Coastal Chorale

WHEN? Sunday · November 23

WHERE? Spirit Center at Foley United Methodist Church

WHAT? Coastal Chorale Christmas concert

Recent reviews:

"Fabulous ... unbelievably good."
- maedeans

"In a class with Fred Waring's Pennsylvanians and The Ray Conniff Singers. They sing with a masterful blend of their voices."
- The Perpetual Vacationers

"Wonderful entertainment - even a little comedy thrown in - all for only ten bucks apiece!"
- WDS

This afternoon's Christmas performance featured many familiar Christmas songs along with several others we had never heard, and all were beautifully done. Although several numbers were performed without accompaniment, pianist Kayla Dowling and percussionist David White were like a fabulous two-person orchestra.

After the intermission, director Don Dowling made the most of Spirit Center's multi-stage design by leading the choir out on either side in almost total darkness, guided by a single light. He then told us to just close our eyes and listen as they sang Silent Night acapella before returning to the center stage. It was a unique and moving experience.

And you can bet I won't dare miss the Coastal Chorale's Snowbird Serenade next February.

Honorable mention:

Advance tickets for this popular event's Sunday afternoon performance sell out quickly, but chorale manager Lee Timberlake made special arrangements for us to purchase the last two available tickets at the door in honor of my birthday. What a treat!

Heritage Harbor Days

WHEN? Saturday & Sunday · November 8 & 9

WHERE? Foley, Alabama · find us on the map

WHAT? 8th Annual Heritage Harbor Days

The annual festivals in Lower Alabama continue to amaze us with the many features they include and the crowds of people who attend them. Although this festival began on Friday, it slipped up on us. We've promised ourselves to attend all of it next year.

What we saw:

• Mexican Folkloric Dancers from Guyton, Oklahoma. Here’s a video of the troupe's performance at another recent festival: Mexican Folkloric Dancers
• Foley's Little Rock Baptist Church choir
• The U.S. Navy Show Band

What we missed:

• One of my new favorites, Top Hat & Jackie
• Eli’s Jolly Polka Band from Elberta, who also perform each Spring and Fall at the Sausage Festival.
• In spite of being bluegrass music fans, we both overlooked the festival's Bluegrass Stage, which featured a Fiddlers Convention along with The Gary Waldrep Band.

The festival's final event, an evening fireworks display, was spectacular!

See our photos on flickr:
Heritage Harbor Days