July 4 Activities Planned
What would the Fourth of July be without a fireworks show? Fortunately, we won’t know the answer to that question as the town is sponsoring a colorful and patriotic pyrotechnic display that will light up the night sky starting at 9 p.m. on July 4 again this year! As usual, the show will take place at the public beach next to DI School, and you are encouraged to get here early to find just the right vantage point to view the spectacle. You will also want to join the Dauphin Island Veterans Association for its annual July 4 ceremony at Water Tower Plaza at 11 a.m. that day. Always a solemn and patriotic event. Have a safe and happy Fourth of July!
Alabama Deep Sea
Fishing Rodeo
More than 3000 anglers are expected to take to area waters during the 86th Annual Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo on July 19-21! Once again, the Mobile Jaycees have put together a super line up of Musical Entertainment at the Rodeo site for all to enjoy as follows: Friday, July 19; 4 p.m. Blues in Trouble 730pm The Molly Ringwalds Saturday, July 20; 330pm Prime Country 5 p.m. The Red Clay Strays Sunday, July 21; 11 a.m. Bruce Smelley 3 p.m. Keith Burns and the Back Pew Riders. FREE admission! A number of island businesses will also offer music during the rodeo this year (TBA). You also won’t want to miss the always popular Liar’s Contest that will take place around 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 18 or the Roy Martin Young Anglers Tournament on Saturday, July 13. Always fun and fishy time for the entire family!
2019 Sunday Sunset
Concert Series
Back by popular demand, the town-sponsored Sunday Sunset Concerts have begun, and the schedule of upcoming events is as follows ; July 28 The Excelsior Band (6–8 p.m.), August 11 Ja’ Rhythm (6–8 p.m.), September 1 Eric Erdman, Ryan Balthrop & Friends (530-730pm) and October 13 Roman Street (430-630pm). Note: The last concert will be held inside historic Fort Gaines while all other concerts take place at West End Beach. Admission is $5 per person (children 12 & under receive free admission), and all proceeds go to support operations at the recently renovated Little Red Schoolhouse. Attendees are encouraged to bring beach/lawn chairs, blankets and bug spray (just in case) but please…NO pets, glass or grills.
2019 FREE Family
Movie Nights
Sponsored by Greer’s Markets, the town is pleased to announce the 2019 FREE Family Movie Night schedule as follows; 7/5 JAWS!, 7/6 JAWS!, 7/11 Dolphin Tale, 7/12 Finding Dory, 7/18 Zootopia, 7/19 A Dog’s Purpose, 7/25 Furry Vengeance, 7/26 Rio, 8/1 Home, 8/2 Angry Birds, 8/8 Up, 8/9 Dolphin Tale 2, 8/16 Coco, 8/23 The Good Dinosaur, 8/30 Storks. Attendees are encouraged to bring beach/lawn chairs, blankets and bug spray (just in case) but please…NO pets, glass or grills. Our sincere THANKS to Greer’s Markets for sponsoring Movie Nights again this year!
Shuttle Service Up & Running!
The Crabby Cabbie and Island Hopper will be making tracks throughout the island this summer as shuttle service is back! Current schedule offers Friday, Saturday & Sunday service from 9 a.m.–3 p.m. and folks can hop on just about anywhere along the route which primarily follows Bienville Boulevard, Lemoyne Drive, the Isle Dauphine complex and more. Fares range from 50 cents (seniors and hdcp) to $1 (age 13 & up). Children 12 & under ride free but must be accompanied by an adult. So, next time you’re out and about or don’t feel like driving…catch a ride on the shuttle!
News From Dauphin Island Heritage and Arts Council
DIHAC will host a pottery class at the Dauphin Island Gallery (the Lighthouse Building) on Tuesday, July 9, beginning at 9:30 a.m. Steve Myers will lead the class in an introduction to hand building pottery and glazing. Follow up sessions will be scheduled to finish creating the pottery pieces. The cost is $35 per person, including materials, and advance paid reservations are required. To reserve a space in the class, visit Dauphin Island Gallery, open Thursday – Saturday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., and Sunday 12:30 – 4:30 p.m. To make a reservation by phone with a credit card, call the Gallery during business hours at 251/861-3300. Island artist Janie Delchamps Zetsch will lead a hammered metal jewelry class at the Gallery during August! The date and more details regarding the class will be announced soon. A few spaces are still available in the Kindergarten and Grade 1 group for the fourth annual Youth Art Camp to be held at Dauphin Island Gallery July 29, 30 and 31. The Grade 2 – 5 group is completely booked. The Art Camp is open to children in kindergarten through Grade 5 (as of upcoming school year) and is free of charge. Class times for Grades 2 – 5 are 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. Class times for kindergarten and Grade 1 are 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. To reserve a space for your child in the Kindergarten and Grade 1 group, register in person at Dauphin Island Gallery during business hours. Last Friday Art Night, an Island tradition, will be held on June 28, 6–8 p.m. at Dauphin Island Gallery. Join friends and neighbors at LFAN and enjoy local art and heritage, music, food, and socializing. LFAN for June will include a special reception for Guest Artist Duane Wood, an art demo by Island resident Janie Delchamps Zetsch, and music by singer/songwriter Mike Turner. Donations are requested and appreciated! Mark your calendar for the third annual Gulf Seafood Gala to be held Saturday, October 26, featuring Dauphin Island chefs and restaurants! More details regarding this classic event will be announced soon.
