MUNICIPAL PARK • ALABASTER, AL • JUNE 3
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A special publication of
ALABASTER CITYFEST GUIDE
STAFF
ALABASTER ARTS COUNCIL Adam Moseley PRESIDENT
Henry Raymond FIRST VICE PRESIDENT
Emily Sykes SECOND VICE PRESIDENT
Renna Clements SECRETARY
Vic Smith TREASURER
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
4
CITYFEST CELEBRATES 15 YEARS
6
BAND PROFILE
7
FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
8
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT
11
REMEMBERING DIANA HUSSEY
12
KIDSFEST ACTIVITIES
14
MAP
CITYFEST GUIDE EDITORIAL
Graham Brooks Stephen Dawkins Alec Etheredge Briana Harris Amalia Kortright Keith McCoy Emily Sparacino Neal Wagner PRODUCTION
Connor Bucy Steven Calhoun Jamie Dawkins Clarke Stackhouse MARKETING
Kristy Brown Kari George Rachel Henderson Daniel Holmes Hagan Joiner Donna Knott Rhett McCreight Kim McCulla Ashley Murphy April Spivey Kerrie Thompson ADMINISTRATION
Tim Prince Katie McDowell Mary Jo Eskridge Hailey Dolbare Stacey Meadows
CityFest 2017 | 3
CELEBRATES 15 YEARS By AMALIA KORTRIGHT
F
or many residents, Alabaster CityFest has been a long-standing family tradition for the past 15 years. The 2017 Alabaster CityFest is set for Saturday, June 3, starting at 9 a.m. at the Alabaster Municipal Park. It is expected to be the city’s biggest event. “By observation, it probably draws more people to Alabaster than anything else the city does during the year,” Alabaster Arts Council Artist and Media Relations Chair Jamie Cole said. “Besides being a family event, it puts eyes and ears on the town.” Cole described Alabaster CityFest as having a plethora of activities for visitors of all ages, including vendors, live music, and a kids’ area with no charge. “It’s sort of a state fair for a day, because it has that kind of atmosphere. A lot of people view it as a concert, but it is way more than that,” Cole said. Cole said that the emphasis on staying family friendly and affordable is what sets 4 | CityFest 201 7
Alabaster CityFest apart from other events. “It’s a free family event, and that makes it unlike everything else that’s going on in the state,” Cole said. “There are quite a few things that you can do in Alabama during that weekend, but they can cost you hundreds of dollars.” The first Alabaster CityFest was in 2003 to celebrate the city’s 50th anniversary. Cole said he has seen the festival grow exponentially since its inception. In addition to attracting more and more visitors each year, Cole said the festival’s lineup and events continue to improve. “I can say with a good deal of certainty that we get better, musically and creatively, every year,” Cole said. This year’s CityFest will offer sensory friendly activities to locals with special needs and their families from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. For the 15th consecutive year, Alabaster CityFest will feature the Cruise-In Car
Show, which is sponsored by Ernest McCarty Ford, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The headliners for the 2017 CityFest are country duo Maddie and Tae and Black Jacket Symphony. Jessica Meuse, Raquel Lily, The Springs and LAMONT will perform before the headliners. Love Dos, Terry Padgett as Elvis, Sanchez Tanniehill and Divine Destiny are set for the day stage, and DJ Fuzzy will provide music in the KidsFest area. In the past, Alabaster CityFest has featured several well-known artists, including Craig Morgan, Rodney Atkins, Everclear, Josh Turner and Sister Hazel. CityFest is organized and planned by the Alabaster Arts Council, sponsored by local and national businesses and organizations, and is run by many volunteers. For more details about the 2017 Alabaster CityFest, visit the festival’s website at alabastercityfest.com.
