Williams Station Day is an Atmore staple that captivates droves of people new and old alike and this year will likely be no different.

This year’s festivities will kick off at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, and will continue all day along South Pensacola Ave., coming to a close at 5 p.m.

Once again, Atmore residents will be able to depend on the organizers of last year’s event, the Atmore Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Chamber of Commerce Director Sheryl Vickery, for an entertaining day; however, Vickery said it is the people of Atmore who make the event so enjoyable.

“I feel a lot of people love to come to Atmore because of the hospitality and warmth of the people,” Vickery said.

People can certainly expect to see a swath of familiar faces, as the turnout this year is expected to be as good as that of any previous year.
“We’re hoping it will be as good as in the past. We’re planning for a great show,” Vickery said. “There are a lot of different things going on throughout the state, but we’re still planning to put on a good show. We’re hoping a lot of people will come home.”

In addition to featuring entertainment from a host of performers, good food and tons of artists, Williams Station Day 2012 will also offer plenty of other exciting options for the whole family.

“We’re gonna’ have the model train back again this year. We didn’t have it at last year’s Williams Station Day. We’re bringing everything back this year, but we’re adding more.”

Among the highlights, audience members will be able to see a turpentine display, spinning on a spinning cycle, gourd art, weight lifting, storytelling, cane syrup made from the Old Time Cane Mill, the Great Pumpkin Painting and Carving Contest, the Cruiser’s Antique Car Show, the Poarch Creek Indian Cultural Display, a 5K run, and of course, the Williams Station Express Train Ride.

For those interested, there are still booths available for the event and should be available up until Oct. 23.

“We’re still getting a lot of people calling for them,” Vickery said. “We’ll probably take them until the Tuesday before the event.”

In regards to the music, Williams Station Day will kick off with the gospel choir from Mount Triumph Baptist Church. There will also be favorites returning from years past, including one of the most popular musicians Roy Harper. Harper figures to once again mesmerize large crowds with his brand of old-school country and folk. Harper will travel to Atmore from Manchester, Tenn., the state where he was awarded the prestigious Folk Life Heritage Award. Also returning to the music stage is blues musician Big Joe Shelton.

“We’ve got blues and bluegrass mainly,” Vickery said.

One feature Vickery tried to make sure happened this year is featuring special events at night.

“We try to do stuff at night, so people have something to do,” Vickery said.

Thursday, Oct. 25 will feature a Patron of the Arts Party from 6-8 p.m. On Friday, Oct. 26, “The Panhandle All Star Band” will play at Eddie and Melissa Seales’ Farm at 8 p.m. Admission is $10 per person. On the night of Williams Station Day, Oct. 27, there will be a Williams Station Day Reunion Dance hosted by the class of 1972 held at the YMCA gym and featuring “The Hot Wire Band.” The dance will be from 8 p.m. until midnight and the cost is $20 per person and $30 per couple.