50th Anniversary Weekend
Schedule of Events

Thursday– July 8
8 a.m.-4 p.m. Museum and Gift Shop open
The Shop features unique Mockingbird items, specially designed 50th Anniversary shirts, jackets & vests, exclusively made ties and many more one of a kind gift items for those who treasure the novel. Museum exhibits include “Harper Lee – In Her Own Words,” highlighting her early interviews and comments about the book and movie.
9 a.m. -12 p.m – Scenes and Stories of Monroeville
Two-part panel discussions: Growing Up with Harper Lee and Against the Odds: Moments of Courage SARIC Teacher credit offered. Free admission, but seating is limited and reservations are required. Coffee & homemade breakfast treats served.
12:30 p.m. -1:30 p.m. Barbecue Lunch
Enjoy the state’s best BBQ lunch under the tents on the Old Courthouse lawn $9 per person, Special guest to read an Atticus Finch passage in front of the Atticus Finch Marker, placed on the lawn by the Alabama State Bar Association.
2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. – Mockingbird scholar Dr. Nancy Anderson
Alabama Southern Community College will host a discussion by noted Mockingbird scholar Dr. Nancy Anderson. Dr. Anderson will discuss Miss Lee and her novel, while an artist plays original songs based on the book’s characters. Rare and foreign editions of the novel will be on display in the College Library.             4 p.m. – Screening of To Kill a Mockingbird movie
Join us for the first public showing in Monroeville since 1963 of the Academy award-winning To Kill a Mockingbird, starring Gregory Peck, Our Place Family Center.
Auctions ongoing all weekend:
Silent Auction of signed 35th Anniversary Edition of To Kill a Mockingbird in “as new” condition (all proceeds benefit the Monroe County Heritage Museum’s Education Fund). Auction begins at 8 a.m. Thursday and ends at 5 p.m. on Sunday. Also, the reading copy of a 50th Anniversary edition of To Kill a Mockingbird signed by all the readers in the marathon reading will be auctioned.

Friday, July 9
8 a.m.-4 p.m. – Museum and Gift Shop open
Enjoy our fabulous gift shop and exhibits about Harper Lee and To Kill a Mockingbird.
9 a.m. -3 p.m. – Marathon Reading of To Kill a Mockingbird
Marathon reading of To Kill a Mockingbird begins in the courtroom (at the judge’s bench). Each participant will sign the reading copy, which will then be auctioned off at the end of the weekend.
9 a.m.-noon – Walking Tours of Downtown
Soak up small town Alabama described in Harper Lee’s novel. Visit the locations of Harper Lee’s and Truman Capote’s childhood homes, while Monroeville citizens share stories and read aloud from To Kill a Mockingbird.
10 a.m. – Vintage games for children & adults
Exciting old-fashioned games, led by the Museum’s education staff, on the Old Courthouse Lawn.
Play marbles, jump rope, hop scotch, 3-legged sack race, Boo’s treasure hunt, decorate the sidewalks with chalk, and much more. For the much older children, dominos and checkers will be available – just as they were in the 1930s.
12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m. – Barbecue Lunch
Enjoy a boxed BBQ lunch under the tents on the Old Courthouse lawn: $9 per person
4 p.m. – Screening of To Kill a Mockingbird movie
Academy award-winning To Kill a Mockingbird, starring Gregory Peck at Our Place Family Center.
6 p.m.-until – “Celebrate the Foods of the 1930s South”
Party at C.L. Hybart House Museum & Cultural Center, a 1920s Mediterranean-style home where Harper Lee & Truman Capote visited the night before leaving to research In Cold Blood. Generous helpings of the delectable dishes mentioned in the novel including collards, turnips & cornbread, sliced vine-ripe tomatoes, fried chicken and, of course, lane cake. Southern cocktail expert and author of two books on Southern drinks and drinking, Denise Gee, has created a signature drink for the weekend — “Tequila Mockingbird.” Be sure to purchase one in our commemorative glass to toast this very special day. Tickets $25 per person, $35 including commemorative glass. Purchase in advance by calling the museum at 251-575-7433.

Saturday, July 10
8 a.m.-4 p.m. – Museum and Gift Shop open
Enjoy our fabulous gift shop and exhibits about Harper Lee and To Kill a Mockingbird.
8 a.m.-until – Beehive Coffee & Books on the Square
The first 50 visitors will have an opportunity to write a letter to Harper Lee, using 50 words or less to be delivered to the famous author.
9 a.m. -6 p.m. – Marathon Reading of To Kill a Mockingbird
Marathon reading of To Kill a Mockingbird begins in the courtroom (at the judge’s bench). Each participant will sign the reading copy, which will then be auctioned off at the end of the weekend.
9 a.m.-noon – Walking Tours of Downtown
Soak up small town Alabama described in Harper Lee’s novel. Visit the locations of Harper Lee’s and Truman Capote’s childhood homes, while Monroeville citizens share stories and read aloud from To Kill a Mockingbird.
10 a.m. – Vintage games on the Courthouse Lawn for children & adults
Exciting old-fashioned games, led by the Museum’s education staff, on the Old Courthouse Lawn.
Play marbles, jump rope, hop scotch, 3-legged sack race, Boo’s treasure hunt, decorate the sidewalks with chalk, and much more. For the much older children, dominos and checkers will be available – just as they were in the 1930s.
12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m. – Barbecue Lunch
Enjoy a boxed BBQ lunch under the tents on the Old Courthouse lawn: $9 per person
4 p.m. – Screening of To Kill a Mockingbird movie
Academy award-winning To Kill a Mockingbird, starring Gregory Peck, Our Place Family Center.
6 p.m. – Sandy Jaffe’s Our Mockingbird
A special preview screening of Sandy Jaffe’s upcoming documentary, Our Mockingbird, in the courtroom. Sponsored by George F. Landegger.
8:15 p.m.– until – “Evening Under the Stars”
Party on the Old Courthouse Lawn. Heavy hors d’oeuvres and beverages including Monroeville’s special “Tequila Mockingbird” will be served. Tickets for the documentary and party: $25 per person, $35 including commemorative glass. Purchase tickets in advance from Museum (251) 575-7433.

Sunday, July 11 (actual anniversary of publication date!)
Noon – Screening of To Kill a Mockingbird movie
Academy award-winning To Kill a Mockingbird, starring Gregory Peck, Our Place Family Center.
2 p.m.-5 p.m. – Museum and Gift Shop open
Enjoy our fabulous gift shop and exhibits about Harper Lee and To Kill a Mockingbird.
2 p.m.– 4 p.m. – To Kill a Mockingbird Birthday Party
Birthday party for the novel on the Old Courthouse Lawn, with a specially created birthday cake by the Pastry Shop in Mobile and ice cream, compliments of George F. Landegger.
5 p.m. – Silent Auction concludes

Auctions: Silent Auction of signed, 35th-Anniversary Edition of To Kill a Mockingbird in “as new” condition (all proceeds benefit the Monroe County Heritage Museum’s Education Fund). Auction begins at 8 a.m. Thursday and ends at 5 p.m. on Sunday. Also, the reading copy of a 50th Anniversary edition of To Kill a Mockingbird signed by all the readers participating in the weekend marathon read will be auctioned.

Special ticket packages:
Purchase tickets in advance from Museum (251) 575-7433.
• Friday night dinner & drinks advance ticket—$25, with commemorative glass— $35.
• Saturday night dinner & drinks advance ticket—$25, with commemorative glass— $35.
• Combo Special Rate: Tickets for both nights—$45, with commemorative glass—$65

All events subject to change without prior notice. Please call ahead for complete schedule and reservations (251) 575-7433.