As part of a celebration commemorating Brewton’s 125th anniversary and the 30th annual Blueberry Festival, area churches are helping to invite the public to join in the weekend-long event.

Steve Yuhasz, community development director and committee member of the “Celebrating Brewton” event, said area churches have been involved in promoting the celebration.

“We have asked churches throughout the community to announce to their congregations about the events planned for that weekend,” Yuhasz said. “Some of the churches have made announcements from the pulpit, in newsletters and by any other means possible.”

Yuhasz said churches were also asked to schedule homecoming events during the weekend as part of the celebration.

“One of the churches that has scheduled a homecoming for that weekend is Second St. Siloam Missionary Baptist Church,” Yuhasz said. “The church is also celebrating a milestone of their own.”

Second St. Siloam Missionary Baptist Church has been named as an historical site and has been placed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage by the Alabama Historical Commission in honor of 50 years of service in the community.

Yuhasz said churches were invited to participate through special events, announcements and services as part of the “Small Town Down Town” project of the Alabama Tourism Department.

“The Alabama Department of Tourism has asked cities across Alabama to participate in the ‘Great Alabama Homecoming’ we wanted to ask churches to make those plans as well,” Yuhasz said. “By involving the churches, this was one way to have more people involved.”

Yuhasz said other events planned for the weekend include a laying of the wreath ceremony at Pilgrim’s Rest Cemetery on Alco Drive. The wreath will be placed at the grave of Edmund Troupe Brewton, namesake of the city.

“The ceremony is planned for Friday, June 18 at 8 a.m. at the cemetery on Alco Drive,” he said.

Yuhasz also said a ceremony will be held on the afternoon of June 18 at the Bank of Brewton downtown.

“An historical marker will be unveiled at the Bank of Brewton that afternoon,” Yuhasz said. “The Bank of Brewton is the oldest bank in Brewton having operated continuously under the same name.”

Information on the statewide “Small Towns and Downtowns,” visit the Alabama Tourism Web site at www.alabama.travel. For details and information concerning the 30th annual Blueberry Festival, visit the official Web site at www.alabamablueberryfestival.com.