COLBERT COUNTY-LaGrange College Site Park will be bustling with bluegrass musicians, reenactors, artists and crafters, history buffs and Civil War enthusiasts May 6-8 during the 28th annual Recall LaGrange Bluegrass and More Festival.
Louise Lenz, an organizer of the festival, said the park is a popular destination for Shoals area residents and tourists, especially during the Recall LaGrange celebration.
“We have people from all over, including other countries, who come to the park and come to the festival,” Lenz said. ”They want to come here to learn more about the history of LaGrange and the Civil War.”
The festival, sponsored by the LaGrange Living Historical Association, pays homage to LaGrange College, the first state chartered college in Alabama which became the University of North Alabama, and to LaGrange Military Academy , which was burned during the Civil War. Both were located at what is now LaGrange College Site Park, near Leighton.
The annual festival provides an opportunity to experience what life was like atop LaGrange Mountain in the 1800s. It includes artists and craftsmen and actors demonstrating crafts and daily life from the period, including a Civil War reenactor portraying a doctor treating wounded soldiers on the battlefield. Other activities include hayrides and a book signing by author Robert Steen and pioneer village history tours. Concessions will be available.
The festival is open 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, May 6, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday, May 7 and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, May 8.
An addition to this year’s festival is a bluegrass music concert from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday, May 7. The musicians include Dixie Bluegrass Boys, The Cadillacs, Singing River Strummers, The Hallmark Sisters, Wild Cat Ridge, Boomtown and Shades of Bluegrass.
A ceremony, commemorating extensive renovations to the Ricks Monument at Historic LaGrange Cemetery, begins at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, May 8.
Susann Hamlin, president and CEO of Colbert County Tourism, said Recall LaGrange brings the history of the LaGrange community to life. She said it is an excellent event for families.
Admission is free for Recall LaGrange activities other than the bluegrass concert. Concert admission is $10. Donations to help offset the cost of providing the free activities are welcomed.
LaGrange College Site Park is located off of Alabama 157 at 1491 LaGrange College Road, Leighton. For more details about the festival call Lenz at 256-446-9324 or Colbert County Tourism at 256-383-0783.
