Local Farmers Markets: A guide to the Auburn-Opelika area’s best farmers markets

Local Farmers Markets: A guide to the Auburn-Opelika area’s best farmers markets

1. O Grows Farmers Market 
When: Tuesdays from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m.

Location: 1103 Glenn Street, Opelika AL 

The Opelika Grows Farmers Market is located across the street from the Cultural Arts Center on Glenn Street, near the community garden in Opelika. Come walk around the square each Tuesday this summer from 3 p.m. - 6 p.m. to find fresh, local produce ranging from heirloom tomatoes to collard greens. You may even find some fresh bread, homemade ice cream or local honey. Depending on the year's crop, the market may continue through September or until produce is depleted. Look for further updates about the end date. For more info, visit the Opelika Grows Farmers Market Facebook page.

2. Acre’s Farmers Market 
When: Wednesdays from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m.

Location: 210 East Glenn Ave, Auburn AL 

The Acre Farmers Market occurs weekly on Wednesdays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. until the end of summer. Come enjoy complimentary cocktail tastings and pimento cheese while supporting local farmers.  Located at the Acre restaurant, the Market often features berries, cucumbers, corn, clover, grits, honey, jam & jellies, kombucha, onions, peppers, peaches, squash, taters and tomatoes. Don’t miss out on this unique, urban garden experience. For more info, visit Acre's Facebook page.

3. The Market at Ag Heritage Park 
When: Thursdays from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m.

Location: 925 Camp Auburn Road, Auburn AL 

The Market at Ag Heritage Park is an open-air, growers-only farmers market that operates each Thursday, May-August, at Ag Heritage Park on the Auburn University campus. Hosted by the College of Agriculture, The Market features area vendors offering fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables, herbs, ornamental plants and cut flowers as well as locally produced jams and jellies, baked goods, soaps, honey, goat cheese and more. Now in its 12th season, The Market at Ag Heritage Park gives Auburn University employees and students and all area residents the opportunity to Buy Fresh, Buy Local, directly from the growers. The weekly farmers market is open to the public, and everyone is welcome. It is held rain or shine, unless severe weather poses a danger to vendors and customers. For more info, visit The Market at Ag Heritage Park's website.

Chewacla State Park Receives TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Award

Chewacla State Park Receives TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Award

Auburn’s Chewacla State Park was one of eleven Alabama state parks awarded the 2016 Certificate of Excellence by TripAdvisor, a travel website featuring traveler-generated content and reviews. The award celebrates establishments that provide excellent guest experiences and consistently achieve positive reviews on the TripAdvisor website, tripadvisor.com.

2016 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Awards for Alabama State Parks:

(Park name or attraction and award name)

• Cathedral Caverns – State Parks

• Cheaha - State Parks

• Chewacla - State Parks

• DeSoto - State Parks

• DeSoto Falls - Mountains, Nature and Wildlife Areas

• Gulf - Campgrounds

• Gulf - State Parks

• Gulf Adventure Center at Gulf State Park (zip line concessionaire) - Zip Line Adventures

• Gulf State Park Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail - Trails

• Gulf State Park Pier - Piers and Boardwalks

• Joe Wheeler - State Parks

• Lake Guntersville - State Parks

• Lake Guntersville Lodge - Lodging

• Lakepoint - State Parks

• Monte Sano - State Parks

• Oak Mountain - State Parks

• Wind Creek - State Parks

Chewacla State Park's 696 scenic acres offer plenty of rest, relaxation and recreation, and is conveniently located in the Auburn-Opelika area. Facilities include a 26-acre lake, swimming area, playground, a modern campground, picnic areas with tables, grills and shelters, cabins, hiking and mountain biking trails.

In the 1930's the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) built six stone cottages in the park, which are available for rental year round. The cottages have been renovated and feature hardwood floors, stone fireplaces, beautiful new bathrooms, modern kitchens and televisions. Each has central heating and cooling so your stay will be comfortable no matter what time of year you visit. Linens are provided.

If you prefer roughing it the park also offers 36 full hookup camping sites and 10 primitive sites. Shower facilities are available in all camping areas.

The Alabama State Parks Division relies on visitor fees and the support of other partners like local communities to fund the majority of their operations. To learn more about Alabama State Parks, visit www.alapark.com.

Volunteers Still Needed for the 2016 Barbasol Championship at RTJ Grand National July 14 – 17

Volunteers Still Needed  

for the 2016 Barbasol Championship at RTJ Grand National July 14 – 17

Don't miss you chance to get behind the ropes with some of the world's best PGA players! Volunteers are still needed, and we would love to have you be apart of the excitement!

A PGA Tour tournament sponsored by Barbasol, the No. 1 shaving cream brand in the U.S., debuted in 2015 at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Grand National. The tournament will return for the second year on July 11 - 17, 2016. A four-year agreement establishing the Barbasol Championship had been announced at the Alabama State Capitol by Governor Robert Bentley and representatives from the PGA Tour and the Robert Trent Jones Trail Foundation, which will serve as the tournament host organization. The Barbasol Championship has become part of the FedEx Cup competition, awarding 300 points to the winner.

