Guidelines for Submitting your Church/Community Announcements
These are free as long as there are no personal messages and the event is not being charged for (love offerings do not count). Please keep the announcement to one paragraph with who is presenting the event, what the event is, date, time, where it will be held and contact information. Email them to scrjmedia@yahoo.com. We can not take anything over the phone due to company policy.
Holiday deadlines for 2026: Sumter County Record Journal will be closed for Labor Day, Sept. 8. We will have a late deadline for Tuesday, Sept. 9 for the Sept. 11 edition. Sumter County Record Journal will be closed for Thanksgiving Nov. 23-27. We have to submit the paper early due to the printing company being closed for the holidays. Deadline for the Thanksgiving edition is Friday morning, Nov. 20. Santa Letters are due first Friday in December, Dec. 4. Ads for the Santa Letter edition are due Dec. 11. Both Christmas and New Year’s deadlines are Friday, Dec. 18. We have to submit both papers early due to the printing company being closed for the holidays. Sumter County Record Journal will be closed Dec. 21-Jan. 3 for the holidays.
2026 Livingston Eat and Greet
Come join us for great food, good company and live music Sept. 24 and Oct. 22 at 6 p.m. on Franklin St., Livingston.
Shady Grove Baptist Church Annual Revival
Everyone is invited to Shady Grove Baptist Church, Livingston, annual Revival will be Wed., Aug. 5-Aug. 7, at 7 p.m. Rev. Kelvin Cockrell, pastor of the Morning Star Baptist Church, Selma, will be the evangelist for the revival. Rev. John Powell, pastor, and Sister Eleanor Randolph, church secretary.
Annual Homecoming and Revival Services John the Baptist Missionary Baptist Church, Lisman
Homecoming service will be Sun., Aug. 16, at 2 p.m. with guest speaker Rev. Terrance Burrell, Sr., Pastor of Gilfield Missionary Baptist Church Lisman, and Revival services will be Aug, 17-19, at 7 p.m. with guest speaker Rev. Chris Holcomb, Pastor of Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church, York, Whitfield Community.
Light of Jesus Outreach Ministries
Evangelist Tommie and Patricia Miles, Prayer Center (334) 415-1469, Facebook/Instagram=Tommie Miles.
Glory Night Every Thursday at 6 p.m.
The community is warmly invited to Glory Night every Thursday at 6 p.m. at Living Word Church, 1408 Hwy. 28 E., Livingston. Come expecting a powerful time of prayer, praise, worship, and the Word of God. We are believing for souls to be saved, lives to be transformed, healing for the sick, deliverance for those in bondage, and renewed hope through the power of Jesus Christ. Everyone is welcome. Whether you are seeking spiritual encouragement, prayer, healing, or a deeper relationship with God, we invite you to join us as we gather to experience God’s presence. For more information, please contact Living Word Church.
Free Basic First Aid Class
A free Basic First Aid class is being offered on Aug. 22, 8 a.m.-noon at the Boligee Community Center, 17404 Co. Rd. 20, Boligee. All are welcome! Whether you’re interested in becoming a volunteer firefighter or simply want to be better prepared to help a family member, friend, or neighbor during an emergency, this is a great opportunity to learn valuable skills. First aid topics: MVAs, seizures, hypo and hyperglycemia management, bleeding control, airway obstructions, heat related emergecies, Narcan administration. This is not a certification class, but a knowledge based session to equip you with life saving information. Call Ashlynne Vaughan 205-499-3899 or Tee Rice 205-496-0690 if you are attending so an accurate count can be made for food.
Community Garden Volunteers Needed at the Coleman Center For the Arts Garden
Help us grow our garden and expand our garden programs. Our garden is open to the public; we are happy to collaborate with community groups, churches, and schools to provide garden programming. Email us at info@colemanarts.org for more information, or to sign up as a volunteer.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
If you or someone you know is struggling to cope emotionally this holiday season, reach out. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides 24/7, free, and confidential support via phone or chat for people in distress, resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals. Visit 988lifeline.org for more.
