Story By Marla Ballard
July is still not too late to join the Northeast Alabama Community College and chorographer Kayleigh Smith for some low impact cardio fun with beginner dance lessons. The classes will be held in Mentone on the Moon Lake Village Campus. Each week a new dance will be introduced. Learn the basics of waltz, cha-cha, east and west coast swing, rumba, foxtrot, tango, and more. Classes are from noon – 2 p.m. each Thursday (except for holidays) through August 7. Fee is $25 per person for the entire series. Participants may sign up on site any Thursday from now until August. Moon Lake Village is located at 5866 E River Rd, Mentone.
A concert featuring opening act Still kickiN followed by headliner Bradley Walker will be held at the historic Cricket Theatre on Saturday, July 26. Still kickiN is a well-known local country and southern rock band, playing oldies, classic country, Motown, and Rock & Roll.
Walker is a country/gospel/bluegrass singer. His 2016 album/DVD hit the Top Ten of the Country Album charts. One of his biggest fans was the late Joey Feek, who requested he sing at her funeral. Joey Marie Feek was an American country singer and songwriter who performed with her husband Rory. The couple rose to fame when they won third place on “Can You Duet.”
Walker is also longtime friend of The Oak Ridge Boys. “When I made Male Vocalist of the Year at the International Bluegrass Awards Joe Bonsall and Duane Allen were there,” said Walker. “They have been with me and supported me through my whole life,” according to www.bradleywalker.com.
General admission seating, doors open at 5 p.m. and show starts at 6 p.m. Tickets $20 or $23 with PayPal https://www.collinsvillehistoricalassociation.org/event. Event is hosted by Monica G. Dennis and Collinsville Historical Association. The Cricket Theatre is located at 126 W Main St, Collinsville.
Jump on board for a bus trip with Back Road Tours. Tickets sell out fast, so checkout the excursion to Scott’s Orchard Apple Picking Day trip scheduled for Friday, Sept. 26. The bus will pick up passengers at the Fort Payne Walmart at 8:30 a.m.
Lunch will be a turkey and cheese croissant (trimmings on the side), pasta salad, muffin, and drink. The meal will be served under covered pavilion and the history of the orchard will be presented.
Next, take an orchard wagon tour and apple picking excursion. Lastly, enjoy a walking tour of Burritt Mansion (Huntsville’s first museum). The mansion sits on a 167-acre site overlooking the city. The bus ride to Huntsville will include bus bingo for prizes.
The bus returns to Fort Payne at approximately 6 p.m. Pickups and drop-offs will also take place in Scottsboro and Gurley. For more information or to purchase tickets go to backroadtoursllc.com. Cost for bus trip is $139 per person, no refund after Aug. 22.
“We have successfully completed more than 150 trips since 2016. We are not a private group. Our trips are open to travel enthusiasts of all ages. Whether you enjoy day trips, overnight travel, historical tours, or casual experiences, we offer something for everyone,” – according to backroadtoursllc.com.
