Column: Jemison approves Event Planning Committee

Published 11:39 am Tuesday, March 12, 2024

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By Elisabeth Altamirano-Smith | Community Columnist

The Jemison City Council voted during their February meeting to approve a new event planning committee in order to increase interest and revenue to the city. The seven approved committee members consist of Tiffany Gaines, Lake Gilliland, Courtney Jackson, Jonna Jones, Donna Manasco, Jonathan Varden and Vickki Winslett and have already placed several events on the 2024 calendar.

“I am so excited about this for Jemison and bringing events to our city,” said Gaines. “People want to get out and have fun things to do together as a family without having to drive far distances.”

Gaines, along with the other members of the committee, are currently planning events throughout the year that will not conflict with other yearly events that the county hosts such as the Peach Festival or Swedish Festival.

All events will be hosted in the recently updated part of Old Town Jemison on Main Street. So far, events that have been added and approved for the calendar are Jemison Cowboy Day (April 6, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.), Bike Night (April 13, 4-9 p.m.) and Food Truck Friday (May 17, 5-8 p.m.). Live entertainment and food trucks will be available at all three events. Once it begins, Food Truck Friday will be hosted every third Friday of the month throughout the summer, weather permitting.

Cowboy Day will continue to have all of the amenities and attractions that it has had in years prior. The Cowboy Parade will begin at Jemison High School on April 6 at noon, turn at the Jemison Municipal Building and then onto Railroad Street to return back to the school. Each year, Cowboy Day is hosted to bring community awareness to the 3R & Deep South Crawfish Festival & Rodeo held at Ray’s Area (3298 AL Highway 191, Jemison) which will be April 5-6.

Parking for the events will be available in Old Town, behind the Old Town buildings, on the grassy lawn on Hotel Street as well as Jemison Municipal Building.

“We are also very excited to announce that we are bringing back Founder’s Day and plan to host it in the fall when the weather is not too hot and not too cold,” said Gaines.

Founder’s Day will be held at Jemison City Park. More information will be announced about Founder’s Day once the committee has decided on the planning details.

For information or to be a vendor, contact Gaines at 205-389-7773.