Had the Founding Fathers been on the banks of the Coosa River July 3 and 4 for Gadsden’s Freedom Fest celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Republic they created, they would have been blown away.
A flotilla of boats bobbed in the water; their decks filled with happy revelers almost shoulder to shoulder. It was the same story on the riverbank, as the crowd arrived early to get a great view of the fiery illuminations that hours later would light up the nighttime sky.
Flying down the slide
Conservative estimates put the crowd at 15,000, but that number may have been closer to 20,000.
“It was just crazy,” Gadsden’s Director of Commercial Development and Community Affairs John Moore said.
Not far away, adventurous passengers boarded hot air balloons painted every color of the rainbow, the stars of a Hot Air Balloon Festival. Such modes of transportation weren’t seen in America until January 1793, nearly 17 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
In addition to local audiences, Gadsden’s aerial armada of balloons and the city’s fireworks were seen by the nation, broadcast live on the CBS Evening News. Imagine what American revolutionaries would have pondered about television. But that’s another story.
Folks ate and drank and listened to music from the Black Jacket Symphony, tunes the likes of which John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, John Hancock and their fellow citizens could never have busted a move to in their time. Yacht Rock, after all, was nothing like Mozart.
Still, it’s a safe bet that the men who pledged their lives, fortunes and sacred honor to the new nation would have loved the scene. After all, fireworks exploding into blossoms of fire and light in the night sky, folks of every faith, color and creed speaking with unabashed freedom and delight, was the spark that ignited the flame of liberty in Philadelphia.
Black Jacket Symphony performs at Freedom Fest
Fast forward to July 25-26 on South Third Street near Riverview Regional Medical Center, that same life, liberty and pursuit of happiness would have been wet and wild at Gadsden’s Slide the City Back to School Bash, an event aimed at giving kids and their families another memory to cherish as summer waned and a new school year approached. A 1,000-foot water slide created a huge splash, with 1,400 hitting the slide, a last bit of fun before summer’s end.
“It was a sellout, “Moore said. “It was a huge success.”
What would the Founders think of all these events, not just on Independence Day, but throughout the year in Gadsden?
“I would hope that they would be proud,” Moore said. “I hope that the Founding Fathers would sit back and look and see how the country has progressed over the years. This is beyond anything they would have ever dreamt of at the end of the day.
“They didn’t think about quality of life, or hot air balloon festivals. I doubt that even crossed their minds at the time,” Moore said.
“To come back years later and to see a foundation of what they built and what came about from those signatures they put on that page that day, I hope they’d be proud of what we’ve done.”
Just before sunset, Neely Henry Lake begins to settle into its evening rhythm. The water grows still. Pontoon boats drift offshore. Music floats across the lake as families unfold lawn chairs and children eagerly wait for the signal that the fun is about to begin.
At the center of the excitement sits an unusual arena built from hay bales and fencing – a playful reminder that this isn’t an ordinary fall festival.
Then the first tomato flies.
Within seconds, bright red tomatoes arc through the air as laughter erupts across Greensport RV Park and Marina. Children dodge behind hay bales. Teenagers launch playful volleys across the arena. Adults discover they’re just as competitive – and just as willing to laugh at themselves – as the kids.
For one evening each fall, Greensport RV Park and Marina transforms into Alabama’s own version of La Tomatina.
Replenishing artillery
Now entering its third year, Alabama’s Little Tomatina has become one of the region’s most distinctive community events, blending local agriculture, lakeside scenery, live music and family fun into an experience that’s uniquely Alabama.
Its story, however, begins long before the first tomato was ever thrown.
Few visitors realize that Greensport RV Park and Marina is just a small part of a much larger farm that has remained in the same family for eight generations – a legacy recognized through its designation as an Alabama Bicentennial Farm. For owners Dave and Stephanie Evans, preserving that heritage has always been just as important as creating memorable events for the community.
Stephanie recalls that the original spark came from a family conversation.
“My sister-in-law, Beth Evans, was talking about having a tomato festival with our neighboring Chandler Mountain community,” she said.
That idea quickly evolved.
“Dave heard that idea and, of course, had to ‘up the ante,’” Stephanie said. “Between Google searches and Dave’s ever-turning mind, he stumbled upon Spain’s Tomatina Festival. He said, ‘That’s it! We are going to do a Tomatina festival – Alabama style.’”
While Spain may have provided the inspiration, everything else reflects the character of northeast Alabama.
Instead of winding city streets, guests gather on Greensport RV Park and Marina’s island overlooking Neely Henry Lake. Instead of centuries-old buildings, the backdrop is rolling mountains, open water, and brilliant Alabama sunsets. Hay bales surround the throwing arena, creating playful obstacles for participants to duck behind between throws.
“It’s all about trying to intertwine unique events with our family and property roots,” Stephanie said.
That philosophy extends beyond the scenery.
For the third consecutive year, Smith Tomato Farm on nearby Chandler Mountain has donated the tomatoes used during the event, creating another meaningful connection between Greensport RV Park and Marina and one of the area’s best-known agricultural communities.
Special goggles when things get messy
“We are so proud to have Smith Tomato Farm donate all of our throwing tomatoes,” Stephanie said.
Even after the event ends, the tomatoes continue serving a purpose. Those still suitable for cooking are offered to anyone interested in canning or preparing meals. The rest are enjoyed by Greensport RV Park and Marina’s petting zoo animals and local wildlife.
For visitors attending their first Little Tomatina, Ashley Rogers, Greensport RV Park and Marina’s director of public relations, offers one important piece of advice.
“The first thing that newcomers need to expect is that they will get messy!”
Comfortable clothing is encouraged because the evening involves much more than simply tossing tomatoes. Guests can expect running, slipping, sliding, dancing, and plenty of laughter as the tomato battle unfolds.
The festivities begin with live music by Gadsden favorite, Parris, while food trucks provide plenty of opportunities to grab dinner before or during the event. Guests purchase wristbands at the gate – or in advance online – and can also order commemorative event T-shirts before arriving.
When it’s time for the main attraction, participants enter one of three age divisions: children ages 10 and under, teens ages 11 through 17, or adults.