CityFest 2017 | 5
BAND PROFILES
BLACK JACKET SYMPHONY, MADDIE AND TAE TO PERFORM AS HEADLINERS By AMALIA KORTRIGHT
A
cclaimed country singer-songwriter duo Maddie and Tae and wellknown touring artists Black Jacket Symphony are set to take the stage as headliners at the 2017 Alabaster CityFest. “We’re picking artists who will have the widest appeal while still being creatively satisfying,” Alabaster Arts Council Artist and Media Relations Chair Jamie Cole said. “I feel really strongly that both of our headliners fit that bill.” Black Jacket Symphony will start performing at 7 p.m. While Black Jacket Symphony performed as a CityFest headliner in 2016, Cole said they will bring in new music this year by performing Queen’s album “A Night at the Opera,” along with some of Queen’s other greatest hits. “They are way more than a cover band, even though what they do is cover other artists,” Cole said. “Their entire reason for being is to play a great rock album note for note. They treat rock and pop music in the same way that a symphony would treat Mozart.” 6 | CityFest 201 7
Cole said Marc Martel will provide the lead vocals to Black Jacket Symphony’s performance. “He’s an artist in his own right. We would have booked him on his own and drawn people to the show,” Cole said. “Queen’s drummer has performed with this guy, and said that it was as close to having Freddie Mercury in the room when Freddie Mercury was alive.” Maddie and Tae’s show will begin at 9 p.m. as the final act. According to Cole, a big part of the appeal of Maddie and Tae is the way they perform onstage. “Besides being extremely popular, what drew me to them was their songwriting, and the fact that they put on a terrific show,” Cole said. “A lot of times, when you have singer-songwriter types, you get a lot of sitting on stools and strumming acoustic guitars. It’s a little bit of a change of pace for us to have a female duo, so that’s exciting.” Shows on the Main Stage will begin at 2 p.m. with singer-songwriter and former
American Idol contestant Jess Meuse. “The afternoon shows are about variety,” Cole said. “It’s cool to have an American Idol finalist, and she’s not a cover artist like a lot of the contestants, she’s a singersongwriter.” Another singer-songwriter, Raquel Lily, is set to perform at 3 p.m. “Your kids are probably already watching her on YouTube,” Cole said. “She’s made a name for herself through social media. Her original music is just as good as her covers, which is rare for a young artist.” The Springs, a country husband-and-wife duo, will play at 4:15 p.m. “They have some interesting chemistry,” Cole said. “Their first album was released last summer, and charted on the Country Billboard Charts.” LAMONT will play at 5:30 p.m. as the final afternoon act before the headliners. “This is one you shouldn’t miss. This is a breakout band. There’s a reason their name is in all caps, because they’re emphatically great,” Cole said.
FESTIVAL SCHEDULE DAY STAGE 12 P.M. ..............................................................................................LOVE DOS 11 A.M. ...................................................TERRY PADGETT AS ELVIS 10:30 A.M. ....................................................SANCHEZ TANNIEHILL 10 A.M. ...............................................................................DIVINE DESTINY *CRUISE-IN CAR SHOW FROM 9 A.M.-2 P.M. KIDSFEST ACTIVITIES BEGINNING AT 9 A.M. WITH DJ FUZZY AND MORE; VENDORS FROM 9 A.M. TO 6 P.M. OR LATER.
Melanie
Flowerz N’ More
MAIN STAGE 9 P.M. ....................................................................................... MADDIE AND TAE 7 P.M. .......................................................... BLACK JACKET SYMPHONY 5:30 P.M. ............................................................................................ LAMONT 4:15 P.M. ...................................................................................... THE SPRINGS 3 P.M. ................................................................................................... RAQUEL LILY 2 P.M. .......................................................................................... JESSICA MEUSE CityFest 2017 | 7
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT:
TOTAL FIRE PROTECTION By NEAL WAGNER
F
or Tom Black, owner of the Alabaster-based Total Fire Protection company, it’s all about being part of the community. “I live in Alabaster, and my kids go to Alabaster schools. This is where I make my living, and I see the benefits of being involved in things in the community,” Black said. During his time living in Alabaster, Black has become an avid fan of the annual Alabaster CityFest celebration each June at Municipal Park. “I’ve been to it a dozen times, and I always have a great time,” Black said of the event, which has grown exponentially since its inception 15 years ago. “It’s all about kids, and all about the community.
8 | CityFest 201 7
That’s why we decided to get involved.” Each year, the Alabaster Arts Council draws some of the biggest names in music to the main stage at CityFest, but it couldn’t do it alone. Without sponsors, CityFest wouldn’t be open to the public with no admission charge. This year, Total Fire Protection is among the local companies who have decided to give back by becoming a CityFest sponsor. Total Fire Protection, Inc., established
in 1998, is a family owned business based in Alabaster. “The Total Fire family and its employees are proud to sponsor CityFest because it is such a wonderful event for all ages and spotlights our community,” Black said. “Many thanks to the Arts Council, Central State Bank, Coca-Cola and all the hard working individuals who put this festival together.” Total Fire Protection is located at 141 Regency Park Drive in Alabaster, and can be reached at 621-6381.
