TUSCUMBIA, Ala. (WHNT) — News 19 is on the road again, and this time we’re taking you to see some things behind the scenes at the iconic Helen Keller Festival in Tuscumbia.
This annual event will be held in downtown Tuscumbia and Spring Park from June 26-29. News 19 will be doing a live newscast at the festival to showcase all the excitement.
Tickets to the festival can be bought in advance online on the Helen Keller Festival website. If you purchased your tickets in advance, you will need to enter the park through the main gate.
Below are the prices for tickets:
- Free admission on Thursday
- $5 admission on Friday, beginning at 3:00 p.m.
- $5 admission on Saturday, beginning at noon.
- Free admission on Sunday
All children 10 and under get in for free.
The Marketplace will take place at the park throughout the weekend, allowing vendors from all over the Southeast to sell their products to festivalgoers.
Below you’ll find a preview of everything planned for the festival weekend, including music acts.
Thursday, June 26
The Downtown Street Party will kick off the event in downtown Tuscumbia. It begins at 4 p.m. and will run to 10 p.m. During the party, the downtown parade will begin at 6 p.m. and will start on Commons Street, go down Main Street, turn on 5th Street and back up Water Street.
Multiple music acts will also be performing at the festival.
- Kendall Kilpatrick and Madlin McGee — 4:30 p.m.
- Bound South — 7 p.m.
- Sipsey Falls — 8:30 p.m.
Friday, June 27
The Marketplace will be held at Spring Park from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Music in the Park will be held at Spring Park from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Music acts include:
- Eli Hannon — 5 p.m.
- Ghost River Revival — 6 p.m.
- ViCTORiA — 7 p.m.
- Empire Strikes Brass — 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 28
The Marketplace will be held at Spring Park from noon to 10 p.m. Music in the Park will be held at Spring Park from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Music acts include:
- Will Paustian — 4 p.m.
- Greentown — 5 p.m.
- Bluewater Revival — 6 p.m.
- Ledbetter — 7 p.m.
- Drew Baldridge — 8:30 p.m.
Sunday, June 29
The Marketplace will be held at Spring Park from noon to 9 p.m. Worship in the Park will be held at Spring Park and is brought to you by ‘The FIX.’
Music acts include:
- Joel Vaughn — 7 p.m.
- Love & the Outcome — 8 p.m.
Festival organizers have also planned several activities to be held at Spring Park. Those activities include:
- Petting zoo with Three Chicks Farm
- Paint splatter tent with Pinspiration*
- Axe throwing with Kick it in the Sticks*
- Paint in the park with The Artsy Place*
- Dance lesson with Sav’s Dance
- 360 photo booth with Downtown Tuscumbia
- Community Art Project with Emily Cooper Art Studio
- Karaoke with DJ KG
Activities marked with a star may cost extra.
If you’re looking for kid-friendly activities, festival organizers have you covered there too!
There will be a free Keller Kids party held at the park’s pavilion near the splash pad on Saturday, June 28. Organizers said the splash pad will be open, along with face painting and balloon animals being available.
- Slime time
- Noon to 1 p.m.
- Exploring texture
- 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
- Fun with Shoals Enrichment
- 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
In addition to all the festivities, Helen Keller Festival Inc. announced a new scholarship program with the help of sponsors.
Future Leaders Scholarship
This scholarship is designed to support Alabama students who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind or visually impaired as they continue their studies in higher education.
Festival organizers will work with the Alabama Institute for Deaf Blind to award this scholarship to a graduating high school student.
It will be presented at the festival on Saturday, June 28.
Kids & the Arts Scholarship
Festival organizers also partnered with the Tennessee Valley Art Museum to award three scholarships for its Summer Camp sessions. The museum will be offering acting and art camps for kids ages five to 17 and will start on June 16 and run to July 25.
Certificates will be presented to all scholarship recipients at the Keller’s Canvas event on Tuesday, June 24.
For more information on other events taking place in and around Tuscumbia, the weekend of the festival, visit the festival site here.
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