Let’s Go! Fairhope

Your Source for Event-Related Information for the 36532

June 17 - 23, 2024

Juneteenth Federal Holiday - Wednesday, June 19

Summer Solstice - Thursday, June 20

United Nations Public Service Day - Sunday, June 23

Photos by Let's Go Fairhope. To submit a photo for consideration for the newsletter, please send your image along with location information, name and contact details to letsgofairhope@gmail.com

Special thanks to local friends, businesses and individuals

helping to make it happen including:

If you’d like to see your name, name of a friend or family member, or your business listed here, please click here for rates and contact information.

Check out Fairhope’s new home for events, event-related news, articles,

resources and more at LetsGoFairhope.com

Sunday, June 16, 2024

Greetings from C. Darby Ulery, founder of the "Let's Go! Fairhope" weekly list of local events for the 36532. In this week's newsletter we:

• Explore an anonymous Hater's viewpoint to learn more about Let's Go Fairhope

• Interview the founder and organizer of the 5th Annual Juneteenth Celebration in Fairhope to get the backstory and future plans

• Rock out with Molly Thomas and The Rare Birds

• Review the Baldwin Pops' upcoming fundraiser event and John Allen Memorial Scholarship

• Take a video tour of the new Let's Go Fairhope website

• Preview the week ahead, below...

Thank you to our all of our readers! We currently have a 60% newsletter open rate (when apparently 20% is considered good!)

I hope you will share this newsletter with family and friends, and as-always consider replying with feedback, suggestions for future articles, event news, and sponsorship ideas in order to help the Let's Go Fairhope project continue to bring events-related information to the 36532.

Don't forget that in addition to listing your events that rental venues, caterers, event-related designers, musicians for hire, estheticians, and more can secure space in the newsletter, and on the Resources page of the Let's Go Fairhope website. For more information, send an email to LetsGoFairhope.com or call 929-GOGO (4646).

Let's Go! Enjoy!

-Darby : )

-Let's Go! Fairhope News-

Upcoming:

June 21 @ 6:30 PM

-Molly Thomas & The Rare Birds-

with Greta Fritz

@ Johnny Mac's

Photo Source: Molly Thomas and the Rare Birds

Back in early August of 2023, fans of Fairhope's beloved Molly Thomas were shocked and dismayed to learn the musician-artist-bartender-friend-to-everyone-she-meets was life-flighted and fighting to survive after being involved in a serious car accident. Those who learned the news via the Go-Fund-Me announcement were simultaneously distraught yet also glad to see the community coming together in support.

After fearing she might never again play the violin, despite lingering health issues from the almost-fatal crash, Molly Thomas and The Rare Birds have planned a show sure to delight the community. It will take place at the newly dubbed Johnny Mac's (formerly Fairhope Hemp) at 505 Fairhope Avenue on Friday, June 21 at 6:30 PM, $10 Cover.

Excerpt from the event's Facebook page:

"Molly Thomas & The Rare Birds have seamlessly woven 12 songs into a powerful album. Thomas effortlessly transforms the depth, range, and complexity of her existence into enlightening learning experiences that are touching and inspirational to her listeners. The Rare Birds consist of Rick Hirsch (guitarist), John Keuler (bass) & John Milham (drums)."

"... Thomas has recorded and toured internationally, including late night performances on David Letterman and Jay Leno’s Tonight Show with folk icon Todd Snider. Her violin, string arrangements and vocals have been featured on recordings and live performances with Guster, Matthew Ryan and Will Hoge amongst others, and her reputation as a songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and collaborator speaks for itself. Throughout her career, Thomas has released three critically acclaimed records as a solo artist and her music has appeared in films."

Upcoming:

June 22 @ Fairhope Pier

3 - 8 PM

Free Admission

Positive, Family-Friendly, All Welcome

Nothing career-wise or in her past prepared Easter Mitchell Washington to start a new major annual event in Fairhope, Alabama, “except for God and my Aunt Wanda!” 

On Saturday, June 22, 2024 from 3 - 8 pm at South Beach Park at the Fairhope Pier, the Fifth Annual Juneteenth Celebration will take place with food trucks, vendors, a bouncy house and water slide for the kids, entertainment, a job booth, and more. A graduate of Fairhope High School Class of ’99, along with her husband, Jermaine Washington, Class of ’97, Easter (like the holiday) said the couple personally funded the event the first two years as a way of paying it forward to the community. 

