Alabama Tourism has named 2010 the Year of Small Towns and Downtowns. The City of Prattville is proud to announce that it will celebrate along with Alabama Tourism during the year's events.

Events that have honored the Year of Small Towns & Downtowns:
The first of these events is the Mardi Gras Parade on January 30th at 3 p.m. All floats should reflect a theme of "A Hometown Mardi Gras"!

The Autauga Prattville Public Library will be conducting the "Big Read" in February and March.

• Kick off of the "Big Read" events at the City Council meeting on February 16, 2010 at 6 p.m. (Kick off video clip below.)
  
  
  
  
• Book Club: Introduction of Tom Sawyer and Mark Twain on February 18, 2010 at 6:30 p.m.
• Preschool Story Time: Tom Sawyer Stories on February 23, 2010 at 10 a.m.
• Home School Book Club: Introduction to Tom and Mark for grades 5-12 on February 25, 2010 at 1 p.m.
• Afterschool Story Time: Tom and Becky for grades K-3 on February 25, 2010 at 4 p.m.
• Preschool Story Time: Mark Twain's World on March 2, 2010 at 10 a.m.
• Afterschool Story Time: Fence Painting for grades K-3 on March 4, 2010 at 4 p.m.
• Preschool Story Time: Fence Painting on March 9, 2010 at 10 a.m.
• Book Club: Dr. Alan Gribben on March 11, 2010 at 6:30 p.m.
• Preschool Story Time: Tom and Becky Look-a-Like Costume Contest on March 16, 2010 at 10 a.m.
• Home School Book Club for grades 5-12 on March 18, 2010 at 1 p.m.
• "Blood Oath" Blood Drive, Library Parking Lot, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on March 31, 2010

On February 27, 2010, Prattville native and New Orleans Saint Roman Harper will 'come home to Prattville!' Mr. Harper will join friends, family and supporters at the Doster Community Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

On Wednesday, March 10th, a Town Hall - No Bullying event will be held at First United Methodist Church (100 East 4th Street in downtown Prattville), 6:30 p.m. Open and FREE to the public.

On Thursday, March 25th, make plans to attend the Fountain City Arts Festival Dinner honoring the late R&B singer and Prattville native “Wicked” Wilson Pickett. This black tie optional event will be held at the Marriott Legends at Capital Hill and begins with a reception and silent auction at 6:00 p.m., with dinner to follow at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $40 and seating is limited. For reservations, call the Prattville Special Events office at 334-358-0297.

On Friday, March 26th, bring your lawn chairs, picnic baskets and blankets and get ready for the City of Prattville’s Movie under the Stars! This year’s featured movie “Planet 51” will be shown on a 30 ft. inflatable movie screen at the Cooters Pond Park in Prattville, on Friday, March 26th. The movie will begin at dark. Admission is free to the public. Ria’s Pizzaria will be onsite selling $5 large pizzas. No alcoholic beverages are allowed.

Art Springs to Life at the 5th annual Fountain City Arts Festival, Saturday, March 27 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Pratt Park in downtown Prattville. Meet renowned artists: Charlie "Tin Man" Lucas, Kasey Hope, Nancy Raia, Russell Everett, and more. Feel the beat with live bands featuring music from the late "Wicked" Wilson Pickett, this year's festival honoree. Children can enjoy creating free art projects at the Creative Canopy! Satisfy your hunger with a variety of food vendors. It's visual arts for every taste and entertainment for all ages. Sponsored by the City of Prattville, the Alabama State Council on the Arts, and the Target Corporation.

The City of Prattville joins Prattville Downtown Unlimited to announce the first annual “Prattville Touch a Truck.” This event is designed to help satisfy children’s curiosity by providing trucks and equipment from local businesses for them to “touch and explore.” There will be a wide variety of vehicles on site to include a fire truck, dump truck, motor grader, television live truck, wastewater hydro washer, delivery van, 18 wheel tractor trailer rig, wrecker, and many more. The “Touch a Truck” event will take place on Saturday, April 10 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. along the downtown creekwalk. It is a free, family fun event open to the public.

Join us in welcoming home our Honor Flight Veterans on April 17th after their day long trip to D.C. to see their memorial. Montgomery Airport (Dannelly Field) will open their parking lots for free beginning at 5 p.m. for all that want to welcome the veterans home. The Prattville Pops will be set up to play beginning at 6 p.m. Their will be a receiving line of dignitaries and press coverage during this event which is free and open to the public.

CityFest will be held on Friday, April 30 and Saturday, May 1st. Be sure to come out Friday night to hear the Tip Tops perform on the stage behind City Hall along the Creekwalk. Vendors, merchants, a children's play area, and much more will be available all day Saturday. You don't want to miss it!

Please join us in the coming months as we celebrate our own small town and downtown!

Announcements!

Come Home to Prattville Poster Contest

The City of Prattville and the Prattville Chamber of Commerce recently sponsored a poster contest in connection with Prattville’s participation in the Alabama Department of Tourism’s 2010 Year of Small Towns and Downtowns. Prattville’s theme is Come Home to Prattville and several local artists submitted entries for the poster contest.

1st and 2nd place winners of the Small Towns and Downtowns "Come Home to Prattville" poster contest (click the artwork for a larger view):

1st place winner by Rich Richardson 2nd place winner by Michael Vaughn Sims

First place in the competition went to Rich Richardson for his very traditional artwork depicting numerous historic and modern sites in our area as well as a portrait of Prattville's founder, Daniel Pratt. It tells a wonderful visual story of Prattville from its beginning with Pratt’s mill to our recent growth, including the Clock Tower and Bass Pro Shop. Our second place winner was Michael Vaughn Sims. Mr. Sims’ artwork told a very simple story with an extremely bold use of color. Not only did his artwork depict a well known Prattville downtown building, but it could represent any typical small town USA. Rich and Michael are both well known in the River Region art community, having won numerous awards in local and area shows and competitions. Both artists are active members of the Prattauga Art Guild. Rich's artwork will be used on posters and t-shirts during Prattville's CityFest on April 30 and May 1. The original will be on display at the Prattville Creative Arts Center during CityFest. Rich will receive a free booth at the Fountain City Arts Festival and also at CityFest. He will receive 10 t-shirts, 10 posters, and one framed poster depicting his artwork. As the second place winner, Michael's artwork will also be on t-shirts. He will receive 5 t-shirts and a free booth at both the Fountain City Arts Festival and CityFest. Our judge for the contest was Margrete Barnes Vause, an artist and former resident of Prattville. Mrs. Vause was very complimentary of the works received and said that it was a tough decision to choose the winners. Mrs. Vause will be the featured artist at the Prattville Creative Arts Center Gallery during May in connection with the Come Home to Prattville City Fest celebration.