Downtown Decatur’s 3rd Friday to Glow May 16

Downtown Decatur’s 3^rd Friday will hit the streets this coming Friday, May 16^th, and this month’s celebration is gearing up for the upcoming Memorial Day celebration – the Alabama Jubilee Hot-Air Balloon Classic. Along with live music, vintage cars, and other free family fun the monthly event is known for, downtown Decatur will be glowing with hot-air balloons.

The 3^rd Friday celebration gets underway at 5 p.m. and as the sun goes down, a magnificent balloon glow will light up downtown Decatur. Hot air balloons will be located in the green space on Lee Street (in front of the Morgan County Jail), weather permitting, and festival goers are invited to mingle with the pilots and to start making plans for the Alabama Jubilee Hot-Air Balloon Classic set for May 24-25, 2014.

Throughout the evening, Bank Street and 2^nd Avenue will be filled with a variety of vintage beauties and some of the area’s best musicians will keep festival goers on their feet dancing. Slated to perform on the Main Stage, located at the corner of Bank Street and Church Street from 6 to 8 p.m., is The Wheelers. The Decatur Youth Symphony will also perform on Bank Street followed by a concert in front of the Old State Bank. Additional entertainers include Jason Speegle (beside Tallulah’s), the Morgan County Dulcimer Association (next to the Neighborhood Christian Center), Bimini Road Band (between The Cupboard and Tammy Eddy), JC Carter (beside Gyro Uno and Antique Basket), Barry Hall (at Casa Grande Park), Deborah Davenport (next to the Alabama Center for the Arts), and Kim Stone and Friends (beside Downtown Dawgs). From 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., Jonathan Laird is the featured entertainment at Simp McGhee’s, the Back Alley Bistro will host Tim Tucker beginning at 7:30 p.m. and Josh Allison will perform on the patio at The Brick.

There will be plenty of hands-on fun for children throughout the evening including a Kids Zone on Second Avenue hosted by Bank Independent and the Carnegie Visual Arts Center will offer activities and a street art contest on Bank Street.

Jacque Reeves from the Huntsville Ghost Walk will offer a sneek peek of the new Decatur Ghost Walk, and beginning at 6:30 p.m., there will be a fashion show featuring Beautiful Edge-A Paul Mitchell Salon and Goody 2 Shoes at Casa Grande Park. Heirloom tomato plants from 1818 Farms will be available to puchase at The Cupboard and the Old State Bank will remain open until 7 p.m.

The downtown area boasts an eclectic mix of restaurants and a variety of locally owned boutiques line the streets offering plenty of dining and shopping opportunities for festivalgoers.  Casa Grande Park on 2^nd Avenue will be filled with craft vendors selling handmade items and artists and artesian goods vendors will be set up along Bank Street selling their works of art. Store specials, giveaways, and discounts will be offered at selected merchants including free smoothie and tanning lotion samples at Decatur Athletic Club, a Scout Trunk Show at The Paper Chase and a 25^th anniversary celebration at Tammy Eddy Antiques.

MCATS will provide transportation between Bank Street and Second Avenue for $1 per person, per ride. Pickup locations are at the Alabama Center for the Arts parking lot on Second Avenue and beside Tammy Eddy Antiques and Interiors on Bank Street.

Participating streets in 3^rd Fridays include 2^nd Avenue, Bank, Market, Moulton, Grant, and Johnston streets. Hours are 5 to 9 p.m. Admission is free.

The Downtown Merchants Association wishes to thank the City of Decatur Parks and Recreation Department for the tremendous support they provide to the event as an in-kind sponsor. Presenting sponsor is Budweiser. Diamond Sponsor is Decatur Downtown Redevelopment Authority. Gold Sponsors include Bank Independent, BP, Decatur/Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce, Progress Bank, and Morgan County Commission. Silver Sponsors are Nucor Steel and 3M. Bronze Sponsors are Renasant Bank, Stovall-Marks Insurance, Beautiful Edge-A Paul Mitchell Focus Salon, and King Insurance Agency.

For more information, call Ashley Ashwander at 256.355.8993 or visit 3^rd Friday’s Facebook page for the latest information.

Largest Tournament Trail for Amateur Anglers Coming to Wheeler Lake May 17

The American Bass Anglers, who conducts the largest and most prestigious tournament trail for weekend anglers, is bringing its Weekend Bass Series to the River City on May 17, 2014.  Over 150 amateur anglers and co-anglers will compete for a total purse of up to $52,000 cash plus sponsor-supported bonuses.

The Weekend Bass Series is designed for the weekend bass angler offering 100 qualifying events annually. In each qualifying event, the winning boater may receive up to $6,000 cash, based on a full field. The winner may also qualify for another $7,000 in Triton Gold bonus money totaling $13,000 for the day. The winning co-angler in each event may win up to $3,000, with a full field, plus the opportunity to collect significant bonus cash and prizes from tournament sponsors. Only largemouth, smallmouth, spotted or Redeye bass will be weighed. The limit for boaters is five and three for co-anglers.

The tournament is open to current members of the American Bass Anglers who are 16 years and older. Tournament organizers are expecting up to 170 anglers to travel to Decatur to compete. Top boaters and co-anglers will advance to the regional championship set for September 26-27, 2014, on Lake Chickamauga in Dayton, Tenn.

Ingalls Harbor, located at 802 Wilson Street NW in Decatur, will host the takeoff and weigh-in.

