Organizers Announce New Activities for 33rd Annual Hartselle Depot Days

Hosted by the Hartselle Area Chamber of Commerce, the Depot Days Festival returns to the streets of downtown Hartselle September 21, 2013. The annual tribute to the railroad industry and its contribution to Hartselle and the North Alabama region offers a day of live music, art, food, children’s rides and games, and festival organizers are pleased to announce two new sporting events have been added to the 33^rd annual event.   

The Depot Days Festival is partnering with the Hartselle Kiwanis Club to offer a Half-Marathon in addition to the 5K race. The event will take place at Quail Creek Golf Resort and Convention Center with race time set for 7 a.m. For more information, visit www.hartsellekiwanisclub.org/half-marathon/. 

During this year’s festival, Hartselle will have its first gran fondo. The cycling event will begin at Sparkman Civic Center and participants can choose from three different courses ranging from 30 miles to 100 miles. Registration is available online at www.bikereg.com/Net/19681.    

For the past 32 years, the streets of downtown Hartselle transforms into festival grounds for as many as 20,000 visitors the third Saturday in September. The Depot Days Festival gets underway at 8 a.m. and lasts all day until the music stops. Local favorite Jeff Whitlow and the Old Barn Band is slated to perform along with other musical acts. In addition to live music, the annual event offers a car, truck and motorcycle show, a craft show, the Antique Tractor & Gasoline Engine Show, and a variety of fun and games for children. Many of the specialty and antique shops located in the historic buildings downtown will also be open for business during the festival. Admission is free.

Additional activities are also scheduled in the week leading up to Depot Days. The Miss Depot Days Pageant takes to the stage Saturday, September 14^th, beginning at 10 a.m., at the Sparkman Civic Center. The pageant is open to girls 0 to 18 years old with age divisions set at 0-23 months, 2-4 years, 5-6 years, 7-8 years, 9-11 years, 12-13 years, 14-15 years, and 16-18 years old and to boys 0 to 8 years old with age divisions set at 0-12 months, 2-4 year olds, 5-6 years old, and 7-8 years old. A King and Queen, and 1^st and 2^nd alternates will be selected from each age group. Other awards include Best Smile, Prettiest Hair, Prettiest Eyes, and Photogenic. A Tiny Miss and Master, Little Miss and Master, Petite Miss Depot Days, Teen Miss Depot Days and a Miss Depot Days will also be crowned.    

The Hartselle Ministerial Association will host a community worship service on September 15^th at West Hartselle Baptist Church. On September 16^th, the Hartselle Historical Society will present a salute to the police and fire departments at the Hartselle Fine Arts Center. On September 17^th, the College Street Players will present a play of Hartselle’s Great Bank Robbery at the Hartselle Fine Arts Center. The Hartselle High School Choral Department will have a Depot Days Concert on September 19^th (time and location to be announced).

For more information on the Depot Days Festival, call the Hartselle Chamber of Commerce at 256.773.4370 or visit www.hartsellechamber.org and click on News and Events.