If you are interested in being a volunteer for the 2016 Barbasol Championship, please click here to register. After you click the link, go to the left hand side of the page to begin the registration process. Each year volunteers are required to register as new volunteers to protect the past information provided to the website. If you registered last year, you may use the same username and password. If you have a group that would like to volunteer, contact Selina Maddox and a group discount will be given to the group. Go to www.barbasolchampionship.com to see all the committees available and to register.

Volunteer Package:  $50.00               Military $35.00   

• Dri Fit golf polo shirt
• Dri fit baseball hat
• Credential for the week-allows you in the tournament on days you do not work
• A Good Any Day ticket to give away ($20.00)
• Breakfast and Lunch on days you work
• Golf Voucher to play RTJ Grand National (good for 1 year/transferrable)

Barbasol Championship Facts:

• Will be held July 14-17, 2016 on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Grand National in Auburn/Opelika, AL.
• Grand National is one of 11 sites along the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail.  It has 36-holes of championship golf along with an 18-hole par-3 short course.
• The event will have an estimated economic impact of more than $25M on an annual basis.  This is based on estimates using comparable city population, tournament size and scope.
• The event will bring 132 professional golfers competing for $4m in prize money.
• Barbasol, an Ohio-based consumer product, will be the title sponsor of the event from 2015 - 2018.
• "Barbasol is America's #1 shaving cream.
• The tournament will be televised live on the Golf Channel all four official tournament days.
• Expected attendance of more than 50,000 to attend the event throughout tournament week.
• More than 70 credentialed media are anticipated to attend the event during tournament week.  This includes local, national and international print and electronic media. Countries represented include Japan, Korea and Europe..
• One of only 45 official events on the PGA TOUR schedule.
• The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail Foundation, Inc., is the host organization of the event.  This 501(c)(3) organization also is the host organization for LPGA events in Mobile and Prattville.

2016 Summer Camps Part 2: Get Active

FUNdamentals of Track & Field Camp: June 27 - July 1

The First Annual FUNdamentals of Track & Field Camp is specifically designed to teach younger kids the proper mechanics and techniques of the basics of Track & Field: Running, Jumping and Throwing. Learning these skills at an early age will help kids as they grow and develop in ALL sports! We will discuss proper stretching, warm-ups, speed and agility drills, form, technique, and much more! And most importantly, we will keep the FUN in FUNdamentals! Campers will participate in various competitions, games, and races. Our staff will consist of Auburn University Track & Field student-athletes, former and future Olympians, and Auburn University Track & Field Coaches.

For more information, visit: http://www.auburntrackcamps.com/fundamentals-camp.cfm

Indoor Futsal Summer League: June 2 (occurs weekly on Sunday, Tuesday &Thursday until July 31)

The Indoor Futsal league is hosted by Auburn Soccer Association. The league will house coed teams in U10, U12, U14, U18, and 19 & up age groups. All games will be played at the Boykin Center (400 Boykin Street #A). The league will begin on Thursday, June 2, and run until Sunday, July 31. All games will be played on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons. Each time will cost $300 to register.  If you are registering as an independent player, it is $30. All payment will be collected before your first game!

For more information, visit: http://www.auburnthundersoccer.com/other-info/asa-indoor-futsal-summer-league/

Junior Team Handball Camp: June 26 – July 21

The Junior Team Handball Camp will teach 5th-8th grade students the sport of team handball. Coaches and players from the USA Team Handball national teams will lead the camp, which will focus on the basic techniques of throwing, catching and scoring, as well as the basic tactics of offense, defense, and rules of the game. Combining elements of basketball, soccer, hockey and baseball/softball, this fast-paced “water polo on land” will provide a fun opportunity for youth to learn, play, and compete with world-class athletes.

For more information, visit: http://www.auburn.edu/outreach/opce/auburnyouthprograms/youthhandball.htm

Auburn Soccer Camps: June 10-12, June 12-15, July 11-14, July 15-17, July 17-20

Time is running short but spaces remain in the 2016 Auburn Soccer summer camps, which are held throughout June and July at the Auburn Soccer Complex and are run by the Auburn soccer staff. Led by head coach Karen Hoppa, who led the program to its first Sweet 16 appearance last season, the camps are for boys and girls from age 6 all the way to rising high school seniors. June 10-12 is the Elite Camp for girls in 8th through 12th grade and costs $400 for the session. Residential Camp I runs from June 12-15 and is for girls ages 9-16. It costs $475 to stay on campus like and live like an Auburn student-athlete and it costs $350 for commuters. There are three camps in July. The first is the Day Camp, which is from the 11th through the 14th and is for boys and girls ages 6-12. It costs $130. The second Elite Camp runs July 15-17 and is for girls in 8th-12th grade and it costs $400. The final Residential Camp runs July 17-20 and is for boys and girls ages 9-16. It costs $475 to stay on campus and $350 for a commuter. All camps are open to any and all entrants, limited only by number, age, grade level and/or gender.

For more information, visit: www.auburnsoccercamp.com