DECATUR – The Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association (AMLA) has honored the Athens Storytelling Festival with the 2015 Event of the Year award. The award is among 12 that comprise the PEAK Awards that were presented on Wednesday, September 16 during the AMLA Annual Meeting at Stone Bridge Farms in Cullman, Ala.
Representing the highest achievement in North Alabama tourism, the PEAK Awards honor individuals and organizations that have had a major impact on tourism in North Alabama. The Event of the Year award is presented to the AMLA member special event or festival that has made a great contribution to tourism in the past year.
The Athens Storytelling Festival, now in its ninth year, attracts some of the nation’s 
most highly acclaimed storytellers to celebrate the art of storytelling, tall tales, and readings. Along with award-winning performers, the five-day festival also features an amateur night for locals to take the stage to unleash their own tall tales, lies and stories. Visitors have been noted from 15 different states and typically stay three to four days in local hotels while also enjoying other attractions and shopping in the area during their visit.
Tami Reist
“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I congratulate all of the honorees,” said Tami Reist, President/CEO of the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association. “The PEAK Awards provide an outstanding platform to recognize top performers and industry leaders in tourism and this year’s recipients all have done an excellent job in the marketing and promotions of tourism and travel for the North Alabama region.”
The full list of awards and winners is as follows:
- Event of the Year – Athens Storytelling Festival
- Organization of the Year – Spirit of Athens
- Attraction of the Year – One World Adventure
- Good Neighbor Award – Rock The South
- Northern Star Award – Terri Hyatt (Bay Springs County Inn and Campground)
- Young Professional of the Year Award – Breanna Putman (Greater Gadsden Area Tourism)
- Tourism Professional of the Year – Alison Stanfield (Florence Lauderdale Tourism)
- Lasting Impression Award – Roxy Theatre
- Chairman’s Cup – Randy and Olivia Grider (Lookout Alabamamagazine)
- President’s Award – Tim Haney (Joe Wheeler State Park), Mike Jeffreys (Lake Guntersville State Park)
and Ken Thomas (DeSoto State Park)
- Tourism Hall of Fame – July Ryals (Huntsville-Madison County CVB), Elaine Fuller (Cullman County
Museum) and Susann Hamlin (Colbert County TCB)
- Legend Award – Jimmy Denton, Natural Bridge
- MEDIA RELEASE/Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association/
Teresa Todd