Throwers purchase bags of tomatoes before stepping into the arena.
The rules are intentionally simple.
Tomatoes should be smashed before they’re thrown, making every hit more messy than painful. Some participants wear disposable ponchos or protective eyewear, while others proudly embrace the full experience.
Safe on the sidelines
And if someone finishes the evening covered head to toe in tomato juice?
“The lake is always there,” Ashley said, noting that guests are welcome to rinse off before heading home.
Not everyone participates inside the arena, however.
Many visitors simply enjoy watching the action unfold while relaxing beside the lake. Others come primarily for the music, food and festive atmosphere. Like many successful lake events, Little Tomatina offers something for everyone, whether they’re throwing tomatoes or cheering from the sidelines.
One of the evening’s biggest crowd-pleasers doesn’t involve the arena at all.
“My favorite moment would have to be allowing attendees to pie us in the face with tomato pies,” Stephanie said. “I get the most enjoyment out of seeing other people participate and have fun with their family and friends. This has truly been the most unique and most fun event we put on each year.”
Dave sees something even deeper in the tradition.
“I think my favorite part of the event is knowing the connection to the ag-related fields that we are rooted in,” he said. “I also love seeing the enjoyment people have just from something as simple as throwing a tomato. As a child, we would always throw rotten vegetables at each other and have the most fun. To see others love recreating something similar brings me joy.”
That sense of shared joy appears to resonate with visitors as well.
“Last year’s Tomatina at Greensport was a very entertaining event,” said attendee Owen Whisenant of Blount County. “I enjoyed just being part of the fun and the community.”
As the event enters its third year, the Evans family remains committed to making each festival a little better than the last.
“For us, the most important thing is to continuously improve in every way we can,” Stephanie said. “We want the event to be better and more entertaining each year. Listening to customer feedback and implementing those changes is very important to us. We want to keep it family friendly and affordable for everyone.”
That commitment may explain why Little Tomatina feels less like a novelty and more like a tradition in the making.
It’s an evening where local agriculture meets lake life. Where live music mixes with laughter. Where neighbors become teammates – or friendly targets – for a few unforgettable moments. And where one simple idea has grown into another reason for families to gather along the shores of Neely Henry Lake.
As the last tomatoes are thrown and the music continues into the evening, the mess quickly washes away. The memories, however, have a way of sticking around long after the stains are gone.
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.”
Music festival and more returning to Logan Martin Lake
Story by Paul South Photos by Strides Media
Tricked-out cars, tasty eats, talented artists, crafts artisans and red-hot local bands return to Lakeside Park this fall for the sixth annual Lakeside Live Musicfest, set for Sept. 19,
The free event that’s a can’t-miss fall festival in the Logan Martin area, also benefits local charities and celebrates veterans and local first responders.
Musicfest Executive Director Casey Cambron is pumped up for another great family-friendly event, which last year drew some 6,000 people, generating about $25,000 for local charities.
“Our goal every year is to donate at least $20,000 to at least one major charity,” Cambron said. “That’s always a goal.”
He added, “We’re going to help as many people as we can. Our goal is to give back to our community where we can have the most impact. We’re going to donate to multiple charities, of course. Last year we donated to nine organizations. Some were charities, some were organizations like (Pell City) Parks and Recreation to help with park upkeep.”
Battle of the Badges a fierce competition
The festival, put on by the nonprofit Five16 Foundation Cambron founded, helps veterans’ groups and child-focused charities as well.
Food and drink, apparel, arts and crafts will be available for sale. Admittance is free, thanks to the generous support of business sponsors, large and small, ranging from Keith Clements and Lakeside Boathouse, Rodney’s Marine and LakeLife 24/7, to committed small businesses like Reba’s Weiner Wagon.
As an aside, Reba’s enters a muscle car in the Lakeside Musicfest car show each year.
“Every time I walked in the door, whether it was a small sponsor or a big sponsor, they were in. The community supports it, and we could not have this show without it,” Cambron said. “All of them tied together makes it great.”
Music for every taste – from country to R&B to rock – will provide the backbeat for the festival. The gates open at 10 a.m.
Popular Birmingham-based band Deputy Five will be the headliner, covering tunes by country legends like Merle Haggard and Johnny Cash to Southern rock, like Lynyrd Shynyrd’s Sweet Home Alabama.
“We try to have music that hits all the genres that hits home for anybody who comes out,” Cambron said.
As for the festival’s annual car show, some 250 vehicles are expected. Not only does the competition reflect competitors’ pride in their cars and trucks, it also puts community pride on display. The Pell City High School wrestling team helps with logistics of the popular event within an event.
“I’m a car guy. I’ve hosted many, many car shows.” Cambron said. “The car scene really turns out for this event and really, really supports it big. That’s one of the coolest factors of it, seeing a lot of cool cars come out, whether it’s a lifted car or lifted truck, low cars or low trucks to classic cars. It’s all over the place. We raise a lot of money on just the car show side.”
Entry for the car show is $20 per vehicle. It’s a judged show, with 75 or more awards given to winners.
For Denise Olivastri, a member of the Foundation’s board of directors, it’s more than a fun event, it’s a celebration of giving back to the community, supporting local causes in Pell City and across St. Clair County.
“This is more than just a music festival,” she said. “Giving back feels great, because it connects us to something larger than ourselves, and we couldn’t achieve our mission and vision without our generous sponsors, donors, vendors and all (the people) that attend and support us every year.”
Car show a huge draw
And in America’s 250th year of independence, the festival represents the spirit of Pell City and St. Clair County, Cambron said. A big part of the festival, the annual “Battle of the Badges,” a good-natured competition between police and firefighters, helps build bonds with the community, Cambron said. “Usually in town, most people don’t get to know our police and fire department. It’s usually in a stressful situation. It’s fun to get to know our police and firefighters,” he said. “The people get to know first responders in a positive light.”
To celebrate the nation’s birthday at the same time makes it even more spcial. “As a group, we love our community so much. Two-fifty is a cool number for what we do. We love to support our police and fire departments. We love to support our veterans in the area, whether it’s a big year like this one or not. We really cherish what we have here.”
