Come relive high school memories with old friends at the Gadsden High School Spring Festival Celebration on the weekend of April 24-26.
In 2005 we honored GHS with a weeklong event that commemorated the end of a core Gadsden tradition at the school’s final homecoming. That amazing event is still remembered for many reasons but 10 years later, the most talked about aspect of the Final Homecoming has been the Street Party on Saturday night. To demonstrate the ferociousness of Tiger Pride, another grand celebration is being thrown, and alumni are getting back out on the street again. On Saturday, alumni can dance to the music of the Tyn Tymes on Broad Street, and then on Sunday, have a special community church service and hear the music of the Velvetones and Triads, and much, much more. Over 7,500 alumni have been sent invitations to this event.
On Saturday from 4 to 6 p.m. in the afternoon, a happy hour for GHS alumni with a special invitation to Stag Pool Room, Buffalo Bar, Checkers or Cheerful will be hosted at the Chestnut Station Bar and Grill, located at the corner of 4th and Chestnut in Gadsden. Attire is casual.
On Saturday night, a block party will be held in downtown Gadsden between 3rd and 4th Street, which can be reached by Broad Street. In case of bad weather, the back-up locale is the 210 Event Center nearby. All Gadsden High School Alumni and anyone in their social networks (kids, grandkids, friends, etc) are invited. The party will last from 6 p.m. until midnight. Attire is casual. Tickets are $20 pre-purchased, $22 online and $25 at the gate. Bring lawn chairs and ice chests with cups. From 6 until 8 p.m., favorite tunes from a DJ or local bands will play while fond memories are shared with friends. From 8 until 10 p.m., there will be live dance music with the Tyn Tymes. From 10 p.m. until midnight, there will be a blowout dance music finale with a DJ. Food will be available through a variety of local vendors. Drinks are BYOB, and must be in an ice chest and poured into a cup while on Broad Street. For a list of local vendors, visit the event website.
To purchase tickets online, go to the “Buy Tickets” link on the website at www.ghsspringfestival.myevent.com. To purchase tickets locally on or after March 1, go to Exchange Bank located at 230 3rd Street in downtown Gadsden. To purchase tickets by mail, make checks out to “GHS Spring Festival” at this address: Kay Moore c/o Downtown Gadsden, P.O. Box 8501, Gadsden 35902. Our preference is to confirm ticket purchases by email/phone, so please include both with all ticket orders. If you want tickets mailed back to you, you must enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope. You can also purchase tickets directly at this location.
On Sunday morning, there will be a church service at First Baptist Church in downtown Gadsden located at the corner of 5th and Walnut Streets. At 9 a.m., the Velvetones and Triads will host an alumni choir practice in the Sanctuary. At 10:30 a.m., there will be a church service. Preferred attire is church clothes. There will be a luncheon after the service for class of 1970 only in the Church Fellowship Hall.
Individual class reunions are encouraged on Friday Night or during the day on Saturday. If your class decides to get together, let the event coordinators know, and they will post the details on the event website.
A limited number of Gadsden Memory Books from Final Homecoming will be available for $5.
Visit the Travelers Link on the website www.ghsspringfestival.myevent.com for further information on the hotel accommodations and the weather. The website also gives more information on the event.
For more information, email jsaxon@apostles.org or call Judy Culpepper Cochran at 205-956-6562 or email her at @ jlcochran@aol.com.