February 26-18, 2025
Old Courthouse Museum
Monroeville Literary Festival
Join us for an exciting weekend of captivating readings, enlightening discussions, amusing conversations and Monroeville’s famous brand of hospitality. Discover new authors, celebrate favorite writers and share great times with others who love Southern literature. Experiencing all this in the courtroom made famous by To Kill a Mockingbird is pure magic! And, in between we’ll share great food and fun!
March 12, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Old Courthouse Museum
Footprints in the Sky: Voices from Chandler Mountain
With Delores Hydock
The spirit and voices of Alabama’s Chandler Mountain community come to life in this funny and tender story of strong women and Southern hospitality. Bonnets, bow-tie quilts, poke salad, tomato stakes, the recipe for Scripture Cake, an old-timey cure for hiccups and other folk remedies, superstitions and family stories are all part of this affectionate portrait of a close-knit mountain community in the 1970s, where modern-day life mixed with old-fashioned ways. Audience members are invited to recall superstitions and folk remedies of their own as they recall people from their own lives who were as strong, generous and beloved as the people described in this presentation. This program is based on an oral history / folklore collection project completed as part of an American Studies undergraduate degree program at Yale University. The presentation blends Alabama history, folklore and storytelling to create a portrait of a moment when folk traditions are forced to blend with modern ways. This program is especially relevant to anyone with an interest in women’s history, oral history, folklore or Alabama traditions.
Thursday, March 19th, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Old Courthouse Museum
Recording Sara Brooks: A Journey into Southern History
Multi-media presentation by Thordis Niela Simonsen
The Monroe County Museum is excited to welcome writer and photographer Thordis Niela Simonsen. Thordis will present Recording Sara Brooks: A Journey into Southern History, a captivating slide presentation about the making of her book, You May Plow Here: The Narrative of Sara Brooks. The program will explore:
Sara Brooks’ remarkable life story
Land-owning Black families in the Jim Crow South
Vintage photos of 1970s mule farming in Alabama
This promises to be a powerful and engaging evening of history, storytelling, and photography. We hope you’ll join us!
Friday, March 27, 2026 to Saturday, May 2, 2026
Old Courthouse Museum
Mockingbird Players
The play, by Christopher Sergel, is performed at the Old Courthouse Museum each spring. Monroeville presented the first stage adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird in 1991. The Mockingbird Players, a group of amateur actors dedicated to the production, have performed in Israel, England, and Hong Kong, as well as several venues in the United States. Originally performed annually by the Museum, the production was transferred to the Mockingbird Company in 2014.
The stage adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird is a truly special experience. Performed in the Old Courthouse Museum, it allows attendees an opportunity to transport themselves back to the time of the book's setting. Keeping the tradition of the era, any white male over the age of 18 can be called for jury duty. If selected, he will be asked to sit with the jury during the courtroom scene. PLEASE NOTE: This event is held at the Museum, but you must find tickets and information at the Mockingbird Company website. www.tokillamockingbird.com.
Saturday, April 25, 2026
Old Courthouse Museum & Courthouse Square
Harper Lee's 100th Birthday
Walking tours and activities around the square start at 10 a.m., readings in the courtroom at 2 p.m., and more. Special performance of To Kill a Mockingbird play with a birthday celebration reception – 5:30 p.m. Play tickets available at tokillamockingbird.com.