For Cambron, who’s hosted successful car shows across America, the festival says something about the magic of St. Clair County.
“I myself have been a lot more involved in our community with Chamber (of Commerce) events, with Rotary events, and I’ve started to see that Pell City and St. Clair County are unlike anywhere I’ve ever been,” he said. “Nothing has been as successful as the way I’ve done things in Pell City. I think that’s because in Pell City, there’s a different atmosphere. There’s a larger love for community here than I’ve ever seen anywhere else.”
Cambron defines the tremendous response. “Every year, we hope to have a good turnout, and every year we do. It doesn’t surprise us. It humbles us.”
The mission of Lakeside Musicfest and the Five16 Foundation is simply, “to shine a light in the world,” Cambron said.
The event brings “energy, excitement and hometown pride to Pell City and St. Clair County.” Referencing the mission, Olivastri added, “Events like ours shine a positive light in our city, in addition to generating tourism and encouraging economic activity. It’s a wonderful feeling to see the impact it has.”
Gadsden gives you more ways to enjoy Neely Henry Lake
Story by Paul South Submitted Photos
Most days from his house on Neely Henry Lake, while sipping his morning coffee and reading his devotion, Dave Tumlin takes even more comfort in a familiar sight, his neighbors kayaking the glassy calm waters.
Later in the day when four pedal boats at Gadsden’s Coosa Landing – built in the likenesses of a duck, a dragon and two swans – are ready for passengers, Julie Tucker gets ready to smile.
On Neely Henry, there’s a new kayak launch at Coosa Landing, where pedal boats are already wildly popular, giving residents and visitors two more ways to chart a course for fun on the water.
Here’s a gander at each:
A New Kayak and Canoe Launch
For Tumlin, president of the Neely Henry Lake Association, it’s always wonderful at the lake.”
It’s even better when more people are provided with access like the new kayak/canoe launch that includes a new dock. The launch, built in partnership with the City of Gadsden and funded by a grant from the Alabama Scenic River Trail (ASRT) 2025 Waterway Enhancement Program, opened May 4. The ASRT sponsors the Great Alabama 650, America’s longest paddle boat race.
The new Neely Henry launch is the second kayak launch spearheaded by the NHLA. The first was built in 2024 in Rainbow City, a project also funded by a grant from the ASRT.
The launch is located at Coosa Landing, on the east Gadsden side of the Broad Street Bridge.
“There’s a big launching area there,” Tumlin said. “There are a lot of fishing tournaments that work out of that area, as well as people who just want to get out on the lake.”
The site also includes signage that includes QR codes that provide directions, as well as information about ASRT, localities and the NHLA. QR code users also have the opportunity to respond to a short survey and provide feedback.
“It’s really neat to be able to have that convenience now,” Tumlin said.
The NHLA got an unexpected blessing. When the supplier for construction materials learned the association was a non-profit, he gave a discount. The NHLA turned the unexpected windfall over to the City of Gadsden to help offset costs of the new dock at the launch, Tumlin said.
The new launch – and the pedal boats – give residents and visitors an opportunity to take to the water, something they otherwise might not be able to do, Tumlin said. The launch has a lift, making it easier to access the lake for people with disabilities or other mobility challenges.
“Kayaking is a growing sport,” Tumlin said. “The more people you can get out on this water, the better it is. It’s neat to see the paddling sports. It’s eco-friendly. It’s quiet … You’re so close to the water, the shoreline, if you want to be. You’re totally connected.”
Tumlin, a pontoon boat owner whose family has been part of the Neely Henry community since the 1960s, believes the new launch strikes a balance between protecting the environment while at the same time allowing greater access to the lake.
“It’s important to have people out there,” he said. “If you can’t afford a pontoon or any of that other (motorized watercraft), you can do this in a different way that’s less impactful. I love my pontoon … But it’s nice to shut that thing down and just float and get one with (nature). By paddling, that’s a much, much better way to do that.”
A pedal-powered menagerieat Coosa Landing
These ladies are from Ireland and chose to top in Coosa Landing to ride the pedal boats
For the second summer, Coosa Landing is featuring a mini-menagerie of animal-themed pedal boats. For Julie Tucker, administrative supervisor at Gadsden’s growing entertainment district, the small fleet is another source of fun for locals and visitors alike.
“The (boats) are on the same side slough as the kayak lift,” Tucker said. “It’s $20 an hour for the first hour and $15 for each additional hour,” Tucker said. Each boat seats five, but two pedal. Life jackets are required and are provided on site. The boats are available from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. At least one passenger must be 18 or older.
Weather plays a role in pedal boat availability. Winds have to be less than 10 miles per hour. There can be no lightning, thunder or storms in the area.
The boats may be moved to a side slough – on some fishing tournament Saturdays, if the event of an especially large competition. “So far, that hasn’t happened, Tucker said.
The boats were extremely popular in their first year. But powering the boats is “a lot of work,” Tucker said.
“I can’t tell you how many calls we get every day about the pedal boats,” she said. “They are a safe thing to do. We’ve never had one to turn over. For the most part, we have a lot of respect. When a (motorized craft) sees a pedal boat, they try to move away from them and leave them alone. They know it’s just a family having fun.”
The boats have rightly earned rave reviews.
“People see them; they love them. People will see them when they’re driving down the road and come in and say, ‘Hey, what have I gotta do?’ They’ll have fun.”
The pedal boats fit neatly into Gadsden’s plan to turn the city into a fun destination.
“The thing I’ve noticed about Mayor Ford is that he loves to see families have fun,” Tucker said. “He loves to bring in opportunities for families to have fun. He’s all about giving Gadsden something to do. You know, it’s exercise.”
She added, “People love to see these boats going up and down the lake and for Gadsden to have fun things going on.”
Children love the pedal boats. In fact, Tucker’s grandkids are big fans.
“There’s not a kid that comes through here that doesn’t want to ride the pedal boats,” Tucker said.
