Freedom Fest is first event to begin celebrating Independence Day

Music, magic and showers of pyrotechnics promise fun for all ages as Rainsville, Ala., presents its annual Freedom Fest on Saturday, June 25. The event is the first community celebration in the area leading up to Independence Day.

Festivities start at 1 p.m. CDT in Rainsville City Park, near the center of town on McCurdy Avenue South (across from Hardee's). Admission is free.

Musical acts will entertain throughout the day, culminating with the headlining show by Still Kickin' at 7 p.m.

The Car, Truck & Motorcycle Show will be set up in the City Park parking lot with registration starting at 3 p.m. Spectators should be able to get their best views of the vintage autos between 3:30 and 6 p.m., organizers say.

Activities including pony rides and inflatables will be available for kids, and the city pool will offer free swimming from noon to 5 p.m.

Magician Madison Hagler will perform shows at 2 and 4:30 p.m. in the Tom Bevill Enrichment Center auditorium, at 115 W. Main St., adjacent to the park. He also will roam the park before and between shows demonstrating his sleights of hand.

A team from Hope Puppet Ministries also will perform two shows inside the TBEC.

Arts and crafts vendors will be selling handmade jewelry, wood crafts, candles, fine art and other wares.

Food vendors will provide barbecue, pizza, hot dogs, hamburgers, funnel cakes, ice cream and lemonade.

The fireworks finale will start at 9 p.m. Organizers say it's likely that "more gunpowder will be detonated at the Rainsville Freedom Fest fireworks show than at most fireworks shows in the region this year."

For more information, call City Hall 256-638-6331 or the Chamber of Commerce at 256-638-7800.