The day community members in Red Bay mark on their calendars has finally come: Saturday, Bay Tree Park will be transformed for Red Bay’s annual Founders Day.

Founders Day will begin Sept. 20 from 6-8 p.m. at Heritage Park, where Resound and the Red Bay FFA String Band will perform, with fireworks to follow.

Saturday’s festivities will be at Bay Tree Park beginning at 8:30 a.m., kicking off with the Queen’s Train Ride, boasting winners from the Sept. 15 Red Bay Founders Fest Pageant.

Music will begin at 9 a.m. on two stages – the main stage outside and a second stage in the senior center.

There will be a fried pie contest under the gazebo where visitors can enjoy fried pie samples. Cash prizes will be awarded for the best-tasting pie and the most unusual pie.

Guests can view entries in the quilt contest, coloring contest and photography contest at the Weatherford Library; the theme this year is “Sharing Our Stories.”

There will be a buck dancing contest at the main stage. “I love the buck dancing contest,” said festival chairperson Tracie Clark. “It’s been around since I was a child in the early days of Founders Fest, and I brought it back because my family has always enjoyed buck dancing, and it’s just a real crowd pleaser.”

Clark said she recommends everyone bring their lawn chairs and enjoy a day of free fun and festivities.

Red Bay Mayor Charlene Fancher said Founders Fest has a lot of fun activities to offer, but her favorite part is being surrounded by the Red Bay community.

“I just love being in the park and being able to meet and greet with people I haven’t seen in a long time,” Fancher said. “I just love seeing Bay Tree Park full.”

Prizes will be given out throughout the day, including prizes for the largest family, longest distance traveled to the festival, youngest attendee and oldest attendee at the main stage after lunch.

There will be an antique car-truck-motorcycle-tractor show with registration from 8 a.m. to noon and awards at 1 p.m. Cost is a $20 registration fee, plus $15 for a second entry from the same address. There will be awards for best paint, best engine and more.

It is $10 to register to show a vehicle without entering in the contest. 

The entrance for the car show will be beside Heritage park. All proceeds from the antique car-truck-motorcycle-tractor show will go toward the senior center.

Guests can donate blood through Life South at city hall and can also visit the museum and tour the traveling bicentennial exhibit “Making Alabama,” which will be at the Red Bay Museum from Sept. 9-28.

“There’s something for every age,” Clark said. “Just come out and enjoy.”