To Kill a Mockingbird 50th anniversary celebrations reach apex this week & enter to win a SIGNED copy!

This week marks the “official” 50th anniversary of Alabama native Harper Lee’s pivotal novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. Her hometown of Monroeville, Alabama, is hosting a huge fete this week, although Lee has declined to attend. You can view the entire schedule at the Monroe County Heritage Museum’s site.

For a list of events happening across the country, click over to the official anniversary website. (There’s one near me Sunday — I may have to brave the heat to attend!)

Here’s a round-up of recent news:

• A Classic Turns 50 and Parties are Planned, from The New York Times
• Monroeville’s Mockingbird, from Southern Living
• Monroeville & Mockingbirds, from Deep South Magazine

But here’s some of the biggest news of all: The Alabama Humanities Foundation is raffling/auctioning off  SIGNED copies of To Kill a Mockingbird! Read more about it here.

For the comments: Do you plan to mark the anniversary? Will you be attending an event?