By Sarrah Peters
News Editor
Glencoe will host its 15th annual “Celebration in the Park” on Saturday, May 13from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at Glencoe City Park on Lay Avenue.
The Celebration in the Park started as a way to give back to its citizens. The city decided to also use the opportunity to honor veterans, which is why it is held in May to go along with Memorial Day. To keep to its purpose of showing honor and to commemorate The Moving Wall coming to Etowah County, this year’s theme is “Vietnam Vets – All gave some, Some gave all.”
Glencoe Mayor Charles “Peanut” Gilchrist said that, as a Vietnam veteran himself, having The Moving Wall here means a lot to him.
The day is set to be a fun day for all. Food, entertainment and music promise to make it a family event. Glencoe city officials expect 2,000 to 3,000 attendees.
“They can come spend a whole day with their family and not spend a dime if they don’t want to,” said Gilchrist.
The City of Glencoe will provide free food for attendees. Volunteers from local businesses and the Glencoe fire department will cook 1,200 hamburgers and 1,200 hot dogs.
Back to the Cross will take the stage from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Albert Simpson will play from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Logan Graves will take the stage from 2 to 4 p.m.
Feathered Friends Cuckatoo and Horse Sanctuary will be bringing horses for rides and animals for a petting zoo. Skin and Bones will perform a circus with pigs and dogs.
There will be a car and tractor show, as well. Three trophies for Mayor’s Choice, Best of Show and Most Original will be awarded for both tractors and cars.
The park’s splash pad will be open for the day, although it does not officially open until Memorial Day. Inflatables will be set up for the children to play on.
“There will be some vendors there to sell stuff if they [attendees] want to buy stuff,” said Gilchrist.
Vendors include the Gadsden Police Department, a City of Glencoe Information Booth, Glencoe Fire Department, Laura Lee’s out of Riverview Regional Medical Center, Cove Creek Baptist Church, the LifeSouth Blood Bus, Faith Worship Center, McDonalds, Coosa Valley Health and Rehab and the Pilot Club of Gadsden.
“We enjoy doing this,” said Gilchrist. We are just trying to bless our community. And it’s a safe place for the kids. You can let them go, and you don’t have to worry about them.”
The City of Glencoe would like to thank its many sponsors, including VFW Post 10408, Martin Foundry Services, Inc., AAA Eagle Bail Bonds, LLC, Philips Plumbing, Vulcan Materials, Senator Phil Williams, Laser Graphics, Buffalo Rock, Mayfield Dairy, Mountain Top Flea Market, Dowdy’s Office Equipment, The Law Office of Turnback, Warren, Rice, Lloyd, Frederick and Smith, Greater Gadsden Area Tourism Board, Et. Co. Commissioner Joey Statum, Et. Co. Commissioner Tim Choate, McDonalds, Glencoe Water and Sewer Board, Lay Construction, Ronnie Watkins Ford, Butler Electrical Contractors, Jet Pep, CDG Engineers, McCartney Construction Company, Mr. G’s Foods and Johnson Giant Foods.