WHEELER LAKE- Norhteast of Decatur With 67,100 acres, Wheeler Lake is one of the largest Tennessee Valley Authority's three reservoirs in North Alabama. It stretches almost 60 miles. Excellent game fishing for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, crappie, channel catfish, and freshwater drum. Other entertainments is swimming, skiing, & boating.

TENNESSEE RIVER - The river runs all across the north side of Morgan County. No further explainations need to be given on the river as it has all the enjoyments of any other river.

WHEELER WILDLIFE REFUGE - The refuge was established in 1938, and has a range of over 35,000 acres along the Tennessee River. It is the home for Alabama's only concentration of wild geese, the state's largest concentration of ducks, hundreds of deer and more than 300 species of birds. The visitor's center can be contacted at (205)350-6639.

MAY

Memorial Day Weekend: Alabama Jubilee at Point Mallard Park in Decatur. The largest free Hot-Air Balloon festival, with races held early morning and in late afternoon. A balloon glow on Saturday night. Other activities are: arts & crafts, antique cars, pet show & exhibit, softball tournaments and entertainment.

JULY

4th: Spirit of America Festival at Point Mallard Park in Decatur. One of the oldest and largest 4th of July events in Northern Alabama. Events include games, arts and crafts, entertainment, sports tournaments & the crowning of Miss Point Mallard Park.

AUGUST

Skirmish at Point Mallard Park in Decatur. This annual Labor Day event is staged in honor of local Confederate Generals John Hunt Morgan & Joe Wheeler. Over 200 authentic clad Yankee and Rebel soldiers meet against one another in battles each day and a candlelight tour on Saturday night. Contact Decatur Convention and Visitors Bureau, 1-800-524-6181.

SEPTEMBER

Morgan County Fair. Admission charged.

Racking Horse Celebration Decatur/Priceville. Approximately 2,000 Racking Horses compete in moare that 140 classes. Divisions include children, adult, amateur and professional. Shows nightly at 6:30. Contact" decatur Convention and Visitors Bureau 1-800-524-6181.

Riverfest. Founders Park at the Old State Bank, Decatur. 9 am-5pm Art show, hoop shoot, 5k run, entertainment, Bar B Que cookoff.

OCTOBER

Wet & Wild Festival. Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge. Environmental education programs and events. More thatn 20 exhibitors. Free hotdogs and soft drinks. No admission. Contact: Brad Bole (205)773-6541.

NOVEMBER

Echota Cherokee Tribe Pow Wow. Celebration Arena, 67 Horse Center Road, Decatur. Intertribal dancing, competition dancing, story telling, Native American arts and crafts. 9 am -9pm daily. Admission charge. Contact: Charlotte Stewart (334) 361-1005 or (334) 285-5768.

Parade of Lights. Rhodes Ferry Park. Boats parade on the Tennessee River at the Decatur Marina. Programs and music.

DECEMBER

Madrigal Dinner. Old State Bank, Decatur. Elegant dinner in historic setting. Tickets in advance only. Contact Dr. Frances Moss (205) 306-2698.

Christmas Tour of Homes. Tour Decatur's historic district which is Alabama's concentration of Victorian Homes with several homes open for tour. Christmas music is performed by choral groups, refreshments are served and carriage rides are available. Tickets are sold at Decatur Visitor Center & the Old State Bank.

Decatur Convention & Visitors Bureau, 719 6th Av. SE, PO Box 2349, Decatur, 35602, (205)350-2028.

The Old Bank: On the NW corner of Bank St. overlooking the Tennessee River in Decatur. The Old State Building was opened in 1833. Thru the years it has served as a bank, residence, a boarding house, an office. a hospital, and a museum. It is open for tours 9:30 a.m.-12:00; 1:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday (except Dec. 24, 25, 26 & Jan. 1). May contact the Coordinator, PO Box 582, Decatur, 35602, (205)350-5060.

Cook's Natural Science Museum: 412 13th St. SE, Decatur, 35601. Open Monday - Saturday 9:00-5:00 (closed noon to 1:00 p.m.) Sunday 2:00 p.m.- 5:00 p.m. Admission is free. The museum provides extensive collections of beautiful and exotic insects, mounted birds and animals, rocks and minerals, seashells and coral. Protected and endangered species are included in the museum's vast collection and many animals are shown in their natural habitats. Museum also has a 64-seat auditorium complete with audio-visual shows.

Point Mallard : 1800 Point Mallard Dr., Decatur, 35601, (205)350-3000 or 1-800-669-WAVE. Hidden among North Alabama wooded pines, the 750-acre family park lets you stay in tune with nature 365 days a year. In the summer a water park featuring America's first Wave Pool and dozens of other spraying, bubbling, foaming, misting fun spots. Surrounding the center are tennis courts, baseball/softball, fields, picnic grounds, gymnasium complex, & a 3 mile long riverside hiking/biking trail. Any season is the time to challange the 18-hole golf course. Developed sites, grocery store, laundromat, showers, and group pavilions make this a highly rated campsite. Winter is a wonder land at Point Mallard with the seasonal opening of the Deep South's only Open-Air Ice Skating Rink. See Calendar of Events for other events at point Mallard.

Princess Theatre: 112 2nd Av. NE, Decatur, 35601, (205)350-1745. A remodeled 1887 art-deco theatre. The Princess first served as a livery stable beofre being transformed into a 1,500 seat theatre in 1919. Another facelift in 1940 created it's current style, The theatre now hosts a variety of activities including concerts, ballet, Shakespeare plays, and old movies.

Walking Tours of Old Decatur and New Albany. Decatur prides itself on having the largest concentrated Victorian area of homes in the state. If you follow the map you can get at the Decatur Convention & Visitors Bureau, the tour will take less than one hour to complete. These homes date back as far as 1829.