Central Alabama Handbell Festival

03/08/2026

Thank you for being part of the Festival!

02/24/2026

Hey everyone!
We are just ten days away from the start of our 2026 Central Alabama Handbell Festival! We are excited to be welcoming Michael Glasgow as our clinician this year for both Friday, March 6th and Saturday, March 7th.

Our closing concert will be 3 pm on Saturday the 7th at Pleasant Hill UMC in McCalla. Invite your friends and family to join us as 14 handbell choirs (including 3 orphan ringers!) showcase their hard work and dedication. If you have never been to a CAHF concert, don't miss out!

For more information about the festival, including directions to Pleasant Hill UMC, visit our website at https://cahandbells.com

03/01/2025

This is a reminder that the closing concert for Festival 2025 is this afternoon at 3:00 pm.
They've been working hard and are ready to ring for you!

Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church
4809 Bell Hill Rd, Bessemer, AL 35022

Please spread the word!

The Central Alabama Handbell Festival is held every years around the end of February/early March. Our goal is to provide an educational event in a multi-choir environment. We bring in nationally known clinicals to lead our events. The two day event concludes with an afternoon concert at 3 PM, which

03/01/2025

Day 2. Rehearsal #3. Bryan Childers, clinician. Central Alabama Handbell Festival 2025. Free Closing Concert at 3:00 pm today (Saturday, March 1)

02/28/2025

Festival 2025 with Brian Childers is underway!

02/28/2025

Brian Childers leading the Workship: No Pain-No Gain: 25 coordination exercises to hurt your brain & improve your ringing.

02/28/2025

All set up & ready for CAHF 2025!!!

02/27/2025

If you've never seen the closing concert of the Central Alabama Handbell Festival, I promise you, you are MISSING OUT! The talented bell ringers and clinician work hard on Friday night and all-day Saturday to showcase their hard work and dedication. The pieces, some more challenging than others, are a joy to hear live. It is truly a fitting end to the festival.

I encourage you to take the time to go see this wonderful concert and support a great group of handbell musicians.

The closing concert is Saturday, March 1, 2025 at 3:00 pm at
Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church.
4809 Bell Hill Rd, Bessemer, AL 35022
Website: pleasanthillumc.com/

For more information on the festival, visit our website at https://cahandbells.com

02/25/2025

CAHF 2025 is almost here--Friday, February 28 - Saturday, March 1 at Pleasant Hill UMC in McCalla, AL.

We are excited to have Carillon Choir from Hartselle First Methodist Church, Asbury Church Handbells from Madison, Leeds First Baptist Church Handbells, the HUMdingers from Huffman UMC, Vestavia Hills Baptist Church Handbells, Exultation Ringers from Golden Springs Baptist Church, Shepherd of the Valley Presbyterian Handbell Choir, Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Handbell Choir, Bell Hill Ringers from Pleasant Hill UMC, Riverchase UMC Handbells, Hueytown First Methodist Church Handbell Choir, Hope Church Handbell Choir in Gardendale, Celebration Ringers from All Saints UMC/Holy Cross Episcopal/Woodlawn UMC and two orphan ringers--Terry McCartin from Alpharetta, GA and Dr. Paul McGahie who is the Mississippi State Chair for Area 6 of Handbell Musicians of America joining us this year.

Brian Childers is excited to be our Clinician for CAHF 2025 & to lead the mass choir & a workshop entitled “No Pain No Gain: 20 exercises to hurt your brain and improve your ringing”.

The CAHF 2025 Closing Concert is Saturday, March 1 at Pleasant Hill UMC at 3:00 pm. It is a free concert! Join us as over 130 ringers/directors ring a great program of music!

Music Selection: Music List for CAHF 2025
Alleluia, Amen - Brian Childers
Joyous Spirit - Valerie Stephenson
Built on the Rock - arr. Matthew Compton
Here I Am, Lord - arr. Sandra Eithum
At the Cross Medley - arr. Kevi Stewart
Gloria Hodie - arr. Julie Turner and Kevin McChesney

If you would like to become a part of the Central Alabama Handbell Festival mailing list or need more information, please contact Kelley Clegg Neal (256-738-3979 or [email protected]).

Happy Ringing,

Kelley