Spirit of Hodges Festival underway Saturday

By Staff
Melissa Cason
HODGES – The Spirit of Hodges Festival has grown from last year's inaugural festival. The festival will be held Saturday at the town park.
"The festival has grown from last year," said Tina Lawler, festival organizer. "We are working to make the festival grow."
Lawler said they are expecting 28 vendors this year, which is more than last year. This year, area churches are sponsoring free children's games all day.
Games include fish pond, sack race, bubble gum blowing contest, and water balloon toss. The train will also be free from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. After 1 p.m., the train will be $1 per ride.
"We will have the inflatable again this year," Lawler said. "We haven't set a price for them as of now, but they will be very affordable for families."
The entertainment is scheduled to begin at 9:45 a.m. and there will be performances all day. Local favorites Briana Lawler Dean and Joseph Baldwin are scheduled to perform. Baldwin will take the stage at 2 p.m. and Dean will perform at 12:45 p.m.
"We have really good acts this year," Lawler said. "We encourage everyone to bring their lawn chairs and stay all day for the entertainment."
Lawler said "The Spirit of Hodges" second-edition book will be available for $10. T-shirts will be priced at $12 and cookbooks for $10.
"We encourage everyone to pick up each of these items to help us celebrate our second annual festival," Lawler said.
For more information about the festival, call Hodges Town Hall at (205) 935-3445.