks and Recreation Department for the tremendous support they provide to the event as an in-kind sponsor. Presenting sponsor is Budweiser. Platinum Sponsor is Decatur Downtown Redevelopment Authority. Gold Sponsors include Bank Independent, BP, Decatur/Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce, Progress Bank, and Morgan County Commission. Silver Sponsors are Nucor Steel and 3M. Bronze Sponsors are Renasant Bank, Stovall-Marks Insurance, Beautiful Edge-A Paul Mitchell Focus Salon, and King Insurance Agency.

For more information, call Ashley Ashwander at 256.355.8993 or visit 3^rd Friday’s Facebook page for the latest information.

James Gregory- America's Clean Comedian will be at the Princess Theatre on April 17th-7pm

Box Office: (256) 340-1778

For over two decades, the unforgettable caricature of veteran comedian James Gregory has stood grinning: his shirt un-tucked, his arms outstretched, a carefree welcome to a down-home, hilarious comedy experience. It’s storytelling at its best. The trademark caricature is the essence of James Gregory’s comedy: rib-tickling reflections on life from the front porch.

Gregory is constantly touring. He’s on the road about three days a week, forty six weeks a year. He continues to entertain sold-out crowds in theaters and comedy clubs and remains in demand for corporate events. James has been the featured entertainer for over 200 corporations, including the Coca Cola Company, Kimberly Clark Corporation, Hewlett Packard and Kroger. James has also been the featured speaker for events sponsored by various civic and church groups.

James is heard weekly on syndicated radio shows such as Rick and Bubba, John Boy and Billy and Bob and Tom. Combined, these shows are broadcast to people in over 220 cities nationwide. As a result, he now has a grass-roots following that numbers in the millions.

Gregory was born in a rural area about twenty five miles east of Atlanta, GA. He got his first job at the age of twelve at a small country grocery store. By the time he was fifteen, he was working thirty-seven hours a week, as well as going to school. As an adult, James has worked for the U.S. Postal Service, the Department of Defense, and spent almost ten years as a salesman before discovering the wonderful world of stand-up comedy.

James does not “tip-toe” through life as if he’s walking on broken glass or egg shells. That style is evident on stage as well. He is not politically correct. Much of his humor is centered on brilliant observations of crazy relatives and people obsessed with the slightest change in weather conditions – now referred to as global warming. He delights in poking fun at modern sensitive parents and out-of-control environmentalists. Gregory has been quoted as saying, “If you want me to be concerned about endangered species, you need to convince me that we’re about out of chickens.”

The James Gregory show turns the clock back to a time when life was simpler; to a better time, before the death of common sense; a time when people sat on the front porch and actually talked to each other without a cell phone in their ear.

Gregory’s success, like his comedy, is the direct result of the values he grew up with. And now, twenty something years later, it is this unique brand of humor that packs the crowds into his sold-out shows. The absence of vulgarity sets James apart and his stories are carefully crafted art. “I have lived long enough to know people, know life”, Gregory reflects. “My comedy is based on my life experiences. It’s real, it’s funny and the audience loves it. That’s why I’m still in business.”

Princess Theatre Announces Opening Date May 6 for The Market at Casa Grande Park in Downtown Decatur Every Tuesday 4:30pm-7:30pm

Decatur’s historic Princess Theatre announces a new name for the open-air market in downtown Decatur – THE MARKET AT CASA GRANDE PARK.  In its 2^nd year, The Market begins on Tuesday, May 6, 2014 at 4:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. and will continue to provide high-quality produce, foods, and handcrafted artisan goods as well as entertainment. The market is located at 218 2^nd Avenue SE and will benefit the Princess Theatre, a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization. The 2014 market season will be every Tuesday from 4:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. beginning May 6 at Casa Grande Park on 2nd Avenue in Downtown Decatur. The season runs through October 14, 2014.

            Karen Thomas, Princess Board member, and Cookie Stoner, market manager, will co-chair The Market at Casa Grande Park along with a committee of dedicated individuals who combine a love of the Princess Theatre, the arts and the local food movement. The market features a diverse offering of vendors, events, food and entertainment.

            The Market’s mission is to create a balanced market of local farmers and artisans providing them with a venue to sell their goods; to bring the community together and provide them the opportunity to purchase a unique selection of fresh goods and artisan products; to provide funds to benefit the Princess Theatre to ensure the Theatre will continue to be a cultural  arts anchor for Decatur; to be an educational forum for consumers to provide information about non-profit organizations and organizations which produce other agricultural commodities.

            Vendor applications are being still being accepted and reviewed by the committee. For more information or if you are interested in being a volunteer please contact Karen Thomas (akthoma1@gmail.com/ 404-580-5027) or Cookie Stoner (cookielogic1@gmail.com /256-654-5570).           www.princesstheatre.org     facebook.com/petalsfortheprincessmarket

SHREK THE MUSICAL!

It's time for SHREK THE MUSICAL! Bank Street Players Players is pleased to present this big, bright, beautiful show. Shrek the Musical, directed Carol Puckett, comes to life Thursday, Friday & Saturday nights at 7pm, with a 2pm matinee on Saturday. The cast and crew and orchestra of over 100 of your friends and neighbors want to see you at Decatur High Auditorium. All tickets are general admission, $15 ($12 for ages 12 and under). 

A portion of the proceeds from this production will benefit the fledgling Drama Department at Decatur High School. Please make plans for your whole family to attend this show magical performance!

More information can be found at www.bankstreetplayers.org.