Arley Day is Saturday

ARLEY  -  Those attending the annual Arley Day festival this Saturday, May 21, can expect to see a major change in the festival’s layout, all for the betterment and expansion of the activities.
The biggest change is  a major expansion, resulting in parking moved off-site and visitors being shuttled back and forth to the festival, which will be located at Hamner Park off County Road 77, organizers said.
Since the park itself is being expanded to provide more recreational opportunities, the car show, which is normally held on the hill facing County Road 77, has been moved to a more open grassy area across from the ballfields.  Since that move took up public parking, organizers decided to move a majority of the public parking (with the exception of handicap parking) off site and leave the majority of the park open for festival activities.
Parking will be available across County Road 77 at Meek Baptist Church, as well as all parking areas on the campuses of Meek Schools, noted Arley Day organizer Johnna Bailey.
“Parking will be marked with signs,” said Bailey. “We will have adequate signs marking where the parking spots are.”
A free shuttle will be available from each parking location and will travel back and forth throughout the day to and from Hamner Park.

5K benefits Band of Champions

The festival will kick off with a 5K run/walk to benefit the Meek High School Band of Champions. This event will take a different route than previous years and is set to better coincide with the festival, organizer Amy Ackley said.
Those participating in the 5K can sign up by going online at runsignup.com under Arley Day 5K for a $15 per person registration fee.  Registration will also be available in person  on Arley Day beginning at 5 a.m. The 5K run will begin at 5:30 a.m., organizers said, and will travel east of Hamner Park, follow Nathan Loop, come out in town, turn and go back to Hamner Park, where runners will make a loop in the park trail, according to Ackley.

Breakfasts benefit Arley VFD

A community breakfast will be served from 7-8:30 a.m. at Meek Baptist Church, while a pancake breakfast will be held at the nearby Arley fire station, hosted by Arley First Baptist Church.  Donation only for the the breakfasts,   with all proceeds going to benefit the Arley volunteer fire department, Bailey said.

Vendor
information

Arts and crafts and food vendors can begin setting up at

6:30 a.m. and should be set up and ready by 8 a.m., according to organizers. Vendor organizer Beverly Kelly can be reached at (678) 343-5302.

Parade line up at Dollar General

Line-up for the Arley Day Parade will begin at 7:30 a.m. at the Dollar General parking lot on County Road 41. The parade will start at 8 a.m. and travel down 41 to County Road 77, turn right and end at the parking lot of Meek Baptist Church, across from Hamner Park, Bailey said.
Parade organizers Mark and Montie Pafford can be reached at (817) 975-7977. All types of entries are welcome in the parade, organizers said.  Several candidates campaigning for the May 24 primary elections will be riding in the parade, as well as visiting at the festival, according to Bailey.
Hamner Park will open to the public at 8 a.m. for the festival and lasting until around 3 p.m.

Car show expanded

The car show will have hopefully 100 to 120 entries, more than last  year’s entries, noted car show organizer Paula Fullington.
Pre-registration is currently underway, either by mailing the entry form to Arley Women’s Club, P.O. Box 15, Arley, Ala. 35541, going online to arleywomensclub.org or registering the day of show, Fullington said.  A $20 donation is being encouraged for each car show entry, she added.  For more information, contact Fullington at (615) 943-6816.
The car show will begin at 8:30 a.m. after the parade, with cash prizes to be given out every half hour, Fullington stated.
The main prizes, including $500 for Best of Show and $250 for People’s Choice, will be presented after the show ends at 2 p.m. at the main stage area, she added.
 
Live entertainment,
activities also
expanded

Live entertainment will be on the main stage starting at 9 a.m. and will go throughout the festival, according to organizers.
This  year, Toddler Town, which provides games and activities for smaller children, is expanding and will be located behind the concession stand.
On the Hamner Park ball fields will be water rides. Parents are encouraged to have a towel or extra sets of dry clothes for their children due to the likelihood of them getting wet,  organizers said.
A mechanical bull ride is being added this year to coincide with the return of  such favorites as bungee bounce and swings.
Mason Family Farms will also be on hand to provide horse and pony rides.
Family-friendly activities are also being planned along the walking trail at the park.