Guided Walking Tours of Decatur’s Historic District Offered Each Saturday in April

Decatur, Ala. (March 19, 2015) – The Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau announces the return of free, guided walking tours each Saturday in the month of April. Residents and visitors are invited to take part in a casual stroll through historic Decatur and learn about the city’s history and heritage.

Scheduled for April 4, 11, 18, and 25, the one-hour walking tour begins at 10 a.m. at the Old State Bank. Knowledgeable guides will escort participants through historic neighborhoods and landmarks where they will share the history of the city and entertaining accounts of the city’s storied past. The tour features a different route, theme, and tour guide each Saturday.

April 4 – Scottsboro Boys tour led by Peggy Towns. Tour includes a visit to the exhibit at the Morgan County Archives.

April 11 – Old State Bank and Historic Depot tour led by David Breland

April 18 - Old Decatur Historic Neighborhood tour led by Squee Bailey

April 25 – Civil War tour led by Jonathan Baggs

Reservations are not required and tours are held rain or shine.

Decatur’s guided walking tours are part of the April Walking Tours coordinated by the Alabama Tourism Department. Decatur is one of 26 towns across the state participating in the annual event.  

For more information, call the Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau at 256.350.2028 or 800.524.6181.

Tickets for Alabama Versus MTSU Softball Game To Go On Sale March 30

Tickets for the April 8, 2015, softball game featuring the University of Alabama versus Middle Tennessee State University will go on sale Monday, March 30, 2015, at 9 a.m. at Fort Decatur Recreation Center located at 610 4^th Avenue SE in Decatur. Ticket sale hours are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and guests may purchase the tickets on site or call a special hotline number of 256.341.4588 that will be active only during sale hours.

Tickets are $10 general admission and are available on a “first come, first served” basis with tickets remaining on sale until all are sold. Each person entering the game will require a ticket and a maximum of 10 tickets may be purchased by an individual. If tickets are picked up at the “will call” table on game day, the individual must show credit card/picture id. Due to limited seating and to maximize space to allow as many spectators to attend the game as possible, baby strollers, coolers, chairs, and outside food and drink will not be allowed. Wilson Morgan Park will serve as the game site and gates will open for ticket holders at 5 p.m. with the first pitch scheduled for 6:30. 

April 8^th will be observed as “Danielle Richard Day” in Morgan County, as the game will be played in honor of Priceville native Danielle Richard, a senior on the University of Alabama softball team. The 2015 squad returns 13 players from the last year’s team that made it to the Women’s College World Series championship.  Five of the 13 returnees are seniors, including Priceville’s Danielle Richard. The Crimson Tide is coached by Patrick Murphy, who led the team to a National Championship in 2012. During a 30-minute post-game period, an autograph session with players from both teams will be offered. The game is hosted by the City of Decatur Parks and Recreation Department and the Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau. 

Decatur’s Easter Eggstravaganza Set for March 28 at Ingalls Pavilion

In and around Ingalls Pavilion, thousands of Easter eggs will be hidden for children to discover when Decatur Parks and Recreation and Epic Church team together to host the third annual Easter Eggstravaganza. Children ages 10 and under are invited to hunt for Easter eggs and enjoy other family-friendly activities on Saturday, March 28, 2015, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Visitors are in for an egg-citing time beginning at 11 a.m. There will be activity booths, contests, and visits with the Easter Bunny. The highlight of this year’s event is an Easter Egg Hunt with 50,000 eggs, which begins promptly at 11:30 a.m. Children will be divided into four age groups and there will be a designated time for those with special needs. Ages 2-4 will hunt for eggs at 11:30 a.m., ages 5-7 at 12 p.m., ages 8-10 at 12:30 p.m., and special needs at 1 p.m.

For kids in Pre-K through 5^th grade, there is a free coloring contest with every participant receiving a prize. Visit the Decatur Parks & Recreation’s Facebook page and go to Events to download the coloring sheet and bring your masterpiece to Ingalls Pavilion between 11 a.m. and noon on the day of the event.

The free event will also offer a variety of activities including inflatables, face painting, sack races, spoon and egg races, egg toss games, making crafts, and a special appearance by the Easter Bunny who will be available for pictures. The Pepsi wagon will be there with drinks and popcorn and food will be available for purchase from Little Caesars Pizza and Downtown Dawgs.

Parents are encouraged to bring a basket or bag for their children to collect eggs and other goodies. Admission is free. For more information, call Decatur Parks and Recreation at 256.341.4930.  

Lacrosse Exhibition Set for Saturday, March 15 at JARC

On Saturday, March 14, 2015, the Decatur-Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau (DMCCVB) and Decatur Parks and Recreation will host a lacrosse exhibition bringing teams from Alabama and Tennessee to the Jack Allen Recreation Complex. Matches begin at 10 a.m. and are open to the public.

Sixteen teams from Huntsville, Trussville, Chattanooga, and Crossville, Tenn. are expected. Girls will play on field 2 and field 3 with boys on field 4 and field 5.

Time	Teams	Field
10 a.m.	Huntsville U13 B vs John Carroll U13	Field 4
10 a.m.	Huntsville U13 A vs Signal Mountain U13 A	Field 5
10:30 a.m.	Huntsville Girls HS vs Trussville	Field 2
11:30 a.m.	Huntsville U13 B vs Signal Mountain U13 B	Field 5
12 p.m.	Jets Girls HS vs Trussville	Field 2
12 p.m.	Grissom Varsity vs Trussville	Field 4
12:30 p.m.	Huntsville Girls HS vs Signal Mountain	Field 3
1 p.m.	Huntsville U13 A vs John Carroll U13	Field 5
2 p.m.	Girls Middle School vs Signal Mountain	Field 2
2 p.m.	Jets Girls HS vs Signal Mountain	Field 3
2 p.m.	Grissom JV vs Trussville	Field 4
2:30 p.m.	Huntsville U15 A vs Signal Mountain U15 A	Field 5
4 p.m.	Huntsville U15B vs Signal Mountain U15 B	Field 5

Note: Schedule subject to change.

The exhibition games are open to the public and admission and parking are free. All games will be played at the Jack Allen Recreation Complex located at 2616 Modaus Road SW in Decatur. For more information on the facility, visit www.decatursports.com or www.decaturmorgansports.com.

For the past nine years, the Jack Allen Recreation Complex has hosted numerous soccer tournaments attracting thousands of amateur and professional players and earning a reputation as a world-class facility both nationally and internationally. In 2013, the complex welcomed its first lacrosse tournament where as many as 35 teams from across the southeastern United States traveled to Decatur for the River City Rivalry. “The lacrosse exhibition is designed to increase awareness by lacrosse tournament organizers and enthusiasts of the Jack Allen Recreation Complex as a venue for lacrosse events and should lay the foundation for additional new lacrosse tournaments in Decatur,” said DMCCVB President and CEO Melinda Dunn.

For more information on the March 14^th exhibition, contact DMCCVB Special Events and Sports Marketing Director Leonard Morris at 800.524.6181.