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Boaz’s Harvest Festival was a huge success
Published October 6, 2009
The City of Boaz held its 45th annual Harvest Festival over the weekend. I had a great time there Friday at the festival.
There were many items for sale including children’s clothes, monogrammed items, cosmetics at a Merle Norman sidewalk sale, Alabama and Auburn items – even Powerhouse Gym had 10 visits for $10.
Mary Kay ladies were on hand to show off their products, too.
If shopping wasn’t something you were interested in, bungee jumping, a mechanical bull and pony rides were available. There also was a children’s play area.
Food vendors and the Boaz Farmer’s Market were there also. There were many food choices, including Papa John’s pizza, corn dogs, funnel cakes, hamburgers, hot dogs, and even breakfast items for the early festival-goers.
It was neat to see all the people come out for the two-day event. The festival was expected to draw nearly 20,000. I believe it, because there was a large crowd out there on Friday.
Keyesta Sherman, president of the Boaz Area Chamber of Commerce, said the festival sold out of all of its 200 vendor booths.
Festival highlights included the Boaz Little Miss Harvest Festival, Boaz Miss Harvest Festival, Harvest Festival Rod Run, Moon Pie Eating Contest, live entertainment, Snead State musicians and the Boaz High School Band, among others.
If you missed the Harvest Festival, you missed an enjoyable time.
Boaz Mayor Tim Walker said this year’s festival is historic because the city plans to completely renovate The Mall downtown after the event.
I had not visited The Mall since trolleys were running from the Boaz Outlet Mall to the downtown mall years ago. I remember taking all-day church trips to the outlets as a child. I thought The Mall was always a neat place to visit, and I loved the trolley rides.
Walker unveiled renovation plans during a Boaz City Council meeting in July. The city has in hand more than $600,000 in grant funds, and expects to pay a matching share of $100,000 to complete the work.
Under the plan, current awnings, playgrounds, fountains and restroom facilities will be torn down and removed. Eight-foot-wide sidewalks will flank angled parking on either side of the 15-foot-wide, one-lane road. Traffic will be routed one-way from south to north, ending at the railroad crossing near the Gas Board.
Throughout the area, decorative planters, lighting and trash cans are planned.
I think the new and improved downtown mall is going to be a great asset to Boaz. I love the atmosphere there and think, with a little TLC, it’s going to be better than ever.
I look forward to visiting to The Mall once the renovations are completed.
Melissa Cosper is managing editor of The Sand Mountain Reporter. She can be contacted at mcosper(at)sandmountainreporter.com.
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