Tucker’s reward comes in the form of big, toothy grins, the same ones sparked by the ice rink, bumper cars and Christmas tree during Gadsden’s season, or the Lantern Festival at Noccalula Falls, for example.
“It’s almost like a Six Flags ride,” Tucker said. “(Pedal boat passengers) are tired. They’re hot. But they’re smiling. It’s something about being out on the water. It makes everything in your life seem a little bit less severe. That’s something I’ve noticed. There’s something about the water.”
Editor’s Note:For more information about Gadsden’s pedal boats, call 256-549-4677.
For more information about the Neely Henry Lake Association, visit neelyhenrylake.org, or call 256-368-5200.
Barbecue with a side of family and heaping of love
Story by Scottie Vickery Photos by Mackenzie Free
The Shack BBQ restaurant in Talladega has won lots of awards for its smoky, tender meat and fall-off-the-bone ribs. It’s earned rave reviews in magazines, newspapers, blogs and from the many celebrities who have dined there.
But the only thing that really matters to owners Sharon and Rickey Frieze is keeping their customers – some who have been coming to the restaurant for decades – well fed and happy. “I’m feeding the fourth generation of some families,” said Sharon, whose parents opened the barbecue joint on July 1, 1983.
Rickey and Sharon Frieze
“We just feel so good when we see people our age bringing their kids and grandkids and saying, ‘We won’t eat barbecue anywhere else,’” Rickey added. “That makes you feel good, and it’s why we’re staying.”
Located on Stemley Bridge Road, just minutes away from Logan Martin Lake, The Shack has become a staple for lake lovers as well as locals. “The water has really helped us,” Sharon said. Her husband agreed. “It’s a world of difference between winter and summer here. People quit coming to the lake in the winter,” he said.
Folks heading to the lake aren’t the only fans, though. They’ve served celebrities like Billy Ray Cyrus, members of The Temptations, David Arquette, Bobby Bowden, NASCAR drivers, a Seattle Seahawks player, and Donna Douglas, who was Elly May Clampett on “The Beverly Hillbillies.”
They’ve got admirers in New York, Wisconsin, Texas and even France. One day Rickey heard a helicopter flying real low and went outside to investigate. “The thing landed on the grass across the street and two guys got out of it and came over here to eat,” Rickey said, shaking his head.
Sauce in their veins
It all started with a single Boston butt. Sharon’s parents, Haskell and Dot Hann, were looking for something to keep them busy after their four kids – Wayne, Sharon, Jeff and Shane – were grown. “My daddy sold cars, and my mama was going to sell minnows and fishing supplies, but they got bored. At least my mama did,” Sharon said.
A family friend, Cyril Fulmer, suggested they smoke a butt and sell it. That sounded like a good idea, they tried it, and people came back for more. They kept making barbecue, the crowds kept coming, and Haskell eventually built a restaurant out of railroad crossties that was known as “Hack’s Shack.” Not long after, he added a red antique caboose, which now serves as the restaurant’s kitchen.
“At first, all you could get was chips and a barbecue sandwich and that was it,” Sharon said. Haskell and Dot ran the restaurant, where all of the kids worked, until he passed away just over a year later at 53. Dot kept it going for six more years until Sharon and Rickey bought it in 1990. They’ve been running it ever since as The Shack BBQ. “Mom was still the head boss until she died in 1996,” Sharon said. “I just paid the bills. She was in charge.”
It’s still very much a family business. All of Sharon’s siblings continued to work at the restaurant for years, and each generation since then has come on board at some point.
“Every family member has been taught to cook – kids, nieces, nephews,” Sharon said, adding that even her niece’s 12-year-old twins help her pack up food and utensils for catering orders. “Somebody asked me where I get employees, and I say I grow ‘em,” she said.
She’s not lying. Their son, Michael, works full-time at the restaurant, and their daughter, Heather, works in a doctor’s office during the week but helps out at the restaurant on the weekends and holidays. “I made both of my children go to college and get an education,” she said. “This is a lot of hard work and dedication. That’s the secret.”
Employees who aren’t related by blood become family, as well, and some of their family members end up joining the crew. One employee, who works the front counter, was out back one day with her husband, who cuts wood for the restaurant. “I said, ‘We’re really busy, do you want to work,’” Sharon remembered. “We don’t have interviews. Either you fit in or you don’t.”
Barbecue, slaw, baked beans and ribs among Shack favorites
The ones that do stay a while. One of the cooks has been at The Shack for 35 years. One of the managers has been there for 40 of the restaurant’s 43 years, Sharon said. “We treat our employees well,” she said. “If they’re not family, they’re like family.”
Change is overrated
One thing that will never change is the way they cook their barbecue. “It’s all cooked out of hickory wood,” Rickey said. “We’ve been cooking here with hickory wood as long as I can remember. We stay with what we know works.”
Butts are smoked overnight for about 15 hours while the ribs are smoked for three or four. “A lot of things can change that,” Rickey said. “The temperature and how much wind there is changes how fast it cooks. You have to know what to look for and how to adjust.”
Customers can order their barbecue any way they like it. Some prefer the tender inside meat while others love the smoky flavor of the outside meat. Some want it chopped, which is always done by hand and not with a machine, while others prefer sliced. They also offer mild, hot, and sweet sauce
“Any way you want your meat, that’s how we’ll do it,” Rickey said. Sharon prefers hers straight out of the pit. “I eat my barbecue when we’re taking it off,” she said. “The scraps that stick to it are my favorite.”
What she doesn’t eat makes a good meal for the birds. “We’ve got a family of crows that love us,” Rickey said. “Everything that sticks to the pit we throw outside.”
While they’ll never change the way they make their barbecue, they have added some things to the menu over the past four decades. Burgers, hot dogs, chili dogs, chicken fingers and a barbecue stuffed baked potato have made their way into the lineup over the years.
Sides like coleslaw, potato salad, baked beans, fries and onion rings are big hits, and those with a sweet tooth can choose between banana pudding and pecan pie. Customers can also order whole Boston butts, barbecue by the pound, and slabs of ribs.
T.J. and Tammy greet customers
While they’ve always had plenty of business to keep them going, there have been two times they worried about the future of The Shack. The first was about 27 years ago when a fire started in the wiring of a kitchen light fixture.
