Florence
If you ask Downtown Florence Alliance Executive Director Chris Stangel what makes Florence such an incredible hub for creativity, he’ll likely say, “It’s something in the water.”
Few towns in America can boast the amount of world class music, food and fashion generated in Florence (and Shoals area of Alabama, in general). Considering the organization’s mission is to bring attention to that unique heritage and culture, Downtown Florence Alliance has worked hard to promote its historic commercial district and what makes it so vibrant and unique.
In the early 1990s, community stakeholders collaborated on creating an organization to market Florence’s Main Street district. In 2018, these various entities combined to form the Downtown Florence Alliance, covering the community’s central business district—over 40 blocks of downtown businesses.
Not surprisingly, this has resulted in an authentic combination of creatives, businesses, music, food and culturally distinct emphasis on the arts but with an obvious connection to the outdoors, as well.
Proof of such a claim is easy to find in its popular W.C. Handy Music Festival, which encompasses 10 days of blues, jazz, rock, country and everything in between in an effort to celebrate the town’s native son WC Handy, "Father of the Blues” and world-renowned composer. Other fun festivals include fashion release party Shindig Revival, and the Florence Wine Festival.
Equally impressive is the only Frank Lloyd Wright designed building located in Alabama, known as the Rosenbaum House. Of course, facilities like the Kennedy Douglas Center for the Arts,
McFarland Park on the banks of the Tennessee, and Wilson Park in the center of downtown also invite residents and visitors to learn, explore and enjoy the community’s spaces.
Many are also aware it’s the site of the University of North Alabama, as well, and a robust outlet into history and recreation are also nearby at the Indian Mound Museum, Heritage Traill, and Wildwood Bike Trails.
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