ART DOES IT
Please join us in celebrating our artist-run Gallery on monthly “Second Sundays with the Arts” featuring July’s Artist Juli Day, on Sunday, July 14, 3–5 p.m. Art Does It’s Second Annual Youth Art Camp is July 22 – 25, 3–5 p.m.! To register, please call Regina at 251-214-6485 or email regina@artdoesit.com. Space is limited, so please reserve early. All classes are free of charge. Monday, July 22 – Marsha Grant (Painter) – “Gone Fishing at ADI” — We’ll create colorful three-dimensional paper fish wall hangings. Ages 8-10. Tuesday, July 23 – Jenn DeBose (Potter) – “Hand-building for kids: Dauphin Island Leaves and Pinch Pots,” Ages 5+ (with guardian supervision). We’ll collect leaves and make leaf bowls using clay, which will be fired, glazed and ‘glassed’ after the class. Older kids have the option of making pinch bowls. They will all need to be picked up at a later date. *Feel free to bring your leaves and sea-glass or glass bottles to use! Wednesday, July 24 – Valerie Turner (Painter) – “Paint your Garden”: Dauphin Island Interactive Painting Ages 5+ (Parents Welcome!). We’ll collect plants and other objects from outdoors, using non-toxic paint to cover the objects and use them as stencils. The goal is to create your garden by imprinting what you find, and hand embellishing on top to add a little extra kick of personalization! Thursday, July 25 – Regina Doi-Kollegger (Painter/Sculptor/Science Educator)- “Art-Sci at ADI: the young naturalist.” Ages 11+. We will observe and illustrate “nature in nature” and under the microscope. Sketchbook, watercolors, and colored pencils provided. Starting August 21, join ADI ceramic artist Jenn DeBose in her “Handbuilding with Clay” First and Third Wednesday Evenings. Classes 6–9 p.m. at the Art Does It Gallery. Cost is $25.00/class but does not include clay ~$1.00/lb or firing. Space is limited; please contact Jenn at jenndebose@gmail.com to register and ask questions. Interested in “brushing-up” your skills in painting? Join ADI painter Margie Delcambre for weekly Monday painting classes 10 a.m.–1 p.m. Please bring your supplies. $10.00/session. Calling all military veterans interested in exhibiting their artwork in the Special month-long exhibit in November. The Coastal Alabama Veterans Art show opening reception will be Sunday, November 10, 2019, 3–5 p.m. and will feature the unveiling of the Jeremiah Denton Memorial Statue by Regina Doi-Kollegger. All mediums encouraged. There is no cost to exhibit. Please email or call ADI for more information. The ADI gallery, located at 1101 Bienville Blvd. next to the DI Town Hall, is open Thursday and Friday 12–6 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. and is home to many local and seasonal artists. For more information regarding exhibition opportunities and arts instruction, please contact Regina Kollegger 251-214-6485, regina@artdoesit.com or visit our Facebook page @artdoesit.ADI is a 501 (c)(3) charitable non-profit.
DI Sea Lab News & Info
The Estuarium at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab will be open on the Fourth of July. It’s a great place for a side adventure any day of the week. Boardwalk Talks for July include Alabama Marine Mammal Stranding Coordinator Mackenzie Russell on July 3 and former DISL Jeff Coogan on July 17. Don’t miss out on a chance to join us for a summer excursion or day camp. Salt Marsh excursions leave from the Estuarium on July 11, July 16, July 25 and August 1 The final Beach, Dune and Maritime Forest excursion will be on July 2. Day camps for ages 5-13 are scattered throughout July Visit disl.org/dhp/summer for dates and options. A Hazardous Materials Awareness course, open to island residents, is scheduled for Thursday, August 8. Space is limited to 100 seats and is first-come-first-serve. To reserve a spot contact Chris Shaw in Human Resources at cshaw@disl.org.
Ya Mon…Reggae Weekend Coming to the Island
Dauphin Island and Alabama Coasting welcome local and regional Reggae artists to our 4th annual Reggae weekend. It kicks off at (Reggae Headquarters) Pirates Bar and Grill at 5 p.m. Friday, August 9 and finishes at the West End Beach on Sunday, August 11 with a Sunset Concert featuring Ja’ Rhythm at 6 p.m. Expect food and drink specials along with great music, good vibes and laid back times at many island locations. See our facebook site for details “Dauphin Island Reggae Weekend 2019”.
