Along the Tracks

Anniston AmTrack

Located on West 4^th Street in Anniston, the Cresent passenger train runs between New York and New Orleans and stops daily in Anniston. “We can serve our citizens and travelers with a 50 mile radius on a daily basis. We are now beginning to see cyclists using the rails to some and ride our Chief Ladiga Trail and Coldwater Mountain Bike Trails. This station in Anniston has appeal for those looking for work or play,” says Anniston City Planner Toby Bennington. “Trains are a great way to travel for people looking for comfort, convenience and great pricing. As gasoline becomes more expensive, more people are choosing trains. It’s much cheaper and railroads are a great way to see the landscape, relax and maybe catch up on some work.”

As one of the three stations in Alabama, with Birmingham and Tuscaloosa, the multi-modal facility also serves as the staging point for area bus activity.  “Once the trailhead nearby is done, bicyclists can end at the Chief Ladiga Trail and change to a mountain bike and ride Coldwater Mountain,” says Anniston’s City Manager Brian Johnson. Johnson also expounded upon that by saying, “One can ride into Anniston by train, ride our world class trails here and stay the night. The next day, they can ride their bike on Ladiga to the Silver Comet Trail to Smyrna, just outside Atlanta.”

The historically rich train station, built in 1925, is perfect to accommodate any weekend getaway. Follow the tracks! 

Noble Street Festival Weekend

March 28 is going to a busy day for the City of Anniston and Calhoun County.
To kick off the weekend's festivities, the Iron Mountain Challenge, formerly the Woodland, welcomes riders from across the southeast to a non-competitive bike ride, with varying lengths from 25-100 miles, along the Ladiga Trail and through the Talladega National Forest and Mountain Long Leaf Wildlife Refuge.
The 22nd annual ride is for the beginner to the most experienced riders, beginning at 7:30 A.M. on March 28 at the Anniston Aquatics and Fitness Center at McClellan. Riders will travel everything from Hwy 21, Hwy 431, through Pleasant Valley, Piedmont, White Plains, and back to Anniston. Share the Road.

For more information, including online registration, visit www.ironmountainchallenge.com.
The cyclists descend on Noble Street for the Sunny King Criterium and Noble Street Festival. With our annual Festival, including vendors, restaurants, kids' activities, live music and more, it's a great event for the whole family.
The Criterium brings cyclists from across the Globe to race, both amateurs and professionals, along a .7 mile course in Historic Downtown Anniston. The races begin at 10:00 A.M. and come to a close with professional riders after 8:00 P.M. Watch in awe and cheer on these great athletes all day on March 28.

The cycling weekend wouldn't be complete without the Fort McClellan Road Race on March 29. These elite riders will take to the road at 9:00 A.M. for a twenty mile loop on some of Anniston's most scenic roads and challenging climbs, like Bains Gap. Come catch the racing action with this 80 mile distance race.
For more information on the Crit, Festival and Road Race, check out www.annistoncycling.com.

We Love Calhoun County

The word is out, and people are coming from across the southeast, United States and around the

world to find adventure in Calhoun County. Whether interested in arts, outdoor activity like kayaking or biking, history and more, Calhoun County has it all. Accessible train, I-20, major highways, a greyhound station and bike trails, it’s a short trip from everywhere. Calhoun County is an escape into nature with the mountains, rocks, trails and streams, but it also has conveniences with growing modern, metropolitan municipalities, rich with culture, restaurants, activity and attractions. Calhoun County, is not only a place for visitors. We have great businesses,
diverse industries, cutting edge educational opportunities, and a region of progressive communities with strong economies that still retain their small town Southern charm and friendliness. Such appeal makes Calhoun County, Alabama a place one enjoys calling home. The county offers an abundance of cultural and recreational opportunities for people of all ages – museums, theater, symphony, opera, ballet, fishing, golfing, relaxing at the parks, and much more. We love Calhoun County! We’re proud to call it home!

It's A Short Drive from Everywhere

Situated along I-20, nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian, Calhoun County is near perfect. If one were to throw a dart to choose a destination for natural attractions and historical significance, Calhoun County would be a bull’s eye every time. Almost halfway between Atlanta and Birmingham, Calhoun County isn’t far from Tennessee, Georgia, Florida or Mississippi. The Southern Hospitality here is unmatched, and the setting seems ideal.

Upcoming Events

Iron Mountain Challenge

The 22nd annual Iron Mountain Challenge, previously the Woodland-Calhoun Century Challenge, is a non-competitive bike ride along Northeast Alabama’s historic Ladiga Trail and through the climbs of the Talladega National Forest and Long Leaf National Wildlife Refuge. Ride lengths range from 25 to 100 miles depending on rider preference and skill level. The ride starts March 28, 2015 at 7:30 a.m. at the Anniston Aquatics & Fitness Center. Registration is available online or day-of at 6:30 a.m.

Noble Street Festival & Sunny King Criterium

On March 28, come enjoy the Noble Street Festival and the Sunny King Criterium, free to the public, thanks to the generous support of the sponsors.  Watch the pro bike races, enjoy the live music, browse the local arts, participate in the kid’s bike safety clinic, and generally “hang out” all day beginning at noon. You will get hungry, and that’s when you’ll want to visit one or more of our area’s favorite restaurants that will be stationed under tents on Noble Street. For more information, visit www.annistoncycling.com.

Cheaha Challenge

On May 17, the 2015 Cheaha Challenge Gran Fondo Century & ULTRA rides uphold the tradition of excellence established 23 years ago, "the toughest ride in the South." Beginning in Jacksonville, the Cheaha Challenge Gran Fondo Century & ULTRA provide a variety of distance choices - 24, 44, 62, 84, 100 and the ULTRA - 124 miles (200K). The century ride includes 9,714 feet of climbing including the top of Alabama, and the ULTRA, for experienced riders only, encompasses all major climbs in our area, for a total of 11,733 feet of climbing. For more information, visit www.cheahachallenge.com.

Knox Concert Series

As one of Alabama’s premiere presenting organizations, this annual concert series brings world renowned artists to the Anniston Performs Arts Center Stage between September and April. Previous performers include Vince Gill and Amy Grant, Marvin Hamlisch, Chicago and more! For more information, visit www.knoxconcertseries.org.

Oxford Performing Arts Center presents The Glenn Miller Orchestra

This February 6^th show features over 40 hit songs from four decades of jukebox chart toppers! “Tuxedo Junction,” “In The Mood,” “Pennsylvania 6-5000,” “Chattanooga Choo Choo” and “Moonlight Serenade” were all major hit records. Miller played to sell out crowds, and his music constantly dominated the airwaves from 1938-1942. Other upcoming shows include: A Rockin’ Valentine’s Tribute to the King, Buddy- The Hit Broadway Musical- The Buddy Holly Story, The Vienna Boys Choir, James Gregory- The Funniest Man in America, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, Menopause the Musical, and the Issacs.

Cast presents The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

February 12^th  through 22^nd, the Community Actors Studio Theatre presents C. S. Lewis’ the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Other performances scheduled include: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare- Abridged, Oklahoma, and Seussical Jr. For more information, visit www.castalabama.com.

JSU Drama Presents A Year with Frog and Toad

Based on the books by Arnold Lobel and nominated for 3 Tony® awards, this show follows two great friends through all four seasons as they learn what it means to be best friends. For more information, visit www.jsu.edu. 

For more information, check out www.VisitCalhounCounty.com!