Leeds Downtown Folk Festival & John Henry Celebration coming in September

Mark your calendar now and plan to bring your family to the second annual Leeds Downtown Folk Festival & John Henry Celebration from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19, and 12 noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 20. Admission and parking are free to the public.

The Alabama Tourism Department has named this two-day festival in Leeds, Ala., one of the top 10 tourism events in Alabama during the month of September.

This festival is held each year on the third weekend of September and celebrates the roots, richness and variety of traditional and contemporary American culture. The event will feature folk music and entertainment, exhibits and demonstrations by fine artists and folk artisans, a variety of children’s activities and down-home Southern food, along with special events and activities celebrating the life of John Henry, a local legend and steel-drivin’ man.

Forty-four artisans will display and demonstrate their craftsmanship. You can watch basket weavers, a metal smith, felters, woodcarvers and potters at work, and take home one-of-a-kind items. Folk musicians and musical groups will perform outdoors on Saturday and Sunday. A special area will be set aside for children ages 4 to 12 to enjoy a variety of activities and make crafts to take home.

The John Henry Celebration will feature a tour of Leeds Historic Depot, a display of student artwork sponsored by the Leeds Board of Education and three performances of the play “Listen to that Cold Steel Ring,” © written by Marie Cromer.

The play, which will be performed at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. on Sunday, depicts the life of John Henry and the contest he waged against a steam drill at Oak Mountain Tunnel in the 1880s.

At 1 p.m. on Saturday. John Garst, professor emeritus, University of Georgia, and folklorist, will speak about his research into John Henry’s life.

We will also have a dedicated Children's Area available Saturday 9 a.m to 6 p.m. and Sunday noon to 6 p.m. with a butterfly puppet tent, cornshuck doll tent, cornhole games, bean bag toss, Birmingham Botannical Gardens' infomation table and nature craft, bubble blowing and sidewalk chalk art.

Other activities will be available as follows:

Book sales and a selection of games - Saturday only

Mark Seymour performance Saturday only 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.

Strolling tortoise - Saturday morning only until the temperature gets too hot for him

Clay tent - Saturday only 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. and 4-5 p.m.

Mobile Dairy Classroom - Saturday only with demonstrations at 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Whistle Maker - Saturday only 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Auntie Litter - Sunday only 2 to 5 p.m.

A food court and a farmers market will open on Saturday and Sunday.

The festival is sponsored by the Alabama Arts Tag; Alabama State Board of Tourism; Barfield, Murphy, Shank & Smith P.C.; the City of Leeds; CSX; Daniel Corp.; Hubbell Power Systems; the Monkey’s Uncle; Nubath Alabama; the Pants Store; Tri-County Heating and Cooling, and Wellington Development Co. Supporters are American Legion Community Service Fund, Castalia Literary Club, F&AM Leeds Lodge #446, Friends of Leeds Library, Kilgore Funeral Home, the Leeds Historical Society, Leeds Library Foundation, Leeds Lions Club, Leeds Scenic Byway Management Team, Peggy’s Barbershop, Pioneer Hardware, RDS, Southeastern Safety Shoes, Walter Shoel Engineering Co., Women’s Literary Club, Philip Able, Jack Falletta, Christine Marsicano, Dr. James Stone, Vernon Schmitt and T.V. Weaver.

Locals and visitors are invited. There will be fun for everyone in the family! You may want to bring folding chairs and stay all day.

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

The Leeds Downtown Folk Festival & John Henry Celebration is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. For more information about the event, call Regina Arnold at 205-699-1892.