At the time, the kitchen had been a room off the back of the dining room – complete with red-checked tablecloths – and the old caboose was used for storage. While they were surveying the damage, “customers started coming in the same day,” Sharon said. “One of them said, ‘Does this mean I can’t get a barbecue?’ We still had the pits, we still had meat, so I made him a sandwich,” Sharon said.
The restaurant never closed. They turned the caboose into a functioning kitchen, sold take-out food through one of its windows and allowed guests to dine on picnic tables under the trees. It worked so well they’ve kept the caboose as a kitchen ever since and the original kitchen is now a storeroom.
COVID brought another challenge. “We were scared to death, but we got the word out that if you called in, we’d bring your food out to the car,” Rickey said. “People started calling in and calling in. It just blew our minds that people were so good to us.”
A side of laughter
You can’t run a family business, Sharon said, without a lot of laughter, and they have that in abundance. “We cut up all the time,” she said. “This is our life, so we always say, ‘If we die on a holiday, just put me to the side. We’ve got customers to take care of.”
It’s not just a family joke. Haskell passed away right around Labor Day, and the family held his funeral after the holiday. Her brother, Jeff, a volunteer firefighter was killed in a car wreck in 2016 when he left The Shack on the way to a call. He died at the end of June 2016, and his memorial service was July 5.
“That’s what they would have wanted because they loved this place,” Sharon said. “The day my brother died, he had just sat and figured out what we were going to cook for the Fourth. He said we were going to sell 90 slabs of ribs that day. He was right. We sold 90 slabs.”
Over the years, they’ve had offers to buy the place, and they’ve thought about selling but just couldn’t do it. “I’m afraid they’d change things, and it just wouldn’t be The Shack anymore,” Sharon said.
“I love this place,” she said. “It’s not just the food, it’s the history. I don’t care if I lose a million or make a million, I just love the people. We hope our children and other kin people are still running it and making great memories for the next 40 years.”.
Baked Beans
117-oz can Bush’s Baked Beans 1/2 cup ketchup ¼ cup mustard ½ cup chopped onions ½ cup barbecue sauce ¼ pound chopped Boston butt, inside and outside meat
Mix all ingredients and cook in slow cooker on low for 4-5 hours.
Coleslaw
Large head of cabbage, chopped 1 pack grated baby carrots 2-3 tablespoons sugar ¼ cup dill pickle juice 1-2 cups mayonnaise Salt and pepper to taste
Mix well, chill, and store in a plastic bowl, not metal. Use it up by the next day
Turner Family Farms brews coffee and conversation in new shop
Story by Roxann Edsall Photos by Mackenzie Free
In this hurry-up, rapid-fire world, when was the last time you were invited to slow down and savor time spent in conversation? A new area coffee shop is aiming to be the social catalyst to improve interaction and quality time together.
The Gathering Cup at Turner Family Farms has been inviting relationship building over coffee since late October.
Owners Victor and Hillary Turner
Owners Victor and Hillary Turner say they have some of their best conversations over their morning coffee. “We love coffee,” says Hillary. “It brings out conversation, and it’s doing that nearly every day of the week here.”
“Coffee time is such a great time to have a needed conversation,” adds Victor. “It’s important for us to slow down and talk. We’re providing this location so people can grow their relationships and make memories here.” The couple welcome small groups, businesses and individuals to meet in their cozy café, calling it a place for “good coffee, good company and good memories.”
Families in the community have already been making memories on the property since fall of 2022 when the Turners opened their Pumpkin Patch. Last year, they planted 25 acres of pumpkins and nearly sold out. “We were overwhelmed by the community that showed up for us this past year,” says Victor.
In 2023, Turner Family Farm added to their offerings, opening a seasonal Christmas Wonderland, complete with Santa, horse and carriage rides, train rides, a petting zoo, Christmas movies and a hayride through a magical forest lightshow.
The Christmas Wonderland idea came from an experience the couple had in Texas. “We were in Texas doing temporary work there in 2017. I was homesick for Alabama and Victor took me to a Santa wonderland event in College Station to cheer me up,” explains Hillary. “It was magical!”
When they returned to Pell City, they talked about wanting to offer a similar place to give families a place to make those magical memories. They started looked for land that could support the types of family events they envisioned.
The perfect 146 acres came available in Lincoln. They purchased the land in 2022 and got to work on their vision. First up was reworking and rebuilding the two barns on the property.
Soft critters are a crowd favorite
It was simpler to do a pumpkin patch, so they started up with that their first year. While working the patch, they continued improving other areas on the farm, building a corn crib, playground and zip line. They now have two pumpkin fields that they rotate every other year
“We worked such long hours during the Pumpkin Patch this year that we decided to pull our camper out here so we could work and still take care of our babies,” said Hillary. The couple, who live in Pell City, have two daughters, Callie (age 7) and Charlee (age 5), and a two-year-old son, Crue. All three help with planting and enjoy helping take care of the animals.
“When they come to the farm, the first thing our children do is go to the barn to see the animals,” says Hillary. “I try to think that if my children enjoy it, then other people’s children will too.” The farm’s cows, goats, lambs and rabbits are all part of the petting zoo that can be seen during special events and field trips.
Hillary’s mom, Sonya Moses, who retired from Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind, helps the couple by handling field trip scheduling. Other family members and friends also pitch in when needed. “When we have seasonal events going on, it takes over 20 people to staff each day,” Victor says.
Parents can grab a cup of joe before heading out with their children to the adjacent expansive playground. Located on Stemley Road in Lincoln, the coffee shop is open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. until 1 p.m. The Gathering Cup manager, Alivia Huffman, and her staff offer hot and iced coffee varieties, handcrafted lattes, hot chocolate, expressos, in addition to a selection of breakfast, lunch and pastry items.
If you indulge in the pastry items or the hand-scooped ice cream treats, don’t worry. You can work off the calories by walking the one-mile trail or by joining a Tuesday night Pilates class in the barn. Sign up for Pilates through Tone Wellness on their Facebook page.
