Leeds Downtown Folk Festival featuring John Henry Days coming in September

Mark your calendar now for the inaugural Leeds Downtown Folk Festival featuring John Henry Days from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20, and 12 noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 21. Admission and parking are free to the public.

The two-day outdoor event in Leeds, Ala., celebrating the roots, richness and variety of American culture will feature folk music, craft exhibits and demonstrations, children’s activities, food, storytelling and Leeds’ second annual celebration of John Henry Days.

The festival is being produced by the Leeds Arts Council in conjunction with the Leeds Chamber of Commerce, the Leeds Historical Society, the Leeds Scenic Byway Management Team and McMillan Associates. This program/project has been made possible by grants from the Alabama State Council on the Arts, the Alabama Humanities Foundation, the Alabama Bureau of Tourism and Travel, and the City of Leeds. Corporate sponsors include Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, Covenant Bank and the Monkey’s Uncle.

There will be something for everyone at the festival. You may want to bring a folding chair and stay all day.

A variety of folk musicians and musical groups will perform on Saturday and Sunday. A storyteller and a street dance are planned for Saturday.

At least 27 artisans will display and demonstrate their craftsmanship during the festival. You can watch basketweavers, a metalsmith, felters, woodcarvers and potters at work and take home one-of-a-kind items.

Children ages 4 to 12 can make crafts to take home. The festival will sponsor an interactive creation opportunity for parents and children to work together. Children also can visit agricultural events, see tractors, listen to stories and play games.

John Henry Days will feature a display of artwork sponsored by the Leeds Board of Education and two performances of the play, “Listen to that Cold Steel Ring,” presented by the Leeds Historical Society. The play depicts the life of local legend John Henry and the contest he waged with a steam drill at Oak Mountain tunnel in the 1880s.

A food court will open on Saturday and Sunday, and the Leeds Farmers Market will join the festivities on Saturday.

Leeds is located 15 miles east of Birmingham, just two miles off I-20, exit 140.

For more information about the event, see www.leedsfolkfestival.com. For information about artisans, call Regina Arnold at 205-699-1982. For information about sponsorship opportunities, call Joel Corley at 205-324-6881, ext. 101. For information about food vendors, call Andrew Bell, at 205-324-6881, ext. 106.

Local Supporters The Pants Store J.F.S. Insurance Agency Leeds Lion Club Leeds Masonic Lodge #46 Peggy’s Barber Shop Maison DeFrance Antiques Timeless Finishes Casa Del Hispano Dirt Dabbers Garden Club Cahaba Valley Garden Club Friends of the Leeds Jane Culbreth Library Leeds Public Library Foundation Inc.

Artisans and Demonstrators Debbie Scott, Apparel Kelly Seahorn, Beaded Crafts Carlton Beardon, Birdhouses Marie Jeff, Gourd Art and Rugs Annetta Autsolief, Jewelry Rick Long, Musical Instruments Hoyt Farmer, Blacksmithing Tim Scales, Dulcimers Kirk Withrow, Cigar Box Guitars Andrew Davis, Pottery Bryan Jordan, Pottery Tena Payne, Pottery Mariann Jackson, Quilts Susan Crowe, Quilts and Textiles Barbara Mitchell, Art Quilts Marvin Little, Walking Sticks Sharon Brazile, Wall Art Maurice Cook, Painted Rural Scenes Del Dashner, Wood Carvings Steven Febres-Cordeo, Wood Carvings Ken Ray, Nature Carvings Mary Hicks, Baskets She She, Wall Art Ashley Hunter, Primitives Terry Vogin, Silver Jewelry Charlotte Negley, Quilts Dianne Hathcock, Wall Art

Storyteller Susan Webb Musicians Marc Seymour Shelby Duke Haley Powers Fiddle and Flute Mt. Pisgah Pickers Rick Long and Friends Top Cats Ray Newman Bo Butler and the Nice Boys Voices of Autumn Plantation Heirs Leeding Ladies Ron Dometrovich Flying Jenny