Community’s Spring festival this Saturday
By DON FLETCHER
News Staff Writer
Atmore Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Anna Ellis said this week that this year’s Mayfest celebration would feature an array of attractions designed to meet the expectations of people of all ages.
“We’ve got something for everyone,” said Ellis of the community’s Spring festival, which will take place this Saturday, May 6, at Tom Byrne Park.
Chamber officials said the annual festival, which will begin at 9 a.m. and end at 4 p.m., will offer entertainment on the park’s gazebo, a softball tournament, the annual Beautiful Baby Contest and more.
Nearly 100 vendors, including at least eight that will be selling food and drinks, will be hawking a wide variety of arts and crafts and other items. A 5K run will begin at 12 p.m.
“We already have 90-something vendors, and we’re expecting a few more,” Ellis said. “We had 97 last year, so we’re close to that again this year. I’m super-excited about that.”
The Beautiful Baby Contest, which features more than 50 entries, will take place from 9:30 to 11 a.m.
The festival is expected to draw between 7,000 and 10,000 people to Atmore from throughout and beyond Lower Alabama and Northwest Florida.
Ellis and Mayor Jim Staff will speak briefly during the opening ceremonies, which begin at 9 a.m. Raising of the flags will be conducted by Atmore First Assembly of God’s Royal Rangers, and the opening prayer will be delivered by Pastor Catadro North of Empowerment Tabernacle. The National Anthem singer had not been announced by late Tuesday morning.
Also, winners of the Miss Mayfest pageant, which will be held Friday night at Grace Fellowship Church, will be presented on the park gazebo at 11 a.m. A $2 admission fee is required to attend Friday’s pageant, and Ellis said those who attend may pay with either cash, or a debit or credit card.
The Chamber director said the festival will also include the following:
*Children’s activities, including a bouncy house that requires a wristband and limits the child to one hour, as well as pony rides and a Mickey Mouse obstacle course bouncy house for younger children.
*A 7-team softball tournament that will begin at 8 a.m. and continue until a winner is decided. Last year’s tournament ended around 5:30 p.m., but the games could continue later into the night.
*Live entertainment that includes Justin Colvard (11:15-12:45), Joey Collins (12:45-2:15) and Dave Meadows (2:15-3:45). Deejay Kris Stewart will then spin disks until the festival ends at 4 p.m.
Weather forecasts call for a 60-40 chance of scattered thunderstorms in the mid-to-late afternoon, with light winds and a high temperature of near-90 degrees.
For more details, or for directions to the festival grounds, call the Chamber at 251-368-3305 or email questions to Anah@AtmoreChamber.com.