The mission of Turner Family Farms is to honor God, families and community by offering a place where families can make memories. The newest chapter in their story goes well beyond pumpkins, Christmas lights and coffee. This month, they expect to open their wedding and event space.
The larger event space features an 80-foot by 120-foot event barn with a full commercial kitchen and an upstairs bridal suite with a Juliette balcony. The 50-foot by 120-foot barn is an option for smaller events. The outdoor pavilion with turf presents another gathering space. Plans also include converting a smaller barn into a chapel.
“We’ve had many people who have let us know they’ve gotten engaged on our property,” said Victor. “We think that’s a special thing. You can get married here and come back later with your kids and have pictures made in the same place.” Their hope is that couples who get married on the farm will return for future photos and milestones, building a family tradition in the place where their story began.
Since they’ve opened the coffee shop, the property is accessible year-round and gives people a reason to visit anytime. “People have told us they want more events so they can come to the farm and have fun more often,” adds Hillary. Last month the facility hosted a new event – an Easter egg hunt.
For the Turners, the coffee shop is more than just a service center. It’s a place where relationships can happen and where families can spend quality time together. With free internet, they also invite businesses and small groups to gather around their tables for meetings. Or put down the phone, close the laptop and savor the flavor of the life with a piece of avocado toast and a cup of coffee.
At age 8, Grant Stinson drove the family boat on Logan Martin, able to steer the craft better than more experienced adults.
At 15, he was working in a local marina, climbing up the boat business ladder. After college, he began a 13-year tenure at Rambo Marine, one of the mainstays of Alabama’s marine industry, beginning as a “lot guy,” selling boats and eventually climbing to general manager.
The experience hooked him on an idea.
“I just encountered a lot of affluent people there that all had homes on Logan Martin, Smith (Lake) and Lake Martin, the lakes around Birmingham,” Stinson said. “They really didn’t have someone who could take care of their lake house and their boat and their dock and everything. So when they would show up at the lake on Friday afternoon, they spent all of Saturday working. When Sunday got here, they felt like they’d worked all weekend.”
Cutting the yard, fueling the boat and getting the house in shape drained hours from what should have been a relaxing weekend at a family’s second home, turning it instead to toil and trouble.
That’s how Coosa Concierge was born.
The company that Stinson founded earlier this year focuses on “the lake life,” the kicked back, chilled out way of living of which waterfront homeowners dream of from that first search for a second home.
Pulling away from the dock in Riverside after fueling up
“We focus on what really matters to folks when they get (to their lake home) – the lake life. ‘Is the boat ready? Is the house ready? And can we go enjoy it?,’ so they don’t have to spend every waking hour worrying about whether the boat’s ready and all of that.”
Coosa Concierge offers a base package to new clients. Once a month. Concierge staff come to the home, do a visual inspection of the home, making sure the dock is presentable, and that there are no trees down on the property and making sure the boat is as it’s supposed to be, ready for the water. Basic memberships cost $299 per month.
“We give the client a detailed (monthly) report,” Stinson said. “That comes in especially handy in the off season. They don’t come from October to March. The report lets them know things are as they are supposed to be.”
Coosa Concierge also offers a la carte services, making sure the dock is clean, boat lifts ready for the season and the yard ship shape and all the watercraft ready.
In the fall, Coosa Concierge offers services to help shut down the house for the offseason.
“It’s our fall shutdown,” Stinson said. “Let’s make sure everything’s winterized. Let’s make sure the outside faucets are off and dock furniture is put away. Let’s make sure the water toys are put away in the garage, Lilypads, kayaks, paddleboards, yard ornaments. There is so much stuff that people don’t think about.”
He added, “There are a lot of little a la carte things that people ask us to do that people may ask us to do. We may outsource that to somebody, and we just manage the project for (the homeowner).”
For example, Coosa Concierge will coordinate lawn care services for clients upon request. Stinson’s brother-in-law, Jack Wood, owns Cutter Lawn Maintenance.
Coosa Concierge also offers Logan Martin clients a service called “Stock and Shop.” In advance of the homeowners’ arrival, Concierge follows a client’s grocery list, shopping at the client’s preferred stores to fill the refrigerator, pantry and bar. Each order is thoughtfully put away, ready for visitors.
Coosa Concierge also offers a “Weekend Readiness” package. The package removes the aggravation of a dead boat battery or empty gas tank, a recurring challenge in the boat world.
“They can call me and get on the list for the weekends they have and say, ‘I want the jet skis set up. I want the boat filled up with gas, wiped down, so that the batteries are hot and everything is ready to go.’ That’s one of the biggest things we offer.”
Stinson, who lives with his family on Logan Martin, is especially sensitive to the challenges posed by fickle Alabama weather, especially the threat of spring and summer tornados.
“If there’s something that’s happening at my house, I need to go check on my clients’ homes around the lake as well,” Stinson said. They will also step in to check on a concerned client’s property when asked, making sure everything is in order.
Coosa Concierge offers water toy and party rentals – kayaks, paddleboards and the like – to help transform a lake weekend into a precious memory.
Stinson’s heart belongs to the water. He clearly loves his work. “I’ve lived here my whole life,” he said. “I just really enjoy seeing people enjoy the lake, actually seeing them enjoy it and not have to work the whole weekend.”
Over the years, he’s heard countless times a sad refrain from lake homeowners spending time working on rather than enjoying their lake property.
“That’s not how it’s supposed to be,” Stinson said. “This is your vacation home. It should be that you are going to your vacation home to enjoy it, to relax. That’s what I enjoy the most – seeing people enjoy the lake.
“I’ve been here so long, that’s really what it’s about. Our mission is to help people enjoy the lake as it should be,” Stinson said. “Enjoy it all summer and not have to work every weekend. I really think it’s as simple as that, really.”
When Susan Kell made the move to full-time lake life seven years ago, she took a bit of a gamble.
Although she was born and raised in Ashville, where her house on Neely Henry Lake is, she’d lived on Chandler Mountain for 50 years, and it was home. Leaving the place where she and her late husband, Paul, had raised their three children was hard, even though she wasn’t going far.
