The 16th Annual Dowling Memorial Park Sweet Tater Festival kicks off today, launching a Labor Day tradition that has pulled crowds into the Crane Hill community in ever-greater numbers ever since the benefit event was organized in 1996.
The festival runs today from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m., then cranks back up all day Monday, running from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. There’s a $3 admission fee, and all proceeds raised from vendor permits and admissions go to the ongoing maintenance and improvement of the historic Dowling School.
Dowling, along with West Point school, both burned in a 1996 Labor Day weekend arson spree that devastated the tightly-knit communities in west Cullman County. Since then, the festival has given residents an opportunity to preserve what remains of Dowling, and to come together in celebration on the anniversary of the event.
“When I came out here and saw the school on fire, man — my heart sank,” said Charles Johnson, one of the first at the scene, back in 1996, when Dowling went up in flames. “We’ve kept the park up ever since right on the site where the school was. The little memorial building here at the park actually still has the same steps that went up into the school.”
But why sweet potatoes?
“Because it’s the time of the year that sweet potatoes come in,” said Johnson. “When we started this thing, we looked around to see what farmers were gathering in the fall of the year. There’s hardly anyone who grows cotton anymore, and we noticed — there’s more sweet potato growers in Cullman County than any there are for any other kind of farming except cattle. So that’s why we chose it.”
Expect a full schedule with lots to do and see. In addition to hourly musical performances on both days, there’ll be tons of food, arts and crafts vendors, emerging artists showing their work (without having to pay a vendor’s fee, thanks to festival organizers), kids’ rides, games and a beauty pageant for all ages from infants up to 18 years.
The park is located on County Road 222, 15 miles after turning west off Ala. Highway 69 in Good Hope. Visit www.sweettaterfestival.com for more information, or call Tony Leonardi at 256-531-7916 or Sherry Brown at 256-636-5887.
Labor Day old-fashioned ride
The annual Labor Day Clarkson Covered Bridge wagon and horse ride will begin at County Road 1129 (at the old Penn Alvis store) at 9 a.m. Sept. 3; ride begins at 10 a.m. Come on horse or in buggy/covered wagon and make the 3-4 mile trek. Bring picnic lunch. Anyone may participate.
Fairview Labor Day celebration
The Town of Fairview will hold Labor Day festivities at the Fairview Community Park from Sept. 3. Parade will be at 11 a.m. with festivities following: Children’s activities are $5/child to participate in any or all of these: inflatables, sack races, greased pig grab, and more. Many activities for adults, including the annual horseshoe tournament. Proceeds from activities go to park projects for improvement and upkeep.
The Fairview Lions Club will sell concessions with all proceeds benefiting their community projects.
For more information, contact Paula Edge at 256-590-4478.
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