April is right around the corner, and with it comes another chance for Selma to welcome tourism.

The 151st anniversary of the Battle of Selma re-enactment, the April walking tours and the Rock ‘N’ Ribs Benefit should bring large crowds to Selma. While this year’s anniversary won’t be as monumental as last year’s anniversary, there should still be a strong turnout of tourists.

April of 1865 Society president James Hammonds said he expects between 400 – 500 re-enactors to travel to Selma this year, roughly half of the amount of last year’s re-enactment. As we’ve seen earlier this year, however, just because this year’s anniversaries are not as iconic, it doesn’t mean people aren’t interested in celebrating the history.

The Bridge Crossing Jubilee still produced a large crowd, despite it coming on the heels of the 50th anniversary. We hope that trend continues in April.

The April walking tours will take place each Saturday of April at the Selma-Dallas County Library at 10 a.m. The Battle of Selma re-enactment will take place from April 21 – 24. On the first two days, Selma will bring in students from around the Southeast with the Living History School Tours. This will provide an opportunity for young people who may have never seen Selma to learn about the significant role it played in the Civil War.

While the events in April should draw plenty of tourists, we encourage the people who call Selma home to participate and welcome another great opportunity to celebrate Selma’s rich history.