Atmore's Mayfest celebrates 32 years
Published 7:27 am Wednesday, April 20, 2005
By By Lee Weyhrich
May 7 marks 32 years of Mayfest in Atmore with events that will be fun for the whole family.
"It's a good family event," Chamber of Commerce Director Emily Mims said. "It is an event that we promote more in this and surrounding communities. It's a good day to spend with your family in the park."
Mayfest helps raise funds to support the Atmore Chamber of Commerce, but the annual event was started by a completely different civic organization.
"It started back in the '70s and was started by the Junior Service League, it was a women's service group," Mims said.
Mims was a member of that group at that time.
"It started out as an arts and crafts show," she said.
The event has changed over the years.
"It's a family fun day in the park with arts and crafts and entertainment," Mims said. "The entertainment on the stage is mostly local."
According to information provided by the chamber, the music ranges from gospel to Christian contemporary to show tunes to country.
Lana Langford is this year's entertainment chairperson.
"Mayfest has got some great local entertainment planned all day," Langford said. "It starts at 9 a.m. and goes all the way to 5 p.m. We're going to have a good time. We just want to encourage everyone to come out and have a good time."
This year Mayfest is also going to feature the Mutt Strut, a doggy beauty contest; a beautiful baby contest and a new event, the Student Photography Contest, as well as children's activities.
"The children's activities include pony rides, carnival rides and a go fishing booth sponsored by Maxwell, Haley and Castleberry, as well as our kiddie train, the William's Station Express."
There will also be plenty to eat and the chamber will be selling T-shirts.