For more information on the American Bass Anglers and the Weekend Bass Series, call Tournament Director Kristin Malott at 256.771.3709 or visit www.americanbassanglers.com. 

Daikin Festival Celebrates 20th Anniversary in 2014

The 20^th anniversary celebration of the annual Daikin Festival is set for Friday, May 23, 2014, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Morgan County Fairgrounds in Decatur. Hosted by Daikin America, the free event offers festivalgoers of all ages an opportunity to experience Japanese culture through music, exhibits, and food.

Festivalgoers are encouraged to wear happi coats and participate in the Japanese folk dances. Happi coats are cloth jackets, or robes, usually containing an emblem, family crest, or logo on the back, and are worn on festive occasions. Live music includes country, Cajun, rock & roll, big band and traditional Japanese music. The highlight of the evening is when Daikin employees take the stage with a Japanese Taiko Drums performance.   

Along with traditional festival food such as hot dogs, hamburgers, popcorn, and soft drinks, festivalgoers are treated to Cajun jambalaya, barbeque sandwiches, and Japanese Yakisoba, a stir-fried mix of noodles, cabbage, carrots, and beef. All food and drinks are free of charge. In addition to free parking around the fairgrounds, free round-trip shuttle service will be provided to the fairgrounds from Decatur Mall and Austin High School. 

During the festival, festivalgoers can learn more about Daikin America from a display of product exhibits. Other displays include the Daikin Homestay Program, a program where area students and teachers travel to Japan for a two-week stay. Free tethered hot-air balloon rides are also available, weather permitting. The festivities conclude with a grand prize drawing for a free vacation at 8:45 p.m.

For more information on the Daikin Festival, contact Daikin America Community Relations Manager Forrest Keith at 256.306.5000.

About Daikin America, Inc.

Daikin America is a leading global supplier of PTFE Molding and Fine Powders and Dispersions. Daikin also specializes in FEP, PFA, ETFE, PCTFE, EFEP, Fluoroelastomers and Unidyne oil and water repellents. Daikin also is home of the largest solar power installation in Alabama. Daikin is committed to good corporate citizenship, providing new employment opportunities at its various sites. For more information, visit www.daikin-america.com.   

Celebrate Memorial Day at Alabama’s Largest and Oldest Hot Air Balloon Festival and Cool Off at the Point Mallard Waterpark

The Alabama Jubilee Hot Air Balloon Classic has been flying for 36 years in Decatur, Ala. entertaining locals and visitors with free family fun. Always Memorial Day weekend, the Alabama Jubilee is a two-day celebration filled with hot air balloons, live music, tractors, arts and crafts and many other activities. This year’s event is set for May 24-25, 2014 and in between Alabama Jubilee activities, festivalgoers are encouraged to take a dip and cool off at the Point Mallard Waterpark.

The Memorial Day celebration begins bright and early on Saturday, May 24^th at 6:30 a.m. with the Hare and Hound Balloon Race. Saturday’s activities include an antique car show, arts and crafts show, and the Southland Flywheelers will host a tractor show featuring some of the best restored and maintained tractors in the Southeast, engine demonstrations, a tractor parade, pedal tractor pull, and tractor games. At dusk, the Balloon Glow is a must see as towering balloons of all colors light up Point Mallard Park.

Another round of friendly competition between the hot air balloon pilots is scheduled for Sunday, May 25^th beginning at 6:30 a.m. with the Lynn Layton Chevrolet Hot-Air Balloon Key Grab Race. Sunday’s activities include an arts and crafts show and a military tribute for fallen soldiers. For those who want to experience the magic of a balloon ride, free tethered rides are offered from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and a spectacular fireworks show is set to launch at 9:30 p.m.

Live music fills the air both evenings and the Decatur Art Guild arts and crafts show offering only original works will be open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. on Saturday and 8 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sunday in the Pavilion.

Free parking will be available at Wolverine Park and GE with shuttle service to Point Mallard Park from 4 to 10 p.m. for a nominal fee each way. Admission to the Alabama Jubilee is free. Please note all balloon activities are weather permitting.

Picnic blankets and lawn chairs are encouraged. All activities take place in Point Mallard Park, a 750-acre municipal park providing year round recreation facilities in Decatur, Ala. For more information and a schedule of events, visit www.alabamajubilee.net.

Opening day for the Point Mallard Waterpark is Saturday, May 24^th. With plenty of water action, the waterpark offers a welcoming reprieve from the warm temperatures summer brings. The Waterpark is open daily beginning May 24 to August 10 with hours 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. all other days. General admission is $20 for adults (ages 12-61 years old), $15 for youth (ages 5 to 11 years old), $15 for seniors (62+) and military, with half price days offered Monday through Thursday (excluding holidays). For more information, visit www.pointmallardpark.com or call 256.341.4900.

The best seat for viewing the Alabama Jubilee’s firework show may be from the water. The Pickwick Belle is offering an Alabama Jubilee Fireworks Dinner Cruise on May 25^th. Departing from Ingalls Harbor at 8 p.m., the cruise offers a hearty barbeque meal while making its way along Wheeler Lake to Point Mallard. Steve Hopper will entertain with his “Floribbean-style” music (a mix of Florida and Caribbean) before and after the fireworks show. A cash bar will be available and complimentary patriotic party favors will be provided. Cost is $54.99 per person plus tax and gratuity. Reservations are required and may be made by calling 877.936.2355. For more information, visit www.pickwickbelle.net/cruise-schedules/.