“It is really the community coming together on a positive note to remember history, who you are, and harnessing good,” said Mrs. Washington in an interview with Let’s Go Fairhope on Saturday, June 15, 2024. 

Flashback to five years ago, Easter reflected: “As the world was coming out of Covid, we were seeing the George Floyd civil unrest and major rioting in big cities on TV. How life was being portrayed in the news was scary. Coming out of Covid, we were scared, what you were seeing on the news, now more scared. We did’t want to riot or picket, we wanted to do something positive for the community. We didn’t want everyone to have the feelings we were seeing in other communities. It was about harnessing energy for good, a bridge to come together rather than what you were seeing elsewhere.”

Mrs. Washington credits her Aunt Wanda Scott for being the inspiration for the event which is drawing participants from at least three states. “It was Aunt Wanda Scott having her own Juneteenth celebration in her backyard every year, a family affair,” that seeded the idea. Receiving a positive response after posing the question of a community Juneteenth event in the Facebook Group “Black Owned in Baldwin,” Easter said, “The first event came together by the grace of God, in just ten days.”

“A community member known as ‘Snake Doctor’ opened up his property to us the first year. We had it on his farm with goats and horses, and there was a great turnout,” said Easter. “That first year was out of love. We charged $25 per vendor, but we still came out of pocket to cover everything. God’s gift to me is service, and it was something I could do for the neighborhood.” 

When asked about the diversity of participants and attendees, Mrs. Washington said, “Love has no boundaries, love has no color, no age, no race. We have white vendors, a blues group, Trinity Presbyterian church will be there, there are white and black pastors involved. This is not any type of rally, we are all coming together.” 

Photos courtesy of Easter Washington

Reflecting over past years, Easter Washington continued, “For three years now the Mayor has come out, and City Councilman Corey Martin is heavily involved. This will be our second event at South Beach Park in Fairhope. The two years prior were held at the Rotary Youth Club. Vendors are coming from Mobile, Mississippi, Pensacola, and these are vendors that have returned from prior years.”

The founder and organizer stressed that "Everyone is welcome to participate, and volunteers are needed. We have some lovely ladies that can use help unloading their vehicles, and more. If you want to help, I’ll find something you can help with!”

According to Mrs. Washington, “This will be a No-Alcohol event. All park rules will be strictly followed. This is first and foremost a family-friendly affair. Shout-outs to all the sponsors who choose to remain unnamed but do a lot in the background. Thank you to those people, and to Aunt Wanda Scott who was really the visionary first.” 

“This is Independence Day for the Black Community. Someday we hope to have fireworks like the 4th of July. This is essentially Fourth of July for the Black Community,” said Easter.

Contact Easter Mitchell Washington via Facebook.

Let's Go Fairhope Haters

As always, feel free to unsubscribe ; )

While the article above discusses action intended to channel energy and feelings towards positivity rather than anger and hate, we realize some folks might always have angry reactions to things they disagree with, perceive differently, or don't fully understand.

The events list, website, and this newsletter includes the disclaimer that "Let’s Go! Fairhope is a local project celebrating local events. It does not endorse or represent any entity or event listed unless specifically stated. Please contact each venue and/or host to confirm event information and availability."

We aim to organize event-related information into a tidy, factual, neutral, service-minded list without judgement. Just facts. But we recognize that despite simply being a forum that notifies the community about events happening across areas of the 36532, some might misunderstand that Let's Go Fairhope is not -endorsing- -all- of the events that are posted. There are community members that might find us difficult to understand because it might be different from what they have encountered before.

Fact Check: While Let's Go Fairhope lists and sometimes shares activities that are already announced to the public via open websites, social media, newspapers, email, word-of-mouth, etc. as a community awareness service, we aren't actually endorsing anything.

For example, the Fairhope Yacht Club's website, which can be viewed by anyone in the world with internet access, mentions summer sailing activities. We noted some of this in this week's list because it's something interesting happening in our aquatic-based community. Obviously, the yacht club is a membership-based organization and non-members curious about the event would need to contact the FYC to find out either what is involved regarding joining, or if any participation is even allowed.

