‘Showtime at the Stadium’ among upcoming events

An outdoor movie night and the annual Easter Hat Parade are on the agenda of upcoming events in the City of Progress.

The city of Enterprise staff is busy preparing for several upcoming events that they hope residents will enjoy, including an entertaining movie night March 19 and the annual Easter Hat Parade March 27.

COVID-19 is likely to be an ongoing health threat so all events in the near future will be organized with safety guidelines in mind and all those attending are also asked to wear masks, wash hands often and follow other recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and the Alabama Department of Public Health, said Mayor William E. Cooper.

“It has been a couple of years since we have had an outdoor movie night, but our Department of Parks and Recreation is making it happen again in just a few weeks,” Cooper said. “Showtime at the Stadium is going to be a fun night of entertainment for the whole family and I understand that plenty of good food will be available for purchase to snack on while we watch the movie.”

The city sponsored two very successful outdoor movie nights a few years ago but the virus and weather factors in recent years led to a hiatus of the event. Gates at Bates Memorial Stadium will open at 6 p.m. March 19 and the movie will begin at dusk.

Movie-goers will be able to sit in the stands on the home side of the stadium or bring their lawn chairs or blankets and sit directly on the field. The event is sponsored by McDonald’s.

The date may be subject to change in case of poor weather conditions.

Easter Hat Parade and Contest

On the heels of the “Showtime at the Stadium,” city staffers will be getting ready for the March 27 Easter at the Farmers Market, which will feature the return of the Easter Hat Parade and the Deviled Egg Contest.

“You’re really getting a three-in-one event,” said Special Projects Coordinator Kay Kirkland. “We have a great slate of produce and crafts vendors that are the heart of our market so we hope you will take the opportunity to buy some fresh seasonal vegetables and homemade items. The Easter bunny will be a special guest and we will have the absolutely delightful Easter Hat Parade and taste-tempting Deviled Egg Contest to really make for a festive event. I hope everyone is as happy as I am to see the comeback of these unique activities to our Easter at the Market lineup.”

Children and adults of all ages are invited to come to the Farmers Market March 27 and wear the colorful and uniquely decorated hats they’ve made. The Hat Parade, led by the Easter Bunny himself, will start at 10 a.m. The contest will begin immediately following the parade.

“We have some surprises involving this year’s hat parade and contest, so stay tuned for more information about this event,” Kirkland said. “We hope you will get started making your special hat right away so you can be a part of this great community Easter celebration.”

Deviled Egg Contest

Enterprise is calling all cooks on March 27 as well to participate in the Deviled Egg Contest. Kirkland said the contest has become another great pre-Easter event because of the emphasis on eggs this time of year along with the obvious popularity of the side dish at Sunday dinners and holiday meals across the South.

Eggs will be judged in several categories: Most Devilicious (Delicious); Most Eggsquisite (Beautiful and Creative); Most Eggstraditional (Traditional, common ingredients) and Most Eggstraordinary (Non-traditional, uncommon ingredients, i.e. quacamole, hot sauce, etc.).

An overall Most Eggcellent (Excellent) Award will be chosen from among the four category winners.

More details about the Deviled Egg Contest and the Easter Hat Parade will be announced later.

World’s Smallest St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Another event just around the corner is the famous World’s Smallest St. Patrick’s Day Parade, sponsored by the Enterprise Chamber of Commerce on March 13. The parade will begin at noon in beautiful downtown Enterprise. The Half Pint O.5K Run/Walk, which Chamber leaders say could be the world’s shortest “5K” race, will begin immediately after the Smallest St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Refreshments and rewards for completing the daunting 546-yard “race” will be enjoyed at CrossFit FXT on S. Conner Street.

Everyone attending can spend the rest of the day shopping, listening to street music and dining downtown.

“We hope to get back a sense of normalcy if conditions continue to improve,” Cooper said. “It’s our prayer that these events, while proceeding with caution, can help to bring the joy of special experiences back to the community.”