Community Prayer
Community Prayer for the Sumter County area will be held every 1st Thursday of each month at noon for one hour at the Bored Well, the Courthouse Square, Livingston. We’re asking all residents, businesses, local leaders, pastors, governmental and city officials to join us as we come together as a community to pray. Submitted by Min. Leola Washington, Volunteer Coordinator for NDPTF, Sumter County.
Open Auditions Announced for The Color Purple: The Musical
The Canebrake Players will hold open auditions for their upcoming production of The Color Purple: The Musical, inviting performers of all experience levels to take the stage. Auditions will be held Sun., Aug. 16, and Mon., Aug. 17, at 6 p.m. each evening at The Old School on Main Avenue in Demopolis. The production is seeking male and female performers ages 10 through adult. Those auditioning should prepare a song approximately 60 seconds in length in the style of The Color Purple: The Musical. Participants should also be prepared to cold read from the script, which will be provided at the audition. “Whether you’re a seasoned performer or stepping onto the stage for the first time, everyone is encouraged to audition,” said director Susanna Smith. “If you know someone who would be incredible in this production, encourage them to come out.” The production team includes director Smith, music director Margie Jackson, assistant director Kirk Brooker, and stage manager Allison Ward. Based on Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Color Purple: The Musical features a book by Marsha Norman and music and lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, and Stephen Bray. The inspiring musical follows Celie’s extraordinary 40-year journey of resilience, hope, and self-discovery in the American South. Performances are scheduled for Nov. 13–16. For more information and updates, follow The Canebrake Players on social media.
School/Kids Events
UCS Smith Back-to-School Night
UCS Lyon Back-to-School Night for 4th-12th grade will be 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Aug. 11.
UCS Lyon Back-to-School Night
UCS Lyon Back-to-School Night will be 5:30-6:30 p.m. on Aug. 10
UA Preview: This Week at The University of Alabama
| Aug. 3, 2026 📰 BEST BETS UA awards around 1,300 degrees over weekend The University of Alabama awarded around 1,300 degrees during its summer commencement ceremony Aug. 1. The summer 2026 class includes graduates from 53 Alabama counties, 42 states and 25 countries. UA among 6 U.S. institutions selected for Entente Cordiale Challenge UA is among a select group of institutions chosen to participate in Entente Cordiale Day, a prestigious international academic competition among leading universities in the United Kingdom and France. Why This Matters: Since its founding, the competition has brought together students from top universities in the United Kingdom and France to tackle pressing global challenges. Six U.S. universities will now join this elite group. For more information, contact Bryant Welbourne at bryant.welbourne@ua.edu. Windgate Foundation quadruples support for book arts program The Windgate Foundation has awarded a $4 million grant to expand scholarships for graduate students in the book arts program at UA — quadrupling the Arkansas-based foundation’s original $1 million investment in the program, which it established in 2005. Why This Matters: The new endowment, combined with the existing fund, will supplement Windgate fellowships, create new opportunities for graduate assistantships, provide targeted scholarship support and fund studio equipment upgrades. For more information, contact Alex House at alex.house@ua.edu. UA student-athlete earns $10k for foundation Sydney Blackhurst, a senior accounting major on UAs swimming and diving team, earned first place in the SEC Startup Competition. Why This Matters: The prize comes with $10,000 to help grow her business, Beyond Barriers Swim Foundation, which offers one-on-one adaptive swim lessons for children with chronic illnesses or disabilities. For more information, contact Jennifer Brady at jennifer.brady@ua.edu. 📅 EVENTS Saturday in the Park: Hoop dancing Aug. 8; Moundville Archaeological Park |
Black Belt Community Foundation 2026 Levitt Amp Selma Music Series
SELMA: The countdown to an unforgettable season of free, live music under summer sunsets and into autumn evenings in historic Selma is officially underway. The Black Belt Community Foundation (BBCF) announces the themes and calendar for 2026’s return of the Levitt AMP Selma Music Series. Beginning Sat., July 25, the series will bring seven unique cultural experiences to Selma’s Riverfront Amphitheater. Families, friends, and neighbors from across the region are invited to bring their blankets, sunbrellas and lawn chairs to the amphitheater lawn to experience the transformational power of free, live music in bringing community together. Supported in large part by the Levitt Family Foundation, a social impact funder at the intersection of music, public space, and community building, the Levitt AMP Music Series program injects new life into public spaces through free, outdoor concerts across the country. The 2026 season marks an exciting new chapter for Selma, building on the success of past seasons to present professionally produced, immersive themed festival dates running through late October. “This season is about so much more than just the music on stage,” says Lydia Chatmon, TRHT Selma Director. “It’s about bringing people together, supporting our local business ecosystem, celebrating our rich cultural heritage, and showcasing the very best of downtown Selma.” Season of Immersive Themes: Instead of focusing purely on individual performers, the 2026 series is designed around seven planned experiences that offer something for every member of the family.
