From The Tribune staff reports
TRUSSVILLE — Local festival fans will be pleased to learn that this year’s Trussville City Fest, presented by Trussville Gas & Water, is growing again, thanks to the efforts of the Trussville City Fest Committee. Formed in 2020, the committee reconvened this past April to begin piecing together a multi-location, family-friendly event to include entertainment and food trucks, the largest vendor area ever, kids’ activities galore, a car show, and more.
Photo by Erica Thomas
“The formation of the City Fest Committee was based on the idea that the chamber staff alone could never create the quality and size festival that Trussville deserves,” said June Mathews, Executive Director of the Trussville Area Chamber of Commerce. “So we recruited a strong group of city leaders to take charge of different aspects of the festival and make those areas their own. It’s been exciting to see the committee bring to life our vision to make City Fest ‘more’ each year.”
And this year’s theme, “Let the Good Times Roll!” is but a small clue of all this festival has in store.
The September 9 & 10 event will kick off with the second annual “Tune Up for City Fest” at 6:00 p.m., Friday, onstage at the Trussville Entertainment District. Local band favorite Cabin Fever will play, and activities for kids will make for lots of family fun.
The Saturday festival begins at the corner of Main Street and Parkway Drive with an expanded AmFirst Marketplace and a variety of food vendors. A variety of local acts will take the Grassy Stage, with Puttin On the Ritz’s Russ Randolph providing some festive sounds in between. Be sure to bring your best four-legged friend along for the Pet Supplies Plus Pup Strut at 2:30 p.m.
The action then moves up Parkway to the front yard of the Trussville Library, where the Festival Hub is located. (Buy your City Fest T-shirts here!) At 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., the library stage comes alive with bluegrass music by the Random Mountain Ramblers.
Just up the street is the Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home & Gardens Car Show in front of Cahaba Elementary, hosted by Trussville’s favorite car show guy Ronnie Foster. On the main Mall area is a bigger and better than ever Bryant Bank Kids’ Area, where a combination of free activities, food trucks, and ticketed rides from Fun Source will entertain the younger set. A percentage of the proceeds from ticket sales will go to the Trussville City Schools Foundation. The Car Show and Kids’ Area will run from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
New to City Fest this year is a Touch That Truck! display at the Chalkville Road end of the Mall will give kids a close-up look and photo ops at some big trucks and heavy machinery. Parental reminder: Bring a camera!
At the Trussville Entertainment District near Three-Earred Rabbit, check out the Trussville Downtown Merchants Artwalk and enjoy the Kool Kats and their repertoire of oldies, the Birmingham Square Dance Association, and the Steel City Jug Slammers.
Later that evening, Electric Avenue: The MTV 80s Experience will take the stage at the TED at 8:00 p.m. Named “America’s Best 80s Band” in 2019, Electric Avenue is not just your average tribute band.
For getting-around purposes, shuttles will run up and down Parkway Drive all day, and Accent Luxury Limo will offer rides around the perimeter of the festival beginning at 9:00 a.m. at First Baptist.
For City Fest Saturday only, the Farmers Market will relocate to a spot yet to be determined.
For more information on Trussville City Fest and other events, visit www.trussvillechamber.com.
