Depot Days one month away
Rebekah.yancey @hartselleenquirer.com
Hartselle’s annual Depot Days festival rolls into town each September, bringing a day of free family-friendly fun and entertainment to the historic depot and downtown area. Hosted by the Hartselle Area Chamber of Commerce, the street festival is a tribute to the railroad industry and its contribution to Hartselle and the North Alabama region. In addition to the one-day celebration, there are additional activities planned in the week leading up to the event. Depot Days gets underway at 8 a.m. and lasts until 4 p.m.
The 43rd annual Depot Days celebration will return to downtown Hartselle in one month.
Originally known as “Mule Days,” Depot Days is a yearly tradition held on the third Saturday of September.
Saturday’s festivities will be preceded by a week of activities leading up to the festival. Among these will be a 5K race Sept. 14 beginning at 7 a.m., the Miss Depot Days Pageant at the Hartselle High School auditorium beginning at 9 a.m. and a community worship service at Mt. Zion Baptist Church Sept. 15 at 6 p.m.
Hartselle citizens are also encouraged to take a trip “Down Memory Lane” Sept. 16 as the Hartselle Historical Society puts on a show-andtell of artifacts related to Hartselle’s history. This event will be held at First Methodist Church of Hartselle as the church is celebrating its 150th anniversary.
The day-long festival itself will be held Sept. 21 and feature everything from a children’s area populated by rides and games to a variety of shows featuring things such as vintage cars, arts and crafts vendors and food trucks. This year, the festival is being presented by Decatur Morgan Hospital.
Pulling off an event this size requires months of planning according to Chris Spicer, Director of Programs and Events at the HACC.
“Depot Days takes months of planning and the efforts of dozens of people,” said Chris Spicer, Marketing and Events Coordinator at the HACC. Spicer said a ‘Conductor Crew’ with representatives from the city, tourism officials, volunteer organizations and multiple community stakeholders band together to make it a successful event for everyone to enjoy.” Depot Days is a free event.
