1) One Hour, Every Saturday, Zero Stress
We all love activities that don’t take over the whole day. These tours are the sweet spot: one hour, Saturday morning, 10–11 AM, and you’re done with plenty of time left for brunch, explore nearby shops and museums, or continue your weekend with another local stop.
In addition, you’re not stuck trying to make a single date work. If one Saturday is busy, no worries, you can catch the next one. And if you like it? You can come back again and again, because each Saturday is different.
This isn’t “the same tour four times.” It’s a series, and that’s exactly why we want you to join every Saturday in April.
2) New Montgomery Experience
This year’s April Walking Tours are designed to show you more of Montgomery than ever before. If you’ve joined the previous April Walking Tours, you’ll recognize the same engaging storytelling and meaningful stops, with the added benefit of new locations and fresh perspectives each Saturday, giving you a richer view of the city over the course of the month. Think of it as a week-by-week experience: one Saturday you’ll step into historic Downtown Montgomery and learn the stories that shaped the city; the next, you’ll explore Centennial Hill one of Montgomery’s most historically significant neighborhoods, known for its deep cultural roots and Civil Rights history, and see the city through a broader community lens. You’ll close out the month at the Montgomery Botanical Gardens at Oak Park; a peaceful nature escape right in the city.
3) Free Guided Experience You Can Share and Repeat
This is more than a walk through the city, it’s a guided experience that adds context, meaning, and memorable details to every stop. But what you’re really getting is something people usually pay for: a guided experience that turns a simple walk into an “I didn’t know that!” moment every few minutes.
A guide adds context you simply don’t get from walking around with Google Maps. You learn the stories behind the streets and landmarks; notice details most people pass without realizing and leave with a clearer understanding of how Montgomery’s history connects across neighborhoods and time periods. And because the tours are free, it’s easy to include other people as well: bring a friend visiting from out of town, invite your family, come with teammates or classmates, or even show up solo and meet others who enjoy exploring the city.
To further enhance the experience, the schedule is designed so you can join more than once and still get something new from it: new stops, new stories, and a new setting as the month progresses. And while the final two Saturdays take place at the Montgomery Botanical Gardens at Oak Park, each tour still offers a worthwhile experience that makes the full April lineup feel like more than a one-time event.
April Tour Schedule (10:00 AM – 11:00 AM)
April 4: Downtown Historical Walking Tour
Led by: Valerie Smedley, Tours of Montgomery
Starting Point: Kress Building / Prevail Union (39 Dexter Avenue)
Time: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
What to expect: A free one-hour guided tour through historic downtown Montgomery, focusing on Civil Rights and Civil War history.
April 11: Centennial Hill Walking Tour
Led by: Valerie Smedley, Tours of Montgomery
Starting Point: Tours of Montgomery Store (353 S Jackson)
Time: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
What to expect: A free one-hour guided tour through the history of Centennial Hill, focusing on Civil Rights and Civil War history.
April 18 & April 25: Montgomery Botanical Gardens Tours
Led by: Cathy Maddox, President of MBG Board of Directors
Starting Point: Montgomery Botanical Gardens at Oak Park (1010 Forest Avenue)
Time: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
What to expect: The gardens are a wonderful asset to the city and its visitors, truly a beautiful oasis of nature in an urban environment, created by dedicated volunteers.
Experience Montgomery invites residents and visitors to join the FREE April Walking Tours every Saturday in April from 10:00–11:00 AM. Designed to accommodate all ages, these one-hour tours offer an easy, active way to experience Montgomery with local insight, learning the stories behind the places that shaped the city. With rotating locations and themes each week, the tours work like a month-long “Montgomery adventure series”: you can join once or come every Saturday and experience the city in chapters as the month unfolds. RSVP is preferred, though walk-ups are welcome; to RSVP or learn more, contact Cassandra Wright at 334-262-0013 or cwright@montgomerychamber.com.