But the lure of being even closer to her children and grandchildren made the decision much easier. These days, she loves puttering around her yard that’s filled with colorful azaleas in the spring, and hosting family gatherings.
Susan’s Taco Bean Salad is a favorite and serves a large crowd
Although living at the lake year-round is still fairly new to Susan, spending time at the A-frame house, situated near Canoe Creek right next to the bridge between Ashville and Rainbow City, isn’t. Paul, the founder of Kell Realy, bought the house 25 years ago, and they used it as a weekend house most of that time.
“He was going to fix it up and resell it, but the kids wanted to keep it,” Susan said, adding that her eight grandchildren, who range in age from 8-26, are big fans, as well. The pool is as big a draw as the lake, and the large, flat lot makes it the perfect spot to host celebrations.
“Paul really liked to entertain,” said Susan, who was a teacher and librarian at Ashville Elementary School for 25 years. “We’ve always had friends and family over and lots of church gatherings, and the kids know they can have a party any time they want to. We’ve had birthday parties, ball parties, graduation parties and an engagement party. Last December, we even had a wedding” for a family friend.
Historical details
While the emphasis has been on family ever since the Kells have owned the home, that wasn’t always the case. Many locals know the house as “the gambling house,” because decades ago, a former owner hosted big weekend gambling parties.
The story goes that the main floor of the house featured nothing but poker tables and a fish pond that was tucked under the circular staircase, according to Susan’s daughter, Jennifer Spears.
The second floor feature a great room, kitchenette, and two bedrooms
The pool house, now filled with tubes and towels, was home to a large bar, and drinks could be passed out to the pool deck through a sliding glass window. “There are a lot of stories about this place,” Jennifer said.
While the house, which was built in the 1970s, has an interesting history, Susan has filled it with antiques and family heirlooms that tell other stories of Ashville’s past, as well as her family’s. After buying the house, she and Paul built walls to make a bedroom and bathroom on the first floor, which had originally been one large open space.
A trunk, handmade by Paul, is at the foot of the bed, and the coffee table and end table he made are in the den. Pictures painted by her mother, Florence McClendon, are displayed throughout the house, as are pictures they collected on some of their travels.
Paul, who also was an auctioneer in addition to his career as a Realtor, would regularly host antique auctions, and “we used to go to England and Belgium and France and bring loads of antiques back,” said Susan. Along with Betty Hilley, she operated Ashville Antiques for a number of years.
The A-frame’s windows, seen from the third floor, offer an expansive view of the lake
In addition to furniture and other treasures she and Paul collected, Susan has a bedroom suite, a hall tree, rocking chair and the old dinner bell from the Teague Hotel, which was built in the early 1800s and stood on Ashville’s town square until it was torn down in 1960.
Her great grandmother, Lula Nunnally, a widow, bought and ran the hotel for years. Later, Lula’s daughter and Susan’s grandmother, Annie Teague McClendon, ran the inn. In addition to taking in boarders, she would cook meals for people who traveled to Ashville for court hearings, Susan said.
While one of the two upstairs bedrooms is filled with furniture from the hotel, the second one boasts a special touch courtesy of Susan’s other grandmother, Stella Moorer. She pieced a colorful quilt that graces the bed that was once Stella’s in the room Susan likes to call the boat room. “It reminds me of a boat,” with its sloped ceiling and built-in bureau, she said.
The quilt her grandmother made is only one kind of heirloom Susan treasures. She loves to cook, and she especially enjoys making recipes that have been passed on to her by family members and friends. One of her favorites is her mother-in-law’s strawberry icing. Frances Kell, known as “Nanny,” was 100 when she passed away this past year, and that makes the recipe, which the family has enjoyed for as long as they can remember, even more special.
Another recipe that often makes an appearance during special occasions is “Martha’s Punch,” which Susan got from Martha Umphrey. “She was our pastor’s wife years and years ago, and she would make it for showers,” said Susan, a member of Mt. Lebanon Church in Steele.
Selling points
Although her family has always been close-knit, Susan sees them even more since she moved to the lake. Her son, Josh, who now heads Kell Realty, lives next door with his family. Her daughter, Paula Ballard, and her family are right across the road, and Jennifer and her family live less than a mile from her. “That’s the best part, being so close to the kids,” Susan said.
The view isn’t bad, either, whether you’re in the house looking at the water or in the water looking at the house. The azaleas, which were planted when they bought the house and are trimmed back each year, are the stars of the show, but Susan’s green thumb is evident all over the property.
The pool is a favorite hangout spot for the grandchildren
She lovingly tends to the lilies her mother gave her 25 years ago, as well as the Irises she got from her mother-in-law’s house and replanted. She also loves the huge Oleander that blooms every year.
She recently spruced up beds and pots by the pool house with gardenias as well as begonias that she kept in the greenhouse during the winter. “In the fall, I take them up and put them in pots and keep them in the greenhouse,” she said. “Then I replant them so I don’t have to get the little bitty plants. They are already big and pretty.”
The beauty of the home and yard isn’t lost on others. “People have just driven up to the house and asked to buy it, and others have come up in boats asking how much I want for it,” Susan said with a laugh.
“People are always trying to buy it, but we don’t want to sell.”
Martha’s Punch
(Makes 2 gallons)
Ingredients:
2 large bottles (2-liter) ginger ale
6 cups sugar
6 packages lemon Kool-Aid
2 tall cans (46-ounce) pineapple juice
2 pineapple cans of hot water
Directions:
Mix Kool-Aid, sugar and hot water (make sure it’s hot and not warm) with pineapple juice and freeze. To serve, thaw the mixture enough to slice it and add the ginger ale.
*You can use a little less sugar if you prefer a less sweet punch.
Nanny’s Strawberry Icing
(Use on a yellow or white cake)
Ingredients:
2 cups of fresh strawberries OR 1 package of frozen strawberries
2 cups sugar, plus 2-3 tablespoons sugar
2-3 egg whites
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
Directions:
Cook strawberries with 2 cups of sugar until it makes a syrup. Beat egg whites with 2-3 tablespoons sugar and cream of tartar until stiff. Pour strawberry mixture into egg whites and continue beating several minutes until fluffy.
