With a little help from a few vendors, organizers of the 33rd annual Alabama Blueberry Festival are coming up with plenty of ways to keep cool during today’s festival at Burnt Corn Park.
Temperatures are predicted to be around 93 degrees at mid-day, but partly cloudy skies could keep the heat at bay.
The Greater Brewton Area Chamber of Commerce organizers, along with assistance from workers with the City of Brewton, are working to make sure there are plenty of ways to get out of the heat and enjoy the day.
“We’re doing everything we can to help make the Blueberry Festival an enjoyable day for everyone,” Chamber Secretary Carol Pettis said. “We have some things in place that will help keep people out of the sun as much as possible and we have a spot lined up to really cool folks down.”
Pettis said the misting and cooling station, thanks to the City of Brewton, will be in place again this year with a fine mist of cool water to help eliminate heat for visitors. Tents will be put up around the park, especially in the area near the entertainment stage, to offer some shade from the sun.
Vendors at the festival will offer plenty of opportunities for some cool refreshment as well, Pettis said.
“Of course there will be soft drinks available from several vendors,” Pettis said. “But, if you’re looking for a little lemonade, that will be available, too. I know that we will be selling bottled water at the Chamber’s information booth. Getting a cool drink shouldn’t be a problem during the festival. And to really cool down, you can also find blueberry ice cream on a cone or in a dish. That and a little shade, should make the day enjoyable.”
The festival begins at 8 a.m. — a start Pettis said also helps to kick the heat for many visitors.
“We have started having the opening of the festival a little earlier in the day,” Pettis said.
“We’ll get entertainment, activities and everything blueberry going by 8 a.m. The early start will give people a chance to come out and enjoy all the fun of the festival before it’s too hot for them. Everyone’s temperature gauges are different so we expect people will be out and about pretty much all day. With the chances to cool off if you get a little hot, we want to make the event as fun and comfortable for everybody as we can.”
Pettis said emergency medical personnel will be in the park sporadically throughout the day and will be immediately accessible if the need arises.
The event will run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Burnt Corn Creek Park in downtown Brewton.
Parking, with free shuttle service, will be available at Alco Plaza, O’Bannon Park and near the Escambia County Courthouse on Belleville Avenue.
Shuttles will begin running at 8 a.m. and will make their last run at 2:30 p.m. on festival day.