Once a year, the Pioneer Museum of Alabama comes alive with Shape Note Singing. And, so it will be, Saturday, February 22 in the museum’s Main Street area.

Barbara Tatom, director of the Pioneer Museum of Alabama, said the day of the Shape Note Singing s one of the museum’s biggest of the year.

“We have a large number of those who come from all around the local area and including a large number and north Alabama,” Tatom said. “And there will be several rows for seating for those who just want to come and listen.  Even, if you don’t like Shape Note Singing, if you stay and listen, it would be hard not to appreciate it.”

The 2025 Shape Note Singing at the museum Saturday will begin 9:30 a.m. and end around 2:30 p.m.

There will be an hour lunch break at noon and around 1 p.m. the singing will begin again and close around mid-afternoon.

Tatom said everyone who would like to know more about Shape Note Singing or wants to sing along, is welcome to be a part of a very enjoyable day at the museum.

Shape Note Singing was once thought to be sung only by older people. However, Tatom said, that more young people are showing an interest as evidenced by the increasing number of young faces around the hollow square than before.

“And that’s good because Shape Note singing is a part of our musical history and our cultural history, too,” Tatom said. “We want Shape Note Singing to continue for years to come, and, the more young people who take an interest  in the old way of singing,  the longer that Shape Note Singing will be part of America’s music.