Taco Bean Salad
(This makes a large amount; half the recipe is plenty for one family)
Ingredients:
2 cans chili beans, drained
3 tomatoes, diced
1 green pepper diced
1 medium onion, diced
8 ounces grated cheese
16 ounces of Fritos (you can use less, if you prefer)
1 small bottle Russian salad dressing
Directions:
Mix all ingredients except dressing and Fritos together and chill. Add Fritos and dressing just before serving and toss.
Hemlock Inn Bran Muffins
Ingredients:
3 cups sugar
5 cups flour
1 (15-ounce) box Raisin Bran
1 teaspoon salt
5 teaspoons baking soda
4 eggs, slightly beaten
1 quart buttermilk
2 sticks melted butter or margarine
Directions:
Mix dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Mix wet ingredients together and fold into the dry mixture. Place in covered bowl in the refrigerator and take out desired amount as needed. Batter will keep for two months. When ready to bake, fill muffin tins about 2/3 full with batter. Bake at 400 degrees for 14-15 minutes.
Even before the first light’s glow at the inaugural Lantern Festival at Noccolula Falls Park and Campground, one of the area’s youngest residents was already abuzz about the newest event on Gadsden’s calendar.
“After school, I took my nine-year-old daughter Lizzy by where they were unloading the lanterns and things when they were setting up,” said Noccalula Falls Park and Campground Director Brandson Stephens. Her first words when we pulled up were, ‘Gosh Dad, that’s so cool!’”
Dazzling lights cast in the spirit of Chinese legend and lore, as well as world-class Chinese acrobats are wowing visitors amid the natural wonders of Noccalula Falls Park on weekends – Friday through Sunday through April 5 from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. From the excitement already evident, prepare to be amazed.
“This enchanting night walk, inspired by traditional lantern festivals is the perfect adventure for friends and families,” according to event organizer Kaleido Entertainment (kaleido.com), and its ticketing platform, feverup.com. “Wander through hundreds of glowing lanterns, enjoy live acrobatic performances, grab tasty bites from local vendors and soak in a magical atmosphere surrounded by nature.”
Tickets for the family-friendly event range from $15.99-$21.99 per person. Children three and under are admitted free. Local vendors will have food and drink available for purchase.
The lights and entertainment are only part of the story. As the event weekends move deeper into spring, the magic of the park’s plant life – hyacinths, buttercups and daffodils, will blossom, dependent on the weather. The festival and the flowers make this the unofficial start of spring, Stephens said.
“We used to open later and that would give us time to get the Christmas lights down,” Stephens said. “But there was so much blooming in late February that would die out by the time we opened in late March and the first of April, so we decided to open earlier. The lantern festival (organizers) reached out to us and said they wanted to come, so it was a perfect fit.”
Live performers are on hand to entertain and amaze
Stephens added, “All those flowers are coming up and blooming and sprouting, and if the weather is warm enough, you might even see azaleas popping up about that time.”
Kaleido Entertainment operates the festival, which brings a combination of art, tradition, talent and technology together for an amazing experience.
Chinese lantern festivals date back to the Han Dynasty that began more than 200 years B.C. The festival grew during the Tang Dynasty (608-907 A.D.). The displays have grown through the years into widespread celebrations. The lanterns symbolize wishes for prosperity and brighter futures.
The acrobats will be a first for the park. “The acrobats, we’ve never had anything like that inside the park,” Stephens said. “That’s going to be pretty cool.”
Food trucks will be on hand and music will be piped in through the park.
The train, the animal habitat and the petting zoo, three park mainstays, will be on hand as always at the park. The petting zoo has some new arrivals – monkeys, sloths and Highland cattle, the long-haired bovines that are always popular. A small family of kangaroos and a toucan now call the park home.
“What’s cool about Noccalula Falls, too, is that when you come in, you’re still getting the train ride. You’re still getting to visit the animal habitat and the petting zoo and seeing everything that’s new there.”
The park also features 16 miles of hiking and biking trails.
Stephens and the crew at Noccalula Falls have been going full blast during the holiday season, first with its Christmas event and now with the Spring Lantern Festival.
“It’s been a chore, because we only had two weeks to remove a lot of our items that take us months to put up, so that (Kaleido) could come in and unload their stuff.”
The last trucks for the lantern event were unloaded in late January.
For Stephens, who began his love affair with the park as a kid, the Spring Lantern Festival is another magical chapter. “My Dad would bring me and my brother down here, and we would go underneath the falls and be walking the trails when people used to collect driftwood that would wash up,” Stephens recalled.
“There was a tennis court across the road and evidently, people were really horrible at tennis because they were hitting the ball over the fence and into the creek. My Dad would be getting driftwood, and my brother and I would take plastic bags and collect tennis balls, take them home and play home run derby.”
He added, “But when you’re here, you’re in nature. You get to clear your mind, relax and enjoy what’s around you. You’re in the city, but you’re out of the city. (Kaleido) reaching out to us is a testament to how big Noccalula has grown. The company reached out to us, I think because they see how much the park has grown.”
During the Christmas season alone, some 110,000 visitors came to the park.
Stephens gives high marks to his team at the park that works night and day to prepare for events like the Spring Lantern Festival.
“The team at Noccalula Falls is the best anywhere,” Stephens said. “They’re passionate about what they do. They’re passionate about the falls. These same guys are also cutting grass. They’re also landscaping. They also have to take care of everything inside and outside the park.
“A lot of people don’t know that they take care of 50-plus properties downtown. It’s a lot.”
But even when they’re weary, something changes when families come into the park at Christmas, or in February when the Lantern Festival gleams brightly, acrobats soar and joy abounds.
“We hear that kid, or we see those kids coming through … smiling and saying, ‘Look, Mom. Look, Dad.’ It gives you a second wind.”
Excitement was building weeks before opening weekend. “You can almost feel it,” Stephens said then, “because nothing around here has ever been done like this. There’s a buzz around it. I know when the kids see what they’re putting out there, they’re going to love it.”
