This Side of the Bridge Weekend
60th Anniversary of March Interviews
March 13, 2023
This Side of the Bridge Weekend
- Starts with a reception on Friday, March 21, 2025, from 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts. Heavy hors d’oeuvres, live music, and a tribute to Civil Rights icons and local heroes. A night to honor the Voting Rights legacy.
- On Saturday March 22, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. join us for Family Fun Day at Carver High School in Montgomery. Marching bands, step shows, vendors, bouncy houses, face painting—free and family-friendly.
- Then from 2:00 p.m. to 8 p.m. we will have the Stars for Freedom Rally. Rally will feature singers, comedians, speakers, music and more. To learn more about the acts check out MGM Side DOT COM.
- Stars Attending: Big Boi, Larenz Tate, Dr. Jamal H. Bryant, Pastor Mike Jr., Jekalyn Carr, Van Van, Terrence J, KJ Smith, Novi Brown, Taylor Hicks, Ryley Tate Wilson
- Everything culminates in the March to the Capitol on Sunday, March 23, 2025, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
- The Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail 60th Anniversary Commemorative March starts at Oak Park (950 Forest Ave) and ends at the Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery. It’s a two-mile walk retracing part of the historic route, open to the public, with parking at the Capitol and shuttles back to Oak Park after. Registration’s encouraged but not required—details at MGM Side DOT COM.
People Not Attending in-person Can MARCH IN THE METAVERSE
- Metaverse is a digital world where you control an avatar, explore virtual versions of real places, shop, learn, and interact with businesses. Montgomery’s Metaverse ties into the 60th anniversary of the 1965 voting rights march.
- Montgomery’s Metaverse features the full trail from St. Jude to the State Capitol as it looks in 2025, with toggles to see 1965 versions of key spots like St. Jude and Holt Street, built from old photos, documents, and videos.
- The launch is targeted for the week of March 17, 2025, though the exact date isn’t set yet. I’m told it will be ready to go in time for those marching on Sunday to be able to get an immersive view of Montgomery and the March in 1965.
- Historical material comes from the Alabama Archives, Jim Peppler’s photos, Getty Images, Spider Martin’s shots, and local historians and residents who shared stories and pictures.
- While many cities test Metaverses for planning, Montgomery’s the first we know of to blend a major historical event with this tech.
- It’s free to everyone starting mid-March 2025, accessible on any device with a browser and internet—no VR gear required.
- Future additions include more history, an AI “Story Mode” for the anniversary, and tools for city planning, traffic, real estate, tourism, and citizen input. It could expand city-wide later.
- Access it at www.virtualmontgomeryal.com soon for updates, then log in from any device with a browser after launch.
- It’s free for now to celebrate the anniversary, but a small fee might come later to cover costs.
- After the anniversary, Spring 2025 brings Story Mode and more areas. Within a year, virtual field trips and business tie-ins roll out. Long-term, it’s a planning tool for real estate, taxes, infrastructure, and utilities.
- No personal data is collected unless you volunteer it. You can stay anonymous.
- BizzTech, a partner, is pushing this tech globally for planning, tourism, traffic, and community engagement. Montgomery can use all that functionality.
- The City’s Community and Economic Development team, backed by the Mayor, led the project with Performance Services (construction experts) and BizzTech (tech pioneers).
- Funding comes from sponsors and ads—local to global—while boosting small businesses. It’s a tourism win, spotlighting Montgomery worldwide for the anniversary.
