Communities across Alabama are celebrating the state’s 200th birthday, and the Town of Hodges is no different. This year the Spirit of Hodges Festival, set for this Saturday in the town park, will be part of the bicentennial festivities, with red and white decorations and Alabama flags to celebrate Alabama’s birthday.

The Spirit of Hodges Festival is an annual event hosted by the Hodges Volunteer Fire Department, where families can come spend an afternoon enjoying their time together.

“I love getting to come out and see everyone else in the community,” said event organizer Carla Woods. “It really is just like a big family reunion.”

The Spirit of Hodges Festival will begin at 10 a.m. and continue until 4 p.m., with five different musical acts along with other favorite activities.

Hodges Mayor Joyce Saad she is excited to have so many musical acts – the only stipulation was, they had to sing a few Alabama songs.

This year the festival will not include a car show, but all of the other favorites are making a return. There will be food vendors serving up favorites such as barbecue, ribs, nachos, cotton candy and homemade lemonade, and there will also be a bouncy house for children, as well as the fire department’s safe house.

The festival will also feature a guest lecturer: Former Colbert County superintendent and local historian Freda Daily will be speaking at noon.

“I’m excited about the historian because I love history,” Saad said.

Saad said she is glad to see the weather starting to cool off so more people can come out and enjoy the day.

“I think we’re going to have a lot of fun,” Saad said. “We just need a lot of people to come out.”