Christmas Pageant, Parades & More
Thanksgiving is still a few weeks away, but preparations are well underway to celebrate the Christmas season, Island style! The 31st Annual Miss Dauphin Island Pageant will be held at the St. Edmund Center on Friday, December 6, at 7 pm. Girls age 2-18 that reside on the island and/or attend DI School are encouraged to participate in one of five categories including Tiny Miss (age 2-4), Little Miss (age 5-8), Sweet Miss (age 9-11), Junior Miss (age 12-14) and Miss DI (age 15-18). Applications are now available and must be submitted NO LATER than November 29. On Saturday, December 7, the town Christmas Parade will roll down Bienville Blvd. from Cadillac Square to the DI School starting at 11 am, and you’re invited to join in on the fun. For more information on these events, please contact Maggie Godwin at 861-5525 X223. The annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, will get going around 5 pm on December 7 at Water Tower Plaza and will include pictures with Santa, caroling, snowball fights, hot chocolate, cookies and more. Small Christmas trees will be available to business owners, individuals, and others to participate in decorating with their own theme. More info to come. Contact Sjon Hopkins at 861-5000 or Tricia Kerr at 861-6001 for details or serve as a volunteer. A Christmas Boat Parade, sponsored by the DIPOA, is also set for December 14 at 5:00 pm. For more information or to register for this event, please call Dennis Knizley at 251-432-3799 or 251-751-8100.
News From Dauphin Island Heritage & Arts Council
We are excited to offer an “Introduction to Knife Painting in Oil or Acrylic Workshop” with artist and educator Michele Traum. It will be on Saturday, November 2, 10 am-5 pm, at the Isle Dauphine Club, 100 Orleans Drive. In this one-day workshop, you will enjoy instructor demonstration, knife painting techniques and tips, and individual instruction while you create your own painting. The cost is $125 per person (not including supplies – a supply list will be provided). Advance paid reservations are required. To register and arrange for payment, please send an email to classes.dauphinislandarts@gmail.com.
What’s Happening at the
Sea Lab
The Dauphin Island Sea Lab Foundation is excited to announce Dr. Edie Widder will be the keynote speaker for the Marine Environmental Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, November 6. Dr. Widder is a bioluminescent expert and deep ocean explorer who was an original discoverer of the giant squid in the deep ocean and, most recently, in the Gulf of Mexico. Also, don’t miss out on the Boardwalk Talks at The Estuarium during the fall. Every first and third Wednesday at the Estuarium, you can learn from one of our students or researchers about their ongoing research. Keep posted on all events at DISL.org/events.
Upcoming Events at
Fort Gaines
Historic Fort Gaines will be a hub of activity throughout the remainder of the 2019 calendar year as it hosts a variety of popular events as follows; 36th Annual Renaissance Festival GATALOP 36 (October 25-26 9 am-5 pm) – Hosted by the Society of Creative Anachronism, the Barony of Osprey will present Life in the Middle Ages. You’ll see Knights in Armor as they storm the castle while viewing melees and sieges. Visit with Lords, Ladies, Artists, and Medieval Merchants. Get up close and personal with our resident blacksmith as he demonstrates his craft in the fort’s original Blacksmith Shop. The Fall Campaign: WWII Living History Event (November 16, 9 am-5 pm) – Come and experience a day in the Life of a WWII soldier. There will be authentic camping demonstrations, blacksmithing, small arms firing, and drills throughout the day. 35th Annual Christmas Through the Ages (December 14, 9 am-5 pm) – Experience a Christmas of “days gone by” at this living history event on the sacred grounds of Fort Gaines. Join soldiers and their families from the 1700s-1900s as they celebrate a non-traditional and non-commercial holiday. Visiting children can make seashell Christmas tree ornaments and other decorations. For more info on these and other events, please call 861-6992. Fort Gaines is open daily from 9 am-5 pm and admission is $8 (Age 13 & up).
Magic Christmas in Lights Preview
Enjoy an elegant evening in the Gardens and get the first look at the 2019 Magic Christmas in Lights on November 24 from 6-9 pm…five days prior to the public opening! The Magic Christmas In Lights Preview is a fundraiser for the Bellingrath Gardens and Home Foundation, a non-profit 501(3) organization founded to assist with Gardens enhancements, special events educational programs, and capital projects. To purchase tickets, visit Bellingrath.org or call (251)459-8868.
Island-wide Yard Sale
St. Edmund Church is sponsoring an Island-wide Yard Sale on Saturday, November 16, from 8 am-2 pm and you’re invited to take part. The group will distribute Yard Sale Maps at the St. Edmund Center (821 Cadillac Ave.) throughout the day and your sale can be included on the map (applications are available at the Welcome Center) for a mere $5! The deadline for inclusion on the map is November 7. You can also reserve a spot in front of the Center to sell your treasures if you like. For additional information, please contact Connie 861-8088 or Susan 327-7043.
4th Annual BB Gun
Turkey Shoot
“Lead” will be flying again this year as the Guy T. Smith #883 F&AM Masonic Lodge hosts the 4th Annual BB Gun Turkey Shoot on Saturday, November 2 (First Shot 10 am)! This fun event will be held at 1607 Bienville Blvd. (next to Waves DI) And proceeds will support DI Elementary School student activities. Organizers will also provide Child ID info for those in attendance. For more info, contact Todd Guice 455-8373.
