2023 back-to-school sales tax holiday is July 21-23

By JON ANDERSON

This year’s back-to-school sales tax holiday in Alabama is set for July 21-23.

Between 12:01 a.m. Friday, July 21, and midnight Sunday, July 23, shoppers will not have to pay state sales and use taxes and some local sales and use taxes on select items.

The three-day sales and use tax holiday was first created by the Legislature in 2006 to give people a break from taxes as they shop for items needed for their children to return to school.

The state gives counties and municipalities the option of whether to waive their own sales and use taxes for the same period.

Mountain Brook is waiving its sales and use taxes, and other nearby cities and towns participating as of June 15 were Adamsville, Alabaster, Bessemer, Birmingham, Calera, Center Point, Chelsea, Clay, Columbiana, Fultondale, Gardendale, Graysville, Helena, Homewood, Hoover,

Mason Music Fest returns this month

By LEAH INGRAM EAGLE

Mason Music Fest will bring the Birmingham community together with its annual daylong music festival on Saturday, July 29, at Avondale Brewing Company.

The event, which is in its 11th year, will feature a lineup of national, regional and local artists, including Carver Commodore, Annie DiRusso, The Secret Sisters, The New Respects, Colony House and Futurebirds.

“We’re thrilled to bring such a diverse and talented group of musicians to this year’s festival,” said Mason Music owner Will Mason. “Our goal is to showcase the power of music and its ability to bring people together and you are sure to leave this festival with some new favorite musicians.”

In addition to live music, the festival will offer a variety of food trucks and vendors.

General admission tickets are $49 (VIP tickets $150) and 100% of the proceeds will go to benefit the Mason Music Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to changing lives by providing scholarships for music lessons to families who qualify for financial assistance.

“Mason Music Fest is more than just a fun day out,” Mason said. “It’s a chance to support a great cause and help us continue to provide

COST: General admission tickets: $49; VIP tickets: $150.

• DETAILS: Benefits Mason Music Foundation

• WEB: masonmusicfest.com music education opportunities to those who may not otherwise have access to them.”

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit masonmusicfest.com. To sponsor or volunteer at the festival, email info@ masonmusicfest.com.

Mason Music has studios located all over Birmingham, including Cahaba Heights, Mountain Brook Village, Bluff Park, Greystone and Woodlawn.

Since its founding in 2012, Mason Music has offered private lessons in guitar, piano, voice, drums and violin to thousands of students of all ages and skill levels, along with music camps, group lessons and Rock Band League.

“Why do we celebrate the Fourth of July?” my 6-year-old niece asked me. We were by the swimming pool. It was the perfect afternoon. The sky was Technicolor blue. The smell of Kingsford smoke was in the air.

At first, I wasn’t sure how to answer my niece’s question. At least not in a way she would understand.

After all, this particular American holiday is a grandiose thing. How do you describe to a 6-year-old the significance of Old Glory, “purple mountains majesty” and the inexpressible splendor of Dale Earnhardt Sr.?

“Well, sweetie,” I said. “That’s a good question …”

But then I sort of drew a blank. Why DO we celebrate the Fourth?

I suddenly realized I know less about this American holiday than I thought I did. In fact, one could say that I don’t know Shinola about the Fourth of July.

And, apparently, I’m not alone. Because I conducted an informal study by asking students in Mrs. Anderson’s Sunday school class why we celebrate this uniquely American holiday.

Here are some answers I received:

► John, 11, said, “It was the French or something.”

► Eilene, 9, “That’s when we won the war against Mexico. No wait. I mean China.”

► Benji, 9, “Because that’s when we do the fireworks.”