- July 25-The Inaugural Bridge City Jazz Festival: The season sets sail with an elegant, smooth-jazz atmosphere. Concertgoers are encouraged to come dressed in all-white attire for this premier opening night event.
- Aug. 8-Joy Jamboree: A dedicated day of play, music, and smiles designed specifically for children and families, featuring bounce houses, face painting, games, and youth-oriented fun.
- Aug. 22-Smoke in the City: BBQ & Blues Festival: Fire up the grill and claim your bragging rights! This date blends a competitive community barbecue atmosphere with a soulful soundtrack of regional blues.
- Sept. 12-Classic Cars & Chrome: Cruise in for this celebration of sleek vintage automobiles and deep musical grooves, featuring a car show paired with the absolute best in classic R&B, Soul, and Funk.
- Sept. 26-Gospel Fest: An uplifting community favorite that elevates local and regional voices, celebrating the profound spiritual and musical heritage of the Black Belt.
- Oct. 10-Fiesta on the River!: A vibrant cultural celebration packed with high-energy Latin music, salsa beats, and a community taco-eating contest, so don’t forget the hot sauce.
- Oct. 24-Southern Soul: The Grand Finale: The ultimate season closer, bringing the community together one last night to celebrate some funky soul, great food, and collective joy.
Historic Tuscaloosa Invites Community to Annual Battle-Friedman House Volunteer Workday
Historic Tuscaloosa is inviting community members to roll up their sleeves and help preserve one of the city’s most treasured historic landmarks during its Battle-Friedman House Volunteer Workday on Saturday, September 12, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Battle-Friedman House & Gardens, located at 1010 Greensboro Avenue.
The annual Workday brings together volunteers of all ages who share a passion for local history and historic preservation. Whether you’re a longtime supporter or looking for a new way to get involved in the community, this event offers an opportunity to make a meaningful impact while meeting fellow volunteers.
Historic Tuscaloosa operates and maintains five historic properties throughout Tuscaloosa County. Volunteer Workdays play an important role in ensuring these sites remain clean, welcoming, and accessible for visitors and future generations.
Projects completed during previous Workdays have included landscaping, clearing brush, removing debris, repairing and installing fencing, planting trees, painting, building and clearing trails, installing interpretive signs and historical markers, and other preservation efforts. The specific projects for this year’s Battle-Friedman Workday will focus on the ongoing care and maintenance of the historic home and its grounds.
No prior experience is necessary to participate. Whether you’re an experienced volunteer or simply looking for a way to give back to the community, Historic Tuscaloosa welcomes all helping hands. Staff members will be available throughout the day to provide guidance and assign projects suited to volunteers’ abilities and interests.
Historic Tuscaloosa will provide the tools, gloves, and supplies needed for the day’s projects, as well as water and light refreshments for volunteers. Participants are encouraged to wear comfortable clothing and closed-toe shoes suitable for outdoor work.
“Our volunteers are an essential part of Historic Tuscaloosa’s mission,” said Executive Director William Hawkins. “Their dedication helps us preserve these irreplaceable places while creating opportunities for the community to connect with Tuscaloosa’s rich history.”
Historic Tuscaloosa welcomes individuals, families, civic organizations, businesses, student groups, and anyone interested in supporting local preservation efforts. Volunteers are welcome to ar