Selma: local rooms, events and more

Photo: Robert S. Taylor · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Town and around · Alabama · 35k people

Selma

Locals say Black Belt · “Queen City of the Black Belt”

The bridge that changed a nation, still standing tall.

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Welcome to Selma, the heart of the Black Belt. Here you'll find a community rooted in history and Southern hospitality. Come walk the bridge, taste the catfish, and feel the river breeze.

Clubs for Selma

No clubs for Selma yet.

The room

Selma Quiet now The bridge that changed a nation, still standing tall.

One room for everyone around Selma. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.

Ask the neighbours

All

A good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.

Coming up

No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.

Marketplace

Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Selma. Sign in to sell something.

Things to do

Edmund Pettus Bridge Iconic bridge over the Alabama River, site of Bloody Sunday.
Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail 54-mile route commemorating the voting rights march.
Riverfront Park Green space along the Alabama River with walking paths.
Old Depot Museum Local history exhibits in a restored train depot.
Vaughan-Smitherman Museum Historic building with artifacts from the Civil War and later.
Sturdivant Hall Antebellum mansion open for tours and events.

Outdoors Walk across Edmund Pettus Bridge
Outdoors Bike or hike the Selma to Montgomery trail
With kids Visit the Old Depot Museum
With kids Walk the Selma to Montgomery trail
Evenings Catch a show at the Walton Theatre
Evenings Listen to live blues at local juke joints
Locals love Catfish restaurants
Locals love Soul food joints

Through the year

Bridge Crossing Jubilee March Commemorates the 1965 voting rights march with speakers, music, and re-enactment.
Historic Selma Pilgrimage Spring Tours of antebellum homes and gardens in the historic district.
Dallas County Fair Fall County fair with rides, livestock shows, and local food.
Tale of the Black Belt Fall Storytelling festival featuring regional tales and folklore.
Selma Arts and Crafts Festival Spring Local artisans showcase handmade crafts and art.

Selma has a humid subtropical climate with hot, muggy summers and mild winters. Spring and fall are the best times to be out. Best: Spring and fall offer the most pleasant temperatures and lower humidity.

Talk like a local

“the bridge”: Edmund Pettus Bridge
“the trail”: Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail
“Black Belt”: The region's nickname

Getaways

Montgomery State capitol, civil rights sites, and riverfront attractions.
Tuscaloosa Alabama Crimson Tide football and campus life.
Birmingham Urban dining, museums, and nightlife.
Auburn Auburn University and game-day atmosphere.

Local flavour

Rooting for Alabama Crimson Tide (NCAA football, Tuscaloosa), Auburn Tigers (NCAA football, Auburn), Montgomery Biscuits (MiLB Double-A, Montgomery)

Eat and drink

Fried catfish Southern staple, often served with hushpuppies
Barbecue (pulled pork, ribs) Alabama-style BBQ with white sauce
Soul food (collard greens, cornbread, banana pudding) Home-cooked comfort food
Sweet tea The universal Southern drink
Milo's Hamburgers (Alabama chain) Local fast-food favorite

Where people go

Historic civil rights landmarks
Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail The route of the 1965 voting rights marches
Riverfront parks on the Alabama River Scenic spots for fishing and reflection
Small-town diners and soul food joints Family-owned, home-style cooking
Antebellum architecture and historic downtown Old buildings and a walkable main street

Heritage and traditions

Selma is proud of its central role in the civil rights movement, where the fight for voting rights changed the nation, and of its rich Black Belt heritage of agriculture, music, and storytelling.

This time of year in Selma

Hunting season Fall Deer and turkey hunting in the Black Belt woods.

Say it like a local: “bless your heart” — sympathy or mild condescension

Festivals

Battle of Selma Reenactment April Reenactment of the 1865 Civil War battle.
Juneteenth Celebration June Celebrates the end of slavery with music and food.
Christmas on the River December Parade and lights along the Alabama River.

Landmarks with a story

Brown Chapel AME Church Starting point of the Selma to Montgomery marches and a National Historic Landmark.
National Voting Rights Museum Dedicated to the voting rights movement and its foot soldiers.
First Baptist Church Hosted mass meetings during the civil rights movement.
Dallas County Courthouse Site of voter registration protests in the 1960s.
Old Live Oak Cemetery Final resting place of many notable Alabamians, with ornate monuments.

Food traditions

Hoppin' John Black-eyed peas and rice eaten on New Year's Day for luck.
Fried okra A beloved side dish, often served with barbecue or soul food.
Tomato sandwiches Fresh tomatoes with Duke's mayonnaise on white bread in summer.
Pecan pie Dessert made from local pecans, common at gatherings.
Chitlins Chitterlings, a traditional New Year's dish, often slow-cooked.

Music and arts

Gospel music Strong tradition in Black churches, with choirs and quartets.
Blues Selma has a blues heritage, with local musicians and festivals.
Civil rights songs Songs like 'We Shall Overcome' were sung during the marches.
Storytelling Kathryn Tucker Windham popularized Alabama ghost stories.

A little history

1820 Selma was founded on the Alabama River and became a cotton trading center.
1865 The Battle of Selma was a Confederate defeat near the end of the Civil War.
1965 Bloody Sunday: marchers were attacked on the Edmund Pettus Bridge.
1965 The Voting Rights Act was signed after the Selma to Montgomery marches.

Rivalries

Alabama Crimson Tide vs Auburn Tigers The Iron Bowl splits the state every fall.

Game day High school football
Game day Deer hunting
Outdoors Kayaking on the Alabama River
Outdoors Birdwatching
With kids Battle of Selma reenactment
With kids Christmas on the River

People speak with a Southern drawl, using phrases like 'y'all' and 'fixin' to'. The accent can be thick, and African American Vernacular English influences are present in some communities.

Only here

The Voting Rights Act was signed after the Selma to Montgomery marches.
The Edmund Pettus Bridge is a National Historic Landmark and symbol of the civil rights movement.
Selma has one of the largest historic districts in Alabama.
The Black Belt's dark, fertile soil gives the region its name.

New here? A few tips

Bring sunscreen and insect repellent, especially in summer.
Explore the historic district to see antebellum homes and churches.
Try a fried catfish dinner at a local soul food spot.
Walk across the Edmund Pettus Bridge at sunset for a powerful view.
Learn about the civil rights history at the museums and interpretive center.

Make this page better

Know a place, a festival, a word locals use, or something here that's wrong? Suggest it; someone at Popchat checks every one.

Part of Montgomery area

Nearby

Every area

MontgomeryAlabamaWhere the South's story unfolds.DemopolisAlabamaWhere the Black Belt meets the river TuscaloosaAlabamaWhere the river meets the Tide Alexander CityAlabamaWhere the lake meets the pines TroyAlabamaSmall-town warmth, Trojan spirit.BirminghamAlabamaWhere steel and soul meet in the Magic City TalladegaAlabamaWhere the roar of engines meets the quiet of marble.Auburn–OpelikaAlabamaWhere the Plains meet Southern heart

Selma, AL. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.