Same with the City of Fairhope James P. Nix Senior Center. Some events are open to the public, some aren't. Listing and sharing events is not synonymous with suggesting anyone crash a private event or do anything against their own personal constitution.

We are NEVER suggesting that young people attend a 21+ event even although many youth allowed on social media might be able to READ. While some may want events censored, others understand that these events are simply happening in the community. The let-us-think-for-ourselves folks comprise our growing readership and fans.

We are not sharing religious events with the intent that anyone should change their affiliation because an event is happening at another house of worship. We are not suggesting anyone take up Pickleball if they prefer knitting. By sharing live music events scheduled after dark, no publicity is being made to suggest anyone personally drive into the night to attend if rock music is against their beliefs, if they might have difficulty avoiding alcohol in a certain type of environment, or if they have a medical condition that causes night-blindness. Let's Go Fairhope is about common sense, not avoiding what might be considered social triggers for some citizens and not others.

To sum up, we serve as a resource for the community to be aware of - for better or worse moot - providing facts about diverse activities going on in a sea of social media and information-overload.

Sponsors receive additional opportunities for getting-out the word about their events. While we may be editing the event information provided to us to fit the space in our publication, our endeavors should be avoided by anyone who does not note a difference between editing and endorsing. "Let's Go," safely and responsibly.

Take a video tour of the new Let's Go Fairhope Website:

One the morning this past week, an error notice appeared in the back-end of our website that affected the visibility of SOME of the events in the new electronic calendar. We quickly restored the document and took the opportunity to record a short video tour of the site for social media just in case anyone clicked and didn't find what they were looking for. It was a technical problem that had nothing to do Let's Go Fairhope, and the issue was reported. In the spirit of making lemonade from lemons in terms of the tech glitch, now folks can click on the image below which will take you to Facebook to view the video.

If you prefer not to be re-directed to Facebook, simply scroll down to find the remainder of the newsletter below.

Upcoming:

Mobile Big Band Society Event to Benefit the Baldwin Pops

June 22 @ Fairhope Civic Center

7- 9 PM

&

John Allen Scholarship Information

The Baldwin Pop's is an organization of volunteer musicians committed to enhancing the cultural environment of all of the Eastern Shore and Baldwin County by providing free concerts to the public. Since the Pops can't actually charge money for any of their concerts, how then to fund-raise for this organization??

The graphic below announces The Baldwin Pops' creative new fundraising partnership with the Mobile Big Band Society scheduled for June 22. Information about purchasing tickets can be found here.

Did you know the Baldwin Pops also offers student scholarships each year?

Not sure if the Pops meant to schedule their fundraiser event on the anniversary of the birthday of their scholarship namesake or not, but read on below the graphic to learn about the Pops' John Allen Memorial Scholarship Program:

The John W. Allen Scholarship Program

Information obtained from the Baldwin Pops Website,

circa July 2019:

"The community lost a true inspiration on April 24, 2003, and those of us that had the privilege to know John W. Allen want to share with others what became our deep respect and admiration for a man that epitomizes what we know as the Baldwin Pops Band spirit.

John Allen Wright [sic] was born on June 22, 1922 in Cleveland, Ohio. He and his wife Agnes were married on May 22, 1971 and in true Power Squadron fashion arrived in Fairhope by boat in 1983. There is a good chance that if you have a boating license for Baldwin County, John may have been your instructor.

At the young age of 74, John expressed interest in learning to play the tuba and was motivated to investigate how he might learn such a skill. He found out traditionally most tuba players started learning their instrument in middle school band. So John called the Fairhope Middle School Band Director, Betty Godwin, and asked if there was an opening in the sixth grade beginner band!

Betty welcomed him, and after 5 years Chris Rowe also welcomed him, and John not only became a student of the Tuba, he became and inspiration to his fellow students. They were able to see, first hand, the enjoyment of pursuing your interests and dreams through application of initiation, dedication and commitment. John’s presence was proof positive that the brotherhood of musicianship can provide a great source of joy for the rest of their lives.

Being a good student, John practiced religiously with both middle school bands and at home. As a matter of fact, John’s neighbors in the “fruit and nut” section of Fairhope say his booming bass line “became a constant sound on their street” and they will no doubt continue to listen for it riding in on the sea breeze.