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT:
SOUTHEASTERN POND MANAGEMENT By NEAL WAGNER
F
or more than a decade, the Alabaster Arts Council has been able to pack out Municipal Park by bringing some of the biggest names in music to the main stage at the annual CityFest celebration. While plenty of planning goes into bringing the festival to the city, it takes community partners to keep the festival free to the tens of thousands of spectators who attend the event. One such community partner is Southeastern Pond Management, which is located at 2469 U.S. 31 in Alabaster. “Southeastern Pond Management has called Alabaster home since 1993. My family and I have attended Alabaster CityFest for
many years and have always found it to be a great value…a truly fantastic, family-friendly event,” Southeastern Pond Management owner Norman Latona said. “We are pleased and excited at the opportunity to be involved with CityFest in 2017 as a corporate sponsor!” Southeastern Pond Management has four locations and has been in business since 1989. This company has a range of services extending beyond simple pond and lake management. Southeastern Pond leads in services and technology by helping pond owners with pond construction, stocking, lake mapping, weed control, liming, fountains and aerators. Another specialty service is electrofishing which helps to access
the health of the body of water as well as the health of the fish. Those who wish to have their pond or lake needs evaluated can contact Southeastern Pond Management for a free initial consultation. Southeastern Pond Management has a team of experienced fisheries biologists on staff, and stocks important products for ponds, such as fish-tagging kits, SportMax fertilizers and custom-designed Pond-Toon fishing boats with accessories on hand. It is a one-stop shop for all pond maintenance needs. Southeastern Pond can be reached at 664-5596 or 288-1371, by email at info@sepond.com or at Sepond.com.
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CityFest 2017 | 9
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: CENTRAL STATE BANK By NEAL WAGNER
W
ith this year’s Alabaster CityFest celebration comes a new title sponsor in the locally based Central State Bank company, which signed a three-year sponsorship deal starting this year. As a title sponsor, Central State Bank is playing a major role in helping the Alabaster Arts Council to draw nationally renowned music acts to the CityFest main stage while keeping the event free to the public. But involvement in the local community is nothing new for Central State Bank. Tracing its roots back to its first branch, which opened in March 1916 in Calera, the company has grown significantly over the past century, but is still focused on serving central Alabama residents with personalized care. Central State Bank has five locations. The Main Office located at 11025 Alabama 25 in Calera, the Airport Office located at 57 Shelby County 87 near the Shelby County Airport in Calera, the Limestone Office located at 71 Limestone Parkway in Calera, the Pelham Office located at 3145 Pelham Parkway and the Alabaster office located at the corner of Kent Dairy Road and Alabama 119. The bank also owns Central State Mortgage located at 2815 Greystone Commercial Blvd. in Birmingham. Central State Bank President Shane Schroeder said the company was happy to sponsor this year’s CityFest. “Central State Bank has been a locally and family owned community bank for over 100 years and strongly desires to be more than ‘just a bank’. We do all we can to ensure our customers feel so strongly about the relationship we have they would not think of banking anywhere else,” Schroeder said. “We feel that City Fest, graciously managed by the Alabaster Arts Council and largely funded by the 10 | CityFest 201 7
The Alabaster Central State Bank pledged its three-year sponsorship of Alabaster CityFest on Tuesday, April 4. (Contributed) city of Alabaster, is the type of event communities should invest in. Central State Bank decided to be the title sponsor, in large part, because it fits very well with one of our mission statement ideals with Central State Bank being the bank whose community is enriched by its presence. “Moreover, the bank
has agreed to be the title sponsor for three years, which we hope will help the Arts Council be able to focus on the upcoming festivals without worrying about this one element,” Schroeder added. “We are the bank that is large enough to serve you while being small enough to personally know you.”
REMEMBERING
DIANA HUSSEY
2016
CONTRIBUTED
T
he Alabaster Arts Council and the community lost a valued member of the Arts Council’s Board of Directors this year. Diana Hussey was well known in the community and had a servant’s heart. She spent almost a decade helping to coordinate efforts on behalf of the Arts Council, including the annual Alabaster CityFest. She was a big supporter of Alabaster City Schools, as well as the band and wrestling programs. “Diana had a great love for this community and the people of Alabaster,” Arts Council President Adam Moseley said. “She was an integral part in our planning for CityFest each year and helped make it the event it is today. She happily donated her time and talents to a number of causes and organizations. She is greatly missed.”
“SHE WAS AN INTEGRAL PART IN OUR PLANNING FOR
CITYFEST
EACH YEAR AND HELPED MAKE IT THE EVENT IT IS
TODAY.” –ADAM MOSELEY CityFest 2017 | 11
KIDSFEST
HEALTH AND WELLNESS AREAS RETURNING TO FESTIVAL By AMALIA KORTRIGHT
F
rom 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., families with children will be able to participate in a multitude of family friendly activities at the KidsFest and Health and Wellness areas of the 2017 Alabaster CityFest. “This is just a very family friendly area. It provides a place for younger people to go and enjoy themselves,” sponsor Vic Smith said. “It’s just one of the perks of CityFest that makes it what it is.” 12 | CityFest 201 7
Smith said KidsFest was not a part of the overall festival during its inception in 2003, but organizers quickly realized it was a useful addition to the event. “As the festival has grown over the years, we tried to start new things, and this was one of the first,” Smith said. KidsFest will include inflatables, kid rides, hands-on arts and crafts, horseback riding, bungee jumping and other various kids activities.
