Free family fun, live music, rides and much more
Story by Paul South
Submitted photos
It began in 2014 as what could be called a 30-day miracle, a community party that went from dream to reality in a month.
That miracle, known as Hokes Bluff CityFest, celebrates its 12th anniversary Sept. 26. The free, family-friendly festival features hot music, classic cars, great food, arts and crafts, rides for the kids and more. The festival skipped 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The event culminates with fireworks illuminating the night sky above Etowah County’s easternmost incorporated city. Some 3,000 people packed last year’s event.
A brief history
In 2014, Hokes Bluff Mayor Scott Reeves was a newly appointed member of the city council, filling the seat formerly held by his late father, longtime city leader Gary Reeves. Gadsden had decided to discontinue Riverfest, and John Moore – then on the Hokes Bluff governing board – floated the idea of CityFest to fill the breach.
“We got that thing together 30 days out,” Reeves said. “We got sponsors, got vendors and put that thing together in one month and made it work. It was a heck of a festival.”
He added, “It’s been really nice for our citizens and our surrounding communities to bring the family and have a free day. It’s free, except for what people spend at our vendors. That is because of our sponsors that support it. As long as we can (generate that support), we’re going to keep it free.”
This year’s major sponsors include Glencoe Hokes Bluff Funeral Home, Harmony Hydration, Buffalo Rock, Wiregrass Construction, Greater Gadsden Area Tourism, Peoples Independent Bank, Meridian Waste, Piggly Wiggly, Riverview Regional Medical Center, Ronnie Hopkins Ford, Hokes Bluff Drug Shop and Etowah County Commissioners Johnny Grant and Mike Powell.
“As important as the big sponsors are, every sponsor is as important,” Reeves said. “They help to keep our event free. “The free admission takes on added significance in the current economy.
“ We think that’s a good draw,” Reeves said. “I saw a statistic a while back that a lot of families are living paycheck to paycheck, trying to keep groceries on the table and keep the air conditioner and the heat running. We thought if we could get enough sponsors together for the stage and the kids’ rides, we could keep it free and give families an opportunity to do something like this without having to go into their wallets except to buy something from a vendor.”
The event begins at 7 a.m. with an estimated 100 custom street rods and classic cars. In the past, as many as 150 gleaming vehicles have taken part. The Hokes Bluff Lions Club will also host a breakfast at $5 per person.
“Golly bum, it’s a hearty breakfast,” Reeves said. “Bacon, eggs, gravy, you won’t leave hungry.”
Rides and vendors open at 10 a.m. at the city’s softball complex. Some 60 to 70 vendors are expected, selling food, drink, arts and crafts.
It’s a big day,” Reeves said.
Even as a small-town festival, CityFest has managed to draw some big-time entertainment down through the years, including country superstars Lorrie Morgan, Shenandoah, Confederate Railroad and the late Joe Diffie.
Rising country artist Drake White, a Hokes Bluff native, has toured with country star Riley Green and is a past performer at CityFest.
This year, the acts come from closer to home and from all musical genres. For example:
Headliner Lisa Perkins & the E-Lusion Band Motown & Soul Revue brings some Motor City magic to the stage, covering classics from The Temptations, The Four Tops, Smoky Robinson and the Miracles and more. Get ready to move your feet to this great band as they groove to the soul tunes from the 1970s, 80s and 90s.
Women Icons of Rock covers classics from rock legends Heart, Stevie Nicks, Pat Benatar and other female legends from the 1970s and 80s.
A local favorite returns to Hokes Bluff when Still Broke Band returns to CityFest.
Another local favorite, Albert Simpson, also makes a return appearance. Simpson is a popular performer across the Southeast and is a regular at the Gulf Coast’s iconic Flora-Bama.
Up and coming country artist Jake Steed, who offers a mix of bluegrass and country along with Gospel for audiences across the nation.
And if the music makes you hungry, there’ll be something for every taste.
After an evening of music, the festival closes at 10 p.m., capped off by a fireworks display, a celebration of America’s 250th birthday.
CityFest is an integral part of the leadership’s vision for Hokes Bluff.
“Hokes Bluff has always been a quiet, family-type city,” Reeves said. “I’ve lived here all my life, and I pretty much know what the citizens want. They don’t want a city that’s bursting at the seams. They like the low-key atmosphere here. Our crime rate is really, really low.”
He added, “ We realize that the city has to have revenue to enable the first responders, police and fire to do their job and keep the infrastructure up. I like to see that our buildings are full right now and people shopping local. We support our schools. It’s just a nice place to call home. It’s a great place.”
He sees CityFest as a reward for the people of Hokes Bluff and surrounding areas that support local businesses. “It allows them to have a day of fun and excitement and enjoy the day together,” Reeves said. “It’s a way to let them know we appreciate their support.”
The festival isn’t all that’s happening in this community. Hokes Bluff has revitalized seven acres of city-owned waterfront property, at the site of the Hokes Bluff ferry. Two new pavilions, electricity, picnic tables, a new pier, LED lighting and a floating dock. The site also features a playground and a paved parking lot.
“We have completely transformed that site,” Reeves said. “It’s really come a long way. It’s really, really nice.”
There’s also a historical marker sharing the ferry’s history,
Reeves’ pride shines through when he talks about his hometown.
“We may not be an Atlanta, Georgia, or a Chattanooga, Tennessee, but we do offer some amenities for our citizens that gives them a good quality of life,” he said. “We want (out of towners) to come give us a visit.”
How would his late father view the festival and the changes in Hokes Bluff like the ferry project? “He would be very pleased,” Reeves said. “Dad (a 1958 graduate of Hokes Bluff High School) was all about Hokes Bluff. He would be very well pleased with the way we’ve progressed and the way we’ve carried on.”
