10 ways to celebrate Give Like Dolly Day in Alabama on 9/25
Reading time: 5 minutes
The Dollywood Foundation, home of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, announced Give Like Dolly Day as a global day of support for local Imagination Library programs. It will be celebrated every year on Sept. 25 — a callback to her hit song “9 to 5.”
Dolly founded the Imagination Library in 1995 in honor of her father, who could not read or write. It now mails a free book each month to children from birth to age 5. Local partners raise the funds to cover the cost of the books and mailing in their communities.
Jeff Conyers, president of The Dollywood Foundation, said the day is meant to support those partners and other nonprofits that help kids.
“For Dolly, giving was always personal and from her heart. She believed deeply in helping people, especially children, and she always felt if you are in a position to help, you should help.”
Jeff Conyers, president of The Dollywood Foundation
Here are 10 ways you can get involved on Friday, Sept. 25.
Magic City Pop-Up Plaza | Birmingham
Food and drink vendors include Orbit City Street Food, Subs N Grub, Nettie B’s Grill, Michael’s Restaurant at The Boxcar, Annie’s Fresh Squeezed Lemonade, Snowie Yummyice, Drury Lane Bakery and The Big Baby Cakes. Makers and vendors include AfroLit Alcove, Brianna’s Natural Infusions, Southern Bloom Bar, Leaf Home, Renewal by Andersen and Partyology. Birmingham Knockerball, Birmingham Public Library, Catalyst by Southern Research and Ebike Oasis will also be on-site.
- What: Free Dolly-themed pop-up market with food, vendors and games
- When: Friday, Sept. 25, 4-7PM
- Where: 17th Street Plaza, Railroad Park, Birmingham
- More info
Dress like Dolly | Leeds
The Burrow Bookstore is celebrating Dolly Day with a full day focused on books and literacy. Shoppers who come dressed in pink, rhinestones, fringe, boots or big hair get a discount, and wearing one of the shop’s limited-edition Dolly Day T-shirts counts too. Silly Geese Social will organize crafts, with details still to come, and Dolly-themed Blind Dates with a Book are available all week.
- What: Dolly Day with costume discounts, T-shirts, crafts and a children’s book drive
- When: Friday, Sept. 25, 10AM-8PM
- Where: 8139 Parkway Drive, Leeds, AL 35094
- More info
- The Burrow Bookstore: Facebook
Dolly Day Painting Class | Trussville
- What: Dolly Day painting class with glitter and rhinestones, $50 per person (pay at the studio)
- When: Friday, Sept. 25, 7PM (doors open at 6:30PM)
- Where: Paint All The Things Trussville Studio, 5870 Trussville Crossings Parkway, Suite 118, Trussville, AL 35235
- Reserve a spot
- Paint All The Things: 205-655-3958 | Website | Instagram
Book drive | Birmingham
- What: Children’s book drive benefiting Better Basics
- When: Through Oct. 31
- Where: Rojo, 2921 Highland Ave., Birmingham, AL 35205
- Rojo Birmingham: 205-328-4733 | Website | Facebook | Instagram
Dolly-themed cookies | Homewood
- What: Dolly-themed cookies, with 10% of proceeds benefiting Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
- When: Through Sept. 30; special orders available any time
- Where: Savage’s Bakery, 2916 18th St. S., Homewood, AL 35209
- Savage’s Bakery: 205-871-4901 | Website | Facebook
River Region United Way | Montgomery
Channel your inner country icon for a great cause in Montgomery. Coinciding with global Give Like Dolly Day on Friday, Sept. 25, River Region United Way, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and Jerry’s Juke Joint are hosting a Dolly Parton Karaoke Night. Wear your best rhinestones, sing your favorite hits and help support early childhood literacy.
- What: Dolly Parton Karaoke Night: 9 to 5… AND THEN SOME
- When: Friday, Sept. 25, 5–7PM
- Where: Jerry’s Juke Joint – 108 Bibb St, Montgomery
- Admission: FREE
- Suggested donation: $9.25 (a nod to Dolly’s iconic song “9 to 5”) to support local children’s literacy programs
- Activities + theme: Dolly Parton dress-up, karaoke singing, glitz & glamour and charitable givinghttps://www.facebook.com/share/1HNXQcZPds/?mibextid=wwXIfr
United Way donations across Alabama
Donations can be made at United Way’s website, and you can choose from the following three options:
- $9.25 — One meaningful donation
- $92.50 — Supports 3 children for one year of free books
- $925 — Supports 30 children for one year of free books
Dolly movie marathon | Decatur
The event starts at 10AM with a showing of “Coat of Many Colors,” then continues with a showing of “Steel Magnolias” and “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,” with a 20-minute intermission between each film. Tickets cost $15 and give you access to all three screenings.
- 📍 112 2nd Ave NE, Decatur, AL 35601
- 📅 Saturday, September 26 @10AM
- 🎟️ Tickets
Dolly Day at the bar | Mobile
Enjoy an afternoon of Dolly-inspired drinks, outfits and music starting at 2PM at Hayley’s Bar (the oldest bar on Dauphin Street)! Sing along to Dolly’s hits while sipping on their signature Dolly Dirt Road Martini.
- When: Friday, Sept. 25, 2PM
- Where: 278 Dauphin St, Mobile, AL 36602
- Website | Facebook | Instagram
The Midtown Pub’s fundraiser | Mobile
Midtown Pub posted on Facebook that it was their “honor and duty to celebrate all of [Dolly’s] kindness, love and philanthropy” on Sept. 25 — and that there was no better way to do so than to raise money for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which mails free books to children.
Beginning at 6PM on Friday, they’ll be collecting books to be distributed to local Little Free Libraries. They’ll also be hosting raffles and have silent auction items, which will include artwork and gift certificates. Drag queens will also be there to celebrate!
- When: Friday, Sept. 25, 6PM
- Where: 153 S Florida St, Mobile, AL 36606
- Website | Facebook | Instagram
New Little Imagination Library | Mobile
- Where: Across from Callahan’s Irish Social Club, 916 Charleston St, Mobile, AL 36604
- Website | Facebook | Instagram