Pops Band members quickly discovered John was a popular member of the middle school band by the cheerful crowd of kids that always sought him out before a performance at the joint Pops and Middle School Honors Band Concert. As a musician, John always wanted to learn more, and still participated in his 8th Grade band daily.

John also formed a brass ensemble that performed at the Pops Band Solo and Ensemble Recitals. On several occasions Joe Riemer used John as a role model for illustrating determination, dedication and inspiration for those expressing interest in joining the Pops Band but were nervous they hadn’t played for so long. Joe would always smile and point over to the low brass section and say ” Hey, John started playing Tuba at age 74, and he has never played before…you should be able to play again too!”

He will be missed greatly by many, but we hope to keep his name alive in Baldwin Pops Band through a memorial scholarship. Through an audition process, and outstanding high school seniors will be chosen for demonstrating the spirit and outstanding qualities exemplified by John W. Allen. In recent years the scholarship has expanded to provide funding for Summer Music Camps as well as college scholarships."

Let's Go Fairhope Note, 2024: In conversations with Baldwin Pops members, it is said that John Allen passed away in his seat during a rehearsal, doing what he loved. Click here to visit the Baldwin Pops website. Scroll down to see the scholarship mentioned along with a link to the application for 2024.

Let’s Go! Fairhope Preview:

Brought to you by:

*** The Baldwin Pops ***

Clickable links available for future sponsors

   Monday, June 17, 2024 

8 am - 12 pm: Summer Tennis Camp Begins for Ages 8-18 @ 600 Morphy Ave 

8 am: Local Info / 9:05 - 10 am: Gulf Coast Swap Shop @ WABF 1480 AM Radio

8:30 am - 12:30 pm: Band Camp @ Baldwin County Youth Orchestra

10 am: Knit & Crochet for a Purpose @ Fairhope United Methodist

12 pm: Root Beer Floats for Dads (til gone) @ Eastern Shore Eye Care 118 Lottie Ln.

1:30 - 3 pm: TED Talks Discussion Group @ Fairhope Public Library - Computer Lab

2 pm: Eastern Shore Uke Club @ Fairhope Unitarian Fellowship

3 pm: Grief Group @ Fairhope United Methodist

4 pm: Library Board of Trustees Meeting @ Fairhope Public Library

5 pm: Board of Adjustments Meeting @ City of Fairhope Council Chambers

5:15 pm: Marvelous Mondays Supper & Service w/ Dr. David Hankins @ First Fairhope

5:30 - 7:30 PM Bingo @ Provision

5:30 pm: Bingo & Buffet - Adult $20, Kids $10 Reserve Pls. @ Rock Creek Golf Club

6 pm: David Butler Live Music @ Gambino's Italian Grill

6 pm: Square Dancing @ Fairhope Christian Church

7:57 pm: Sunset @ Fairhope Pier

 Tuesday, June 18, 2024 

6:30 am: Men's Bible Study @ Trinity Presbyterian

7 am: Seniors Day @ Piggly Wiggly Fairhope

7:15 am: The Nix Golfers meet on Tuesdays @ Quail Creek Golf Course

8 am: Pickleball @ Fairhope United Methodist

8 am, 9:05 - 10 am: Local Info / Gulf Coast Swap Shop @ WABF 1480 AM Radio

11 am: Stepping Stone Craft Event @ Fantasy Island Toys

1 pm: Consanguinity: Hunt for Red October presented by Megrez Rudolf @ FH Library

6 pm: Hammerfest Ride - Rear Light Required @ Procycle

6:30 pm: Running Wild Hills & Speed Run @ Meet at Pier Ave & Satsuma St Intersection

7 pm: Bingo @ Bone & Barrel

7:57 pm: Sunset @ Fairhope Pier

8 pm: Trivia Night @ Tongue and Groove

8 pm: Trivia Night @ The Ravenite Pizzeria

 Wednesday, June 19, 2024 

5:30 am: F3 Eastern Shore - Men's Peer to Peer Workout Morning @ Fairhope Pier

8 am - 5 pm: City of Fairhope Closed - Juneteenth Federal Holiday

8 am, 9:05 - 10 am: Local News / Gulf Coast Swap Shop @ WABF 1480 AM Radio

9 am: Chamber 101 Meeting for Members @ Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce

10 am: Story Time with Author Samuel Drew @ Page and Palette

12 pm: E. Shore Chamber Networking at Noon @ Nini Squares 

12:30 pm: Fairhope Rotary Meeting w/ Guest Speaker @ FH United Methodist Church

3 pm: Back Porch Folk Singers @ Fairhope Unitarian Fellowship

4:30 - 7:30 pm: Ecor Rouge Summer Dinghy Series @ Fairhope Yacht Club

5:30 - 8:30 pm: God’s Superheroes - Vacation Bible School @ Twin Beech AME Zion

6 pm: Guided Meditation & Sound Bath @ Lotus Bluum

6:30 pm: Music / General Trivia @ District Hall

6:30 pm: Wise Guys Jazz Band @ Gambino’s Italian Grill

6:30 pm: Music & Trivia @ District Hall

6:30 - 9 pm: Live Music - Elise Taylor @ Rotolo’s

7:58 pm: Sunset @ Fairhope Pier 

 Thursday, June 20, 2024 

7 am: Personnel Board Meeting @ City of Fairhope Mayor’s Conference Room

8 am, 9:05 - 10 am: Local News / Gulf Coast Swap Shop @ WABF 1480 AM Radio

8 - 11 am: Pickleball @ Fairhope United Methodist

9 am: Healthcare Professionals Walk-In Interviews @ Infirmary Health 300 S. Greeno

3 pm: City of Fairhope Outdoor Farmers Market @ Fairhope Public Library

5 pm: Spark Golf 9-Hole Social League @ Rock Creek

5 pm: Bama Mingles Meetup @ Sunset Pointe 

5 pm: Paint & Sip Art Class with Chris Murray @ Eastern Shore Art Center

5:30 pm: Sunset Rotary Meeting @ Fairhope Yacht Club

6 pm: Trivia @ Rotolo’s Pizzeria

6 pm: Running Wild Fairhope - Group Run / Walk @ Meet at McSharry's Irish Pub

6 - 8 pm: Rebecca/Gerry Duo Live Music @ Gambino’s Italian Grill

6 - 8:30 pm: Trivia @ Rotolo's Pizzeria

6 - 9 pm: Live Music - Mike Estep & Friends @ The Hope Farm

6:30 pm: Live Music @ District Hall

6:30 - 8 pm: Pre-movie fun w/ Moana photos and more @ Fairhopers Community Park

6:30 - 8:30 pm: Live Music - Brett LaGrave @ District Hall

6:45 pm: Live Trivia in the Taproom @ Fairhope Brewing Company

7 - 10 pm: Live Music - Raul & Eden @ Bone & Barrel

7:58 pm: Sunset @ Fairhope Pier

8 pm: Moana "Glow in the Park" Movie Night

8 pm: Rock & Roll Bingo @ The Ravenite Pizzeria

 Friday, June 21, 2024 

8 am, 9:05 - 10 am: Local Info & Gulf Coast Swap Shop @ WABF 1480 AM Radio

10 am: Baldwin Co. Master Gardeners How to Raise Monarch Butterflies @ 8300 Hwy 104 

10:30 am: Watermelon Door Hanger Painting @ The Dragonfly Emporium 

11 am: Community Cafe Friday Donation Lunch @ Fairhope United Methodist 

11 am - 2 pm: Cousins Maine Lobster Food Truck @ The Plant Shoppe 

1 - 3 pm: Eastern Shore Islamic Center Weekly Jummah @ Fairhope Unitarian Fellowship

5 pm: Baldwin Co. Master Gardeners How to Raise Monarch Butterflies @ 8300 Hwy 104

