By Staff
special to The Star
Oct. 12, 2002
YORK, Ala. The 1st Annual Rooster Days Art Festival will be today and Sunday on the Avenue A Block in the York, Ala., historic district.
The event is sponsored by the Coleman Center, an arts and crafts center established in 1985.
York Mayor Carolyn Gosa is expected to open the event with a welcome. Other political leaders are expected to speak at the event.
After the opening ceremony, visitors will enjoy bluegrass by the Mountaineers of Coker, Ala. Other entertainment will include gospel music by the Royal Descendents of Sumter County, Ala.
The festival will rock with classic songs performed by The Fossils from 2 p.m.-4 p.m. A Birmingham blues group called Out Front and Center Stage will play from 4 p.m.-6 p.m.
The entertainment stage will be in the middle of the block so everyone can enjoy the music while they shop or visit the many side attractions at the Rooster Days festival.
Visitors will be treated to the sights and sounds of a down-home country festival as they browse through more than 20 booths selling arts and crafts, jewelry, music, wood crafts, plants, books, ceramics and collectibles.
Several booths will offer flea market items, gift items and antiques.
James Cockrell of Livingston, Ala., has rustic furniture to sell; Gloria May has a line of purses; Bebe Brown will offer ceramics; and Wayne Roberts of Quitman will sell pocket knives and offer knife- and scissor-sharpening services.
Food venders include the Lions Club, which will offer traditional festival fare. Martha Brooks of Eutaw, Ala., will have a popular booth of fresh, home-made ice cream.
Renee Smith of Mobile will offer snow cones and Larry Fredrickson of Minnesota will sell kettle corn from his booth.
Original Southern clothing designs will be on display in the Blue Front Building. A clothing line under the name of T.C.Coop will debut at the Festival. T.C.Coop is a micro-enterprise project of the Coleman Center, directed by Marilyn Gordon of Daphne, Ala.
Other demonstrations include quilting by local quilters and stained glass construction by Eddie Snodgrass of Meridian.
The Rooster Days festival hours are Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., and Sunday, 12:30 p.m.-5 p.m. There is no charge for admission and everyone is invited to attend.
For more information, call the Coleman Center at (205) 392-2005.