The 13th annual Sweet Tater Festival is coming to Dowling Memorial Park in Crane Hill. The Labor Day weekend event begins Sunday from 1 - 4 p.m. and continues Monday from 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

“We have fixed up the grounds and we are going to have another great festival like we always do,” said Tony Leonardi, festival organizer. “The food is one big thing, but there’s a lot of arts and crafts; bird houses to yard art to jewelry.”

The festival is a fundraiser for the maintenance and upkeep of Dowling Memorial Park. In the future, Leonardi hopes to change the school grounds into a park with playground equipment and a walking trail.

The festival is expected to have at least 72 vendors offering crafts and bags of sweet potatoes for sale.

“We will have individual fried sweet potato pies, whole sweet potato pies, country style cooking and arts and crafts,” Leonardi said. “This year we have a lot of high class specialty food vendors.”

Food vendors include all types of sweet potatoes, funnel cakes, snow cones, BBQ, hot dogs and much more.

“Come hungry, and bring your appetite,” he said.

There will also be live entertainment, door prizes, children’s rides and games. Admission is $2.

“There will be inflatables, whirly whirl and a bungee ride for the kids,” Leonardi said.

The entertainment includes Christian, country and tribute artists. Wayne Abbott, a Willie Nelson tribute artist; Terry Padgett, an Elvis tribute artist; and Evan Mitchell, a Rascal Flatts tribute artist are among some who will perform throughout the day on Monday.

“We will also have $50 Wal-Mart gift card drawings on the hour every hour,” Leonardi said.

The give-aways will also include $50 cash vouchers from Peoples Bank

“We could not do this without the help of many people, including the Cullman High School Leo Club, the Cullman County sweet potato growers and the Crane Hill Fire Department women’s auxiliary and many others,” Leonardi said.

Fairview Labor Day Parade and Festival

Also this weekend, the town of Fairview will host the 12th Annual Labor Day Parade and Festival sponsored by the Fairview PTO.

The day will begin at 7 a.m. with the Trail Sale.

“The Trail Sale is a community yard sale where people can bring their items and set up around the walking trail at the park,” said Felicia Carden, organizer.

At 8 a.m. there will be a 5K run and one mile fun run. Registration will begin at 7 a.m. at Fairview High School gym. Cost of the 5K run is $12 for preregistration and $15 the day of the event. All participants will receive a T-shirt. The Fun Run will be around the high school track after the 5K run with the same cost. Cost will be $5 with no T-shirt.

At 9 a.m., registration will begin for the automobile, motorcycle and tractor show. Cost is $20 for preregistration and $25 the day of. Judging will take place at 1 p.m. and will include best paint, best engine and best interior for the automobiles. The motorcycles and tractors will have a best overall winner and there will be a people’s choice overall winner voted on by attendants.

“There will be plaques and a cash awards for People’s Choice winner of the car show,” Carden said.

“This is an opportunity for the town to get together and enjoy themselves,” Mayor Randall Shedd said. “The parade gives everyone an opportunity to get recognition from academics to sports.”

The parade, which will begin at 11 a.m., will have a two Grand Marshalls, Chris Maynord and Geathel Vickery.

“The grand marshals are people that have given a lot to the community,” Shedd said. “Chris has been an inspiration to the entire town through his disability and blesses all of us.”

Vickery is Fairview’s oldest citizen and will also serve as Grand Marshall.

“Ms. Vickery is also an inspiration,” Shedd said. “She is the oldest resident and is just so spry.”

Children can receive a hand stamp for $5 or wear T-shirts that were sold earlier this year to participate in the games and rides.

At noon, there will be a baby race and a cozy coupe race for toddlers.

“We will just have fun things for all ages,” Carden said. “We hope to give back to the school. With the teachers not receiving money this year it is hard and we just want to be able to help.”

The day will wrap up around 3 p.m.

‰ Tiffany Green can be reached by e-mail at tgreen@cullmantimes.com or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 220.