Spirit of American Festival offers food, fun, fireworks
The 45th Annual Spirit of America Festival, which is scheduled at Point Mallard Park in Decatur Monday, July 4, promises a full day of food, fun and entertainment for the park’s visitors.
The fun-filled activities and pageantry of the event has earned it the reputation of being one of the largest free Fourth of July events in the southeast. This year’s theme is “I Pledge Allegiance.” It honors those individuals who have demonstrated their pledge to our nation through service and sacrifice. It is also a call to action for citizens to renew their commitment to our country.
The 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War and the 10th anniversary of 9-11 will be commemorated as a part of the event. Also highlighted will be the “Year of Alabama Music” as designated by the Alabama Bureau of Tourism and Travel.
The festival will open at noon with a Children’s Bike Ride featuring Lady Liberty and a long line of decorated bikes, trikes, wagons, strollers and wheelchairs. It will disband at the children’s area where colorful displays, carnival games, inflatables, crafts and a children’s entertainment stage will be waiting to spring into action.
Music and entertainment will be featured on the Spirit of America stage throughout the afternoon. Stage performers will include Ellie Claytor, Abrielle Mullins and the Four Star Jazz Orchestra from the U.S. Materiel Command at Redstone Arsenal.
A highlight of the festival will be the participation of Boy Scouts from the Arrowhead District. They will be encamped near the children’s area, and will provide displays and hands-on demonstrations of typical scouting activities. Among the many activities provided for guests to experience are two-liter bottle rockets, monkey bridge and hillbilly skis, peddle cars, religious emphasis booth, knot tying, ham radio, pinewood derby, branding station, rocket launch and raingutter regatta.
An annual awards ceremony will recognize several patriotic individuals for their outstanding service and sacrifice for county and fellow man. The Audie Murphy Patriotism Award will be presented to Lt. Gen. Frank Libutti. Col. Terry A. Thomas will receive the Barrett C. Shelton Freedom Award. The Spirit of America Humanitarian Award will go to Joseph C. Bongiovanni and a new award, CNS John and Brenda Perry Award, will be presented to CSM John and Brenda Perry.
As day moves to evening, the festival atmosphere will heighten as the 41st Annual Miss Point Mallard Pageant occupies the stage at 8 p.m.. To close the day a giant fireworks show scheduled for 10 p.m. will delight and dazzle viewers as the night sky is illuminated and embers reflect over the Tennessee River.
