By Joshua Huff, sports editor
PINSON — The Pinson City Council convened on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2019, as the city prepares for the annual Alabama Butterbean Festival set to kick off this Friday and last until Saturday.
The festival coincides with the Pinson Valley at Gardendale football game this Friday evening at 7 p.m. The two region rivals will meet for the 26th time overall.
The annual Alabama Butterbean Festival will have over 100 vendors with exhibits along Main Street from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. The festival is a hub of entertainment that will be host to all sorts of food, arts and crafts, along with a carnival.
Of note, beginning Thursday, Oct. 3, Main Street will be closed from Pinson Boulevard to Glen Brook Road to allow vendors to set up. This section will also be closed from 6 p.m. on Friday until 6 p.m. on Saturday for the festival.
As of 10 a.m. on Thursday, the festival has had five more vendors register than this past year’s event.
For those interested in going, parking will be at Bicentennial Park and a golf cart shuttle will be provided. On Saturday, drivers may also park on the field behind the Rock School.
According to the city council, the city is ready and rearing for the festival to begin.
In other matters, the upcoming Veterans Day Luncheon set for Monday, Nov. 11, will again welcome the services of the one and only Kool Kats Band.
“Everybody likes the Kool Kats,” councilwoman Joy McCain said. “Olive Garden is going to be doing their thing like they did with the firemen, too.”
On Mayor Hoyt Sander’s mind is the upcoming census. Like other cities throughout the country, the census is a time to hopefully increase federal funding, which in turn allows cities to invest in more projects, roads and grants. Sanders urged the community to participate.
“It’s extremely critical for a variety of reasons,” Sanders said. “For one, part of our city funding, in certain areas, is funded based on population. A broader purpose is Alabama receives federal funding and legislative seats based on our population. It is absolutely imperative that everyone be counted.”
Sanders expects the Mayor’s Association to start pushing out some press regarding the census sometime soon.
Other matters:
- Turn Pinson Pink will be on Oct. 17 (councilwoman Shannon Gilmore broached the notion of extending the event to more than one day around the city).
- Wreaths Across America will be on Dec. 21.
