GUIN - Festival season in Marion County will kick off next weekend with Guin’s annual Springfest celebration, featuring lots of fun, food, games, attractions and live music for the entire family.
Held each year on the Friday night and Saturday before Mother’s Day, Springfest provides a great opportunity for families to gather and enjoy a special day together.
Beginning on Friday, May 9, and continuing on Saturday, May 10, vendors will line the streets behind Guin City Hall offering wares for all ages, along with tasty treats and icy drinks.
Live music entertainment starts on Friday night at 6 p.m., with a lineup including the fan favorite and award-winning Cooter Brown Band, followed by the “Fabulous Tip Tops Band” from Mobile.
Known as a high-energy dance band, the Tip Tops perform Motown, soul, funk, pop and Top 40 hits, including songs by The Supremes, Otis Redding, The Temptations, Aretha Franklin, Kool and the Gang and many more great favorites from decades of classic and modern hits.
Definitely bring your lawn chair and sit back and relax and enjoy the music, but don’t be surprised if you find yourself joining those feeling inspired to move and dance.
Guin Mayor Phil Segraves remarked on the headlining band, as well as the other musical guests for Friday.
“They’ve been called ‘The Fabulous Tip Tops,’” he said. “They’re a high-energy band. They have a horn section, with lots of moving pieces, and a great five-part harmony. We’ve never had anything like this around here. You will be entertained far beyond your greatest expectations.
“I saw them perform in Biloxi, Miss., and I had to bring them to Guin. They have a great following across the Gulf Coast. They’ve already sold out of an amphitheater at $40 a ticket in
Fairhope, and those prices are for general admission, not reserved seating. That shows how good they are. But this is all free to Springfest attendees.
“We’ll also have the Cooter Brown Band on Friday night. They’re good entertainment, as well. We have some really good entertainment lined up. You will definitely be entertained if you come out to Springfest.
“Some of our vendors start setting up around noon, so they’ll be open that night, too. There will be lots of food vendors and craft vendors. There will be something for everybody.”
Saturday’s
musical lineup
Live music on Saturday starts at 9 a.m., with a lineup including the Hankins Sisters, Drake Hollis, the Frazier Brothers, Laura Leigh Franks, Axel, Kerry Gilbert Band, Tremayne, Joseph Baldwin, the Jimmy Miles Band and Handshake Promise. The festival usually concludes around 4 p.m.
“The entertainment is first class all day on Saturday, too,” the mayor said. “It’s going to be a good festival, so come on out and join us, visit the vendors and listen to some great music and enjoy yourself.”
Car & bike
show on Saturday
Among the many great attractions at Springfest on Saturday is the annual car and bike show. Most festivals have car and bike shows, but we know of only one show in the county organized by the city’s mayor and that’s at Springfest.
Guin Mayor Phil Segraves, a car collector and restorer himself, handles both the preparation and presentations the day of. The Springfest car and bike show showcases some of the best rides from local collectors, those across Alabama and even a few from out of state.
Held at the town square, registration for the car show is from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, with entry fees of $20 per vehicle. Door prizes are always given away at a Segraves’ show, with 50/50 drawings and gift bags also part of the fun. Adding to the festive atmosphere, a DJ keeps the music going for all those in the show, as well as attendees in the area.
Another bonus for car show entrants is a $50 cash giveaway every 15 minutes from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
All makes and models are welcomed, with special awards given away in multiple categories.
“At the car show, we’ll have folks from all over,” Segraves said. “We usually have some from all around Alabama, and Mississippi and maybe even a few from Tennessee.
“Come on out and bring the whole family and enjoy looking at a great collection of cars and bikes.”
Anyone needing more information on the festival or the car show, should contact Guin City Hall at 205-468-2242 during regular business hours.
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