Historic Little Red Schoolhouse Recognized Again
Friday, December 13, could be your lucky night when we gather to unveil yet another plaque recognizing the historic Little Red Schoolhouse. Join us for a Silent Auction, tasty eats & drinks, music, and fellowship taking place from 5-7 pm. Built-in 1931, the Little Red Schoolhouse has served the Dauphin Island community for nearly nine decades as an educational facility. The building currently houses a museum, welcome Center, lending library (now exceeding 6000 books!), computer center, and gift shop.
“Gears & Beers” Biking to Island
On November 9, 100s of cyclists will take to area roadways from downtown Mobile for the 5th Annual Gears and Beers, which is fast becoming a premier cycling event in Alabama. With over 800 riders in 2018, the 5th year is poised to be a big success with an expected 1000 riders from all over the southeast and as far as Utah, Missouri, and Washington DC. Gears and Beers offers a ride for every cycling ability, from an 8-mile fun ride to our Bayou 100 – which stretches from downtown Mobile to Dauphin Island. This year, our farthest distance rest stop will be located at Green Park. This stop will serve as a place to rest and refuel for our elite 100-mile riders, as they turn back towards Mobile on their final leg. Dauphin Island PD will support our riders as they cross the bridge and enter the park. Riders will be present from approximately 11 am – 3 pm. More information about the ride and routes can be found at www.gearsandbeersridemobile.com. Gears and Beers is the major fundraiser for the Delta Bike Project, a volunteer-run, community-supported non-profit dedicated to promoting and improving access to bicycle transportation in Mobile County. The Delta Bike Project has been a downtown Mobile staple for over six years, and our programs support every demographic – from veterans in recovery treatment programs to sheltered women in transition to college students in need of transportation to the homeless. Our repair education program serves 40-50 people per week, including families repairing bicycles together, church youth groups, and citizens that use cycling as their only means of transportation to work. For more info, please contact Jennifer Greene at 251-219-0091.
DIVA Veterans Day Ceremony, Benefit Auction & More
The DI Veterans Association will host its annual Veterans Day Ceremony at Water Tower Plaza on Monday, November 11, at 11 am, and everyone is invited to attend. During the ceremony, the names of two recently deceased veterans will be added to the Memorial Walls; BRUCE W. THOMPSON (USCG) JANUARY 27, 1939—OCTOBER 5, 2019 and CHARLES L. PITT (USMC) NOVEMBER 3, 1946—OCTOBER 9, 2019. On Saturday, November 9, the group will hold its annual Benefit Auction at Pelican Pub, starting at 7 pm. Island resident Pruitt Woodall will once again serve as an auctioneer, and you are encouraged to join in on the fun and support this popular DIVA fundraiser! Donated treasures (items) for the auction can be dropped off at The Pub on either Nov. 8 or 9. Some time ago, DIVA replaced all of the plaques containing names of deceased veterans on the Memorial Walls, and the group is making them available to family members at no charge. Family members can stop by the Pelican Pub any afternoon prior to January 10, 2020, to view, collect, and sign for plaques of their loved ones.
St. Frances Episcopal Church Fall Bazaar and Silent Auction
This popular annual event at St. Francis Episcopal Church is set for Saturday, November 16, from 9 am-2 pm and is a must-see! Activities include a Silent Auction, a White Elephant Sale, and a plethora of tasty foods and treats all in one convenient location. Want to participate in the White Elephant Sale? For $20, you get a 12’x12’ space on the great lawn for your table/chairs and items to sell. It’s a great time to stock up for the holidays! Proceeds from the Bazaar support multiple local and area charities. For additional details, please contact Cissy 318-548-4376 or Kathleen 318-393-4354.
ArtDoesIt News & Info
Please join us and celebrate our artist-run gallery during our “Second Sundays with the Arts” featuring November’s Veterans Group Art show and the unveiling of the Jeremiah Denton Memorial Statue maquette, Sunday, November 10, 3-5 pm. Monthly first Monday Youth Art Afternoon is November 4, 3:30-5:30 pm for children grades six and up and their parents. Supplies provided. This month’s lead artist is Ms. Regina. Are you interested in “brushing-up” your skills in painting? Join ADI painter Margie Delcambre for weekly Monday painting classes 10 am-1 pm. Please bring your own supplies. $10.00/session. The ADI gallery, located at 1101 Bienville Blvd. next to the DI Town Hall, is open Thursday and Friday 12-6 pm, Saturday, 10 am-4 pm, 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
Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser
Announced Pancakes will be served up at DI United Methodist Church during a Breakfast Fundraiser on Saturday, November 16 at 7 am, and you (and your friends) are invited to attend. Proceeds will be used to send middle school students to the 2020 camp/mission trip. Come hungry!
Monofilament Recovery & Recycling
Program Coming To Island Members of the USA Marine Science Student Association met recently with the town council and pitched a plan to install PVC tubing at Billy Goat Hole (and other similar locales) to gather monofilament fishing line that might otherwise end up in area shorelines and waterways. Marine mammals, sea turtles, fish, and birds can become injured from entanglements, often dying as a result. Many animals also mistakenly ingest fishing line. Once the collection tubes are put in place, boaters and fishermen will have a convenient and eco-friendly means of disposing of such products that can then be readily recycled into other usable items. We look forward to partnering on this worthwhile project with students from USA! For more info, contact Amy Sprinkle at sprinkle@southalabama.edu.