6 pm: Open Mic Night @ American Legion Post 199

6 - 9 pm: Swamp Water - Live Music @ Fairhope Brewing Company

6 - 10 pm: David Butler - Live Music @ Gambino’s Italian Grill

6:30 - 8:30 pm: Eastern Shore Sacred Harp Event @ Homestead Village Ballroom 

6:30 - 9 pm: Molly Thomas & The Rare Birds! With Greta Fritz @ Johnny Mac’s 

6:30 pm: “Singo” Night @ Rotolo’s Pizzeria

7 - 10 pm: Cecil Charles - Live Music @ The Hope Farm 

7 pm: Live Music Live Music @ McSharry’s

7:58 pm: Sunset @ Fairhope Pier

8 pm: Cat Rhodes - Live Music @ Bone & Barrel

9 pm - 12 am - Live Music @ The Ravenite Pizzeria 

10 pm - 2 am: Live DJ @ McSharry’s Irish Pub

 Saturday, June 22, 2024 

7:30 am: 28 Miles Ride + Casual/Beginner Rides @ Procycle

9:05 - 10 am: Gulf Coast Swap Shop @ WABF 1480 AM Radio 

9:30 am: Yoga on the Bluff with Soul Shine Yoga @ Henry George Park

10 am: Story Time with Author Samuel Drew @ Page and Palette 

1 pm: International Flipper Pinball Association Tournament @ Pins & Pints 

12 - 3 pm: Sharon Vogt - Author Signing @ Page and Palette

3 - 8 pm: 5th Annual Juneteenth Celebration @ Fairhope Pier

Time: Private Event @ The Hope Farm - Contact Hope Farm for availability or closure 

4 - 8 pm: Live Music - Filmore Revival @ American Legion Post 199

6 - 9 pm: Live Music Disco Lemonade w/ Island Roots Food Truck @ FH Brewing Co.

6 - 10 pm: Live Music - Jesse Taylor @ Gambino’s Italian Grill 

6:30 - 8:30 pm: Game Night @ Fairhope Unitarian Fellowship 

6:30 pm: Rock & Roll Bingo @ District Hall

7 - 9 pm: Mobile Big Band Fundraiser for the Baldwin Pops @ Fairhope Civic Center

7 pm: Live Music / Live DJ 'til 2 AM @ McSharry’s Irish Pub

7:58 pm: Sunset @ Fairhope Pier

8 - 11 pm: Cecil Blue - Live Music @ Bone & Barrel

9 pm - 12 am: Karaoke @ The Ravenite Pizzeria

 Sunday, June 16, 2024 

7:30 am - 5 pm: Services at @ 3 Circle Church Fairhope, Celebration Church Fairhope, Church of the Apostles, Fairhope Christian Church, Fairhope Church of Christ, Fairhope United Methodist, Fairhope Unitarian Fellowship, First Fairhope, Lebanon Chapel, Redeemer Lutheran, St. James Episcopal, St. Lawrence, Trinity Presbyterian Church, Twin Beech AME, and more.

8:45 am: Meditation @ Fairhope Unitarian Fellowship 

9:30 am: Bill Coleman Live Jazz Guitar During Brunch @ Tamara’s Downtown

10:30 am: Ordination Celebration for Rev. Linda Fisher @ Unity on the Eastern Shore

10:45 am: Maya Carey on Hate & Extremism in AL & the U.S. @ FH Unitarian Fellowship

2 pm: Pickleball @ Fairhope United Methodist

3 - 7 pm: Live Music - Jammer @ Big Daddy’s 

4 - 8 pm: Live Music with the Tip Tops @ American Legion Post 199

5 pm: Live Music - Nue Bicycle Band @ Bone & Barrel

6 - 10 pm: David Butler - Live Music @ Gambino’s Italian Grill

6 - 8 pm: Live Traditional Irish Music @ McSharry’s Irish Pub

7 pm: Live Music - Wojo Music @ The Hope Farm 

7:58 pm: Sunset @ Fairhope Pier

To view the entire printable list for the week

&

See the new online calendar

Please visit the Let's Go! Fairhope website at LetsGoFairhope.com

Click here to visit the new Let's Go! Fairhope website with even more events and information than ever before. You'll find a printable PDF events list for the week ahead and a new electronic calendar which will be updated to include additional events and links to venues. Event-related businesses and news articles are also featured.

Click here to find Let's Go Fairhope on Facebook.

Click here to join the Events in Fairhope Facebook Group.

Let’s Go! Fairhope is a local project celebrating local events.

It does not endorse or represent any entity or event listed unless specifically stated.

Please contact each venue and/or host to confirm event information and availability.

To become a sponsor, and/or have your events added, removed, etc.

Contact: LetsGoFairhope@gmail.com / (251) 929 - GOGO

Copyright Let's Go Fairhope 2024

All Rights Reserved