Local News
Gourd festival kicks off Saturday
By David LazenbyAbout four years ago, artist Pam Montgomery gave her life to the gourd.
The craftswoman from Trinity said after attending a 2003 festival that celebrated gourds, the versatile plant shell became her medium of choice.
“I was amazed at the things people were doing with gourds,” she said.
A year later, she set up shop at the Alabama Gourd Festival. “I’ve been here ever since,” she said. “It just kind of blossomed.”
Montgomery will be in Cullman this weekend for the ninth annual Alabama Gourd Festival held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Cullman Civic Center.
The craft of decorating gourd shells is perfect for Halloween, according to Montgomery, because they are ideal for making masks and great substitutes for pumpkins when it comes to creating jack-o’-lanterns that last.
“You can take a bushel gourd and carve it like a pumpkin, put a light in it, and those will last for years and years whereas a pumpkin is going to rot and decay,” Montgomery said.
Proof of the gourd’s long shelf life can be found in some museums, some of which have gourds that date back between 600-800 years, according to Montgomery.
“They are very durable,” she said.
The gourd has also proven to be a particularly useful fruit. Montgomery said.
“The Indians used them as bowls and spoons and things like that,” said Montgomery. “In countries where it’s still primitive, they still use it,” she added.
In addition to containers, vessels and jewelry, gourds can be used as resonating chambers for certain musical instruments according to thegourdconnection.com.
The art of gourd design will be taught at the festival during 15 different classes. To register for the classes, most of which have a student limit, send a check or money order to Alabama Gourd Society, P.O. Box 902, Trinity, AL 35673. A complete list of classes and their costs can be found on the Web at www.alabamagourdsociety.org
Montgomery, who is the treasurer of the Alabama Gourd Society, said other festival activities will include various exhibits, an auction, a gourd hat parade, a mask parade, vendor booths, artist demonstrations. Also, a dinner will be held Saturday for $12 per person.
Montgomery said exhibit entry and vendor registration will be conducted Friday.
“They should be able to find anything they are looking for,” she said about festival attendees.
- Local News
-
-
Scheduled power outage Sunday
Six city intersections will be without power due to electrical maintenance Sunday, so city police are urging local drivers to be cautious.
-
Fugitive alleged child molester found
A Cullman County man who has been on the run since he was accused of molesting a child in 2006, was found in Mississippi Tuesday.
-
Man arrested for impersonating deputy
A local man who allegedly impersonated a Cullman County Sheriff’s deputy was arrested by a real one Thursday.
-
Possible homicide in Fairview
Cullman County Sheriff’s deputies are investigating a possible homicide, which occurred in Fairview Friday.
-
Residents tour local farm, industries
The Cullman County Farm-City committee held their annual tour Thursday and toured Birmingham Fastener, Tinney Farms and the Cullman Stockyard.
-
Veterans Day celebration starts Saturday morning
A city and county-wide Veteran’s Day celebration will be Saturday morning at 8 a.m. with Civil War re-enactors a Depot Park. Events will continue throughout the day at the Festhalle Market Platz.
-
Hanceville police recover active meth lab, stolen property in home
Two Hanceville men are behind bars after police allegedly recovered a working meth lab and about $20,000 worth of stolen property Wednesday from a local residence.
-
City: Water meets all standards
As far as Cullman city officials are concerned, they provide some of the highest-quality water in the area.
-
Sumiton fugitive returned to Cullman to face charges
A Sumiton man who eluded about 50 area law enforcement officers during an April manhunt, only to be arrested in Walker County in July, was recently returned to Cullman County to face charges.
-
Cleaning up
Nearly half a dozen workers have spent time at Cullman Memory Gardens this week, mowing and trimming a cemetery that has largely been neglected the past year.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Scheduled power outage Sunday
