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After a two-year absence, the annual Alabama Blueberry Festival is set for June 18 at Jennings Park near downtown Brewton.
Cancellations for the past two festivals due to the pandemic in 2019 and a tropical storm in 2020, put a milestone anniversary of the festival on hold. The 2021 festival would have marked the 40th anniversary of the event after its birth in 1981 on the campus of Jefferson Davis Community College.
The current festival site at Jennings Park is being prepped for the annual event that will feature entertainment and arts and craft vendors as well as plenty of food and drink for the day.
Hosting the annual event is the Greater Brewton Area Chamber of Commerce. Executive Director Judy Crane said final plans are being made for the event set to kick off at 8 a.m. on festival day.
“We have entertainment lined up and have already filled our vendor list for the festival,” Crane said. “We have over 100 vendors lined up for the event as well as food and beverages that have become favorites at the event.”
Crane said blueberry cobbler will be baking next week in preparation of the big day and those who want the traditional blueberry ice cream will also be satisfied again this year.
“The blueberries have been delivered to the creamery and they are getting ready to make the ice cream for us,” Crane said. “We will be taking pre-orders through Friday of this week but will have to give our final orders to the creamery.”
Crane said pre-orders for the ice cream can be placed on the Chamber website at www.brewtonchamber.com/store. The cost is $10 per half gallon. The ice cream will be ready for pick-up on Friday, June 17 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Jennings Park and throughout the day, while supplies last, during the festival.
The fan-favorite annual t-shirts are also available at $15 for adults and $20 for youth sizes, Crane said.
“We do have some shirts available prior to the festival,” Crane said. “Those are available on a limited basis and more will be available on festival day.”
The annual offering of the Blueberry Cookbook is also available for ordering on-line with pick-up or shipping available. Books are $10 each and may be picked up at the Chamber trailer on Friday, June 17 from 4 to 7 p.m. or on festival day as well. Be sure to have your receipt availble for pick up Friday or Saturday.
In addition to all of the usual fare, the festival will feature a free kids area.
“The Kids Area is sponsored by Georgia-Pacific and will have plenty for the kids to do,” Crane said. “It gives people a chance to drop their kids off for some fun while they shop.”
Dennis Gage, with “My Classic Car,” will be on hand for the annual Car Show again this year, Crane said.
Entertainers already on schedule to perform this year include Lois Crenshaw, Tanya Watson, Robert McWilliams, the Josh Stanley Group and Brooke Brown.
“We are set,” Crane said. “We are sitting on go for the festival. It’s going to be a good day and we’re ready to make it happen.”
The event is set for kick-off at 8 a.m. on festival day and will continue until 3 p.m.