One of the world’s largest free public art festivals is coming to Alabama.

Little Amal, the 12-foot puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee girl who has traveled across 13 countries, will make a stop in Alabama as part of a 6,000-mile journey across the United States.

The production will be in Birmingham on Wednesday, October 11 and Thursday, October 12 before departing for festivals in Selma and Montgomery on Friday.

Inspired by a character in Joe Murphy and Joe Robertson’s play “The Jungle,” about a refugee camp in Calais, France, Little Amal’s journeys are produced by The Walk Productions and Handspring Puppet Company with an international network of producers, artists and partners.

Little Amal’s walk is described as a celebration of art and theatre that aims to unite communities and refocus attention on the urgent needs of refugees, immigrants and asylum seekers, as well as highlight the cultures and contributions immigrants bring with them.

“Amal walks for the hundreds of thousands of refugees and displaced people of all ages roaming the world in search of safety, half of whom are children,” producers said in a media release about the festival.

Amal’s first stop was in Gaziantep, a city in southern Turkey just 40 miles from the Syrian border where many Syrian refugees have settled, reports the New York Times.

Since then, more than 300 artists, museums, and cultural institutions around the world have hosted the production. Little Amal has traveled through cities, towns and villages including Turkey, Greece, Italy, Poland, and Ukraine. The production crossed the Atlantic for the first time last year when it ventured to New York’s five boroughs.

“Amal stands for unity and hope, and we couldn’t impart this message without the hundreds of partners, large and small, coming together to support us as we embark on this journey,” said Amir Nizar Zuab, the artistic director of The Walk Productions, in a press release. “Each artist, organization and institution has a story to tell about their unique slice of American history and culture, and is inviting Amal and all Americans to learn about what makes this country’s heart beat.”

READ MORE: A beacon of hope: Little Amal’s journey takes her to Flint

All of the events surrounding Little Amal’s walks are free. Birmingham will host three public events to welcome Little Amal to the Magic City at City Walk BHAM, Sloss Furnaces, and the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. On Oct. 11 from 6 to 7 p.m, the public is invited to greet Amal at City Walk BHAM for “When the Children Gather,” a dance performance inspired by the 1963 Children’s Crusade in partnership with Birmingham native artist and musician Lonnie Holley, Yaa Samar! Dance Theatre, Create Birmingham, and the Alabama School of Fine Arts.

The next morning, Little Amal will visit Sloss Furnaces to participate in an interactive art exploration and iron pour. An hour later, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute will welcome guests to the city’s civil rights district for a sendoff featuring a poetry reading by Alabama Poet Laureate Ashley Jones and a children’s march through Kelly Ingram Park where marchers will lay flowers at the “Four Spirits’’ memorial statue. The march will culminate at the steps of Sixteenth Street Baptist Church with a performance by the Carlton Reese Memorial Unity Choir.

Little Amal will depart for Montgomery and is expected to arrive at the Alabama State Capitol building on Thursday evening for a march to Court Square Fountain. On Friday, October 13, Little Amal will join foot soldiers and community members in Selma to retrace the march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge. That afternoon, the production will return to Montgomery for a community gathering at Cottage Hill.

Planning to see Little Amal in Alabama? Here’s the schedule of events.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11

When the children gather – City Walk BHAM, 6:00 p.m. (Start Point: City Walk BHAM, 18th St N at 6:00 p..m. End Point: City Walk BHAM, 21st St N)

The public is invited to greet Amal at City Walk BHAM for “When the Children Gather.” The performance will begin at 18th St N and travel to 21st St N, and will uplift the power of youth through dance, theater and music. Little Amal will gather with over 40 dancers from the Alabama School of Fine Arts in collaboration with acclaimed artist Lonnie Holley for a celebration of the power of young people. Inspired by the 1963 Children’s Crusade in Birmingham, this production is created by Yaa Samar! Dance Theatre, directed by Alabama native Samar Haddad King, and produced by Create Birmingham in association with the Alabama School of Fine Arts Dance Department. 

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12

Melting pot – Sloss Furnaces, 9:00 a.m.

Little Amal will take part in an iron pour at the historic Sloss Furnaces featuring artistic direction from Sloss Metal Arts and Birmingham artist Carey Fountain, as well as performances by Birmingham-based West African dance and drumming ensemble, Sahi On Ko Djony.

March on! –  Birmingham Civil Rights District, 10:00 a.m. (Activities begin at 10:00 a.m. and Amal arrives at 11:00 a.m.)

As Amal says goodbye to Birmingham, Alabama Poet Laureate Ashley Jones wishes Amal a safe onward journey. Together, they join a children’s march from Birmingham Civil Rights Institute to Sixteenth Street Baptist Church where they pay their respects to the children who died in the 1963 bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church. Participants are encouraged to arrive early to make streamers, banners, and tissue paper flowers for the march.

Hope unveiled – Alabama State Capitol at 5:00 p.m. (Start Point: Alabama State Capitol, Montgomery, AL 36104 at 5:00 PM CT. End Point: Court Square Fountain, Montgomery, AL 36104)

In partnership with Alabama State University Department of Theater & Dance, James Atkinson and the National Park Service – Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail, Amal will explore the hope and resilience that emerged from the civil rights movement, accompanied by a group of civil rights marchers.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13

Honor the steps–11:00 a.m. (Starting point to be announced)

Little Amal will join hands with the Selma community to retrace and honor the steps of the foot soldiers along the iconic Edmund Pettus Bridge.

Some broken things can be mended – Five Points, Cottage Hill, Montgomery, 5:30 p.m.

In partnership with Chintia Kirana and the City of Montgomery, Amal will gather with the community at Cottage Hill in Montgomery.