Lowe’s will also set up their Build-It Workshop from 9 a.m. to noon, where kids can learn about woodworking, use tools and design their own creations. According to Alabaster Arts Council member Jamia Alexander-Williams, thousands of kids take part in KidsFest each year, and entry into the area is free to the public. Alexander-Williams also said there will be vendors selling kid-specific merchandise during KidsFest.
Smith said there is no age limit to who can participate. While KidsFest will be run by volunteers in an enclosed area, Smith said parents are still encouraged to supervise their children. In a continued effort to fight childhood obesity, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama is proud to again sponsor the healthy kids activities at this year’s Alabaster CityFest, Sophie Martin with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama said. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years. Additionally, one out of three children in Alabama by age 10 show signs of early heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. Encouraging children to get active for at least 30 minutes a day will help prevent diseases related to inactive lifestyles and improve their overall health. Teaching children healthy habits at an early age such as fun ways to exercise and eating healthy means a healthier Alabama now and long-term, Martin said. “Our healthy kids activities continue to increase in participation which is exciting to see and it validates the interest in fun active lifestyle opportunities like this one,” Martin said. “Last year we had more than 300 children learn how to make a healthy snack and participate in our field day activities. This year we expect those numbers to grow.” Officers and firefighters from the Alabaster Police Department and the Alabaster Fire Department, as well as medical and security personnel, will also be onsite in case of emergency. The KidsFest area is sponsored by Vic Smith, CPA and the Health and Wellness area is sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama.
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CityFest 2017 | 13
ALABASTER CITYFEST
MAP
WHERE IS
CITYFEST?
Alabaster CityFest is located in Alabaster, AL on the grounds of the Alabaster Municipal Park and Thompson Middle School. For your convenience, Alabaster CityFest has free parking and free shuttles running from the festival site to all of the public parking areas. The shuttles will run from 8:45 a.m. until the end of the event. The public parking areas will fill in the following order: Thompson High School, Warrior Park, Thompson High School Football Stadium, Publix.
Directions to Public Parking From Montgomery AL
(taking I-65 North) u Take Exit 238 Alabaster/Saginaw u Turn left on Hwy 31 N u At 2nd traffic light, turn left onto Hwy 119 S u Go approximately 2 miles to Thompson Road and turn right (next to Thompson Intermediate School) u For the first public parking opportunity, go approx 1/2 mile and turn left onto Warrior Drive and follow the signs.
From Birmingham AL
(taking I-65 South) u Take Exit 238 Alabaster/Saginaw 14 | CityFest 201 7
u Turn right on Hwy 31 N u At 1st traffic light, turn left onto Hwy 119 S u Go approximately 2 miles to Thompson Road and turn right (next to Thompson Intermediate School) u For the first public parking opportunity, go approx 1/2 mile and turn left onto Warrior Drive and follow the signs.
Directions to VIP Parking From Montgomery AL
(taking I-65 North) u Take Exit 238 Alabaster/Saginaw u Turn left on Hwy 31 N u Go to 2nd traffic light and turn left onto Hwy 119 S u Go approx 2 miles to Thompson Road and turn right (next to Thompson Intermediate School) u Turn left on Warrior Drive and follow the signs to VIP Parking
From Birmingham AL
(taking I-65 South) u Take Exit 238 Alabaster/Saginaw u Turn right on Hwy 31 N u Go to 1st traffic light and turn left onto Hwy 119 S u Go approx 2 miles to Thompson Road
1. MAIN WALK-IN ENTRANCE 2. ENTRANCE FOR VENDORS 3. VENDOR CHECK-IN & SETUP ENTRANCE 4. VENDOR PARKING 5. VENDOR BOOTHS 6. DAY STAGE 7. CRUISE-IN CAR SHOW 8. KIDSFEST & KIDS STAGE 9. DOG SHOW 10. MAIN STAGE 11. VIP TENT 12. VIP PARKING/ MUNICIPAL PARK ENTRANCE 13. MEDICAL/POLICE STATION
and turn right (next to Thompson Intermediate School) u Turn left on Warrior Drive and follow the signs to VIP Parking
Directions to Vendor Parking From Montgomery AL
(taking I-65 North) u Take Exit 238 Alabaster/Saginaw u Turn left on Hwy 31 N u Go to 2nd traffic light and turn left onto Hwy 119 S u Approx. 3 miles, turn right onto Kent Dairy Rd u Approx. ½ mile, turn right into Thompson Middle School parking lot
From Birmingham AL
(taking I-65 South) u Take Exit 238 Alabaster/Saginaw u Turn right on Hwy 31 N u Go to 1st traffic light and turn left onto Hwy 119 S u Approx. 3 miles, turn right onto Kent Dairy Rd u Approx. ½ mile, turn right into Thompson Middle School parking lot
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