Winston County Christmas Festival’s debut planned for December 14

LAKESHORE - The level of donations and countywide support will determine how grand of a scale Winston County’s inaugural Christmas Festival will be on Saturday, Dec. 14.
Although a variety of entertainment and activities is being planned for the festival, which will be held at the Looney’s Amphitheater Complex, event organizers are needing more funding and community support, in order to expand their efforts and create a festival rivaling neighboring counties and communities, they said.
“Right now, we don’t have enough money,” stated organizer Dawn Taliaferro. “So, we’re doing the best we can with the money we have.
“The people, if they want to make it a success, we need their help,” Taliaferro pointed out. “The only way we’re going to do it is come together to make it happen.”
A group of individuals in Winston County are united with the common goal of bringing holiday magic to Looney’s, in what is being referred to as the county’s first Christmas festival.
Taliaferro and Lori Fredell Patten were inspired to create the festival based on their love of Hallmark Christmas movies.
Taliaferro and Patten brought this idea to J.D. Snoddy, president of the Winston County Arts Council and Theresa Snoddy, vice president, about showcasing the Looney’s complex, owned by the arts complex, for such a countywide festival.
“It’s a combination of what a market would be, with vendors and food trucks, so we’re going to have a balance of that, but we also wanted activities for the community, free to the kids,” Patten explained.
The event will open to the public free of charge at 10 a.m. and will go throughout the day and into the evening hours, according to organizers.

Vendors encouraged to sign up

The market area of the festival will be lined with a variety of arts, crafts and food vendors, who are encouraged to contact Taliaferro at (616) 366-8518, or Patten, at (256) 541-6252.
Vendors interested in setting up at the large, open parking area at Looney’s need to pay a $25 fee.
Applications should contain the vendor’s name, address, type of booth and contact information, and be mailed to Winston County Arts Council, 22400 U.S. Highway 278, Double Springs, Ala 35553.
Those interested in being a sponsor or making a donation toward the festival can also contact Taliaferro or Patten.
Businesses that may want to be a sponsor or make a donation are not required to have a booth space at the festival, organizers emphasized.
“If they want to be part of it, then we would accept a donation,” organizer Karmel Campbell stated.
The countywide festival  concept will feature a variety of live activities and events being planned, but organizers are hoping the festival can be on an even grander scale.
The festival will encompass the entire gravel parking area at Looney’s, including arts, crafts and food vendors, live holiday music, Christmas activities, Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus at a 12-foot tree, which was donated by the Haleyville Area Chamber of Commerce, organizers said. A tree lighting ceremony will be a part of the festivities.
Santa will be on hand to have pictures made with the public, and Mrs. Claus will read Christmas stories to the children.
Bonnie Knight’s piano students will perform, and there will be live entertainment, including the  Blue Diamond “Dancers performing The Nutcracker.” Other live performers will include singer Paula Daniels, James Nielson Family Singers, David Jacobs Family Singers and a drama presentation with hopes of having a children’s choir performing holiday songs, organizers said.
Pictures can be made by the antique red wagon set up in front of The Lodge, formerly known as  Sister Sarah’s restaurant, with another holiday background also set up for pictures, organizers added.
Children can also have their pictures made by a children’s Christmas car that will be decorated.
A fire truck and other first responder vehicles will be on hand that day for tours or demonstrations, organizers added.
A six-foot fire pit will be manned by  Arley Boy Scout Troop 77, helping the public make their own smores to roast over the fire, with Double Springs Boy Scout Troop 92 serving hot chocolate.
Although organizers are proud of the entertainment already secured for the festival, they are in need of more, in order to create the level of festival they are seeking for the county’s first effort.
“We want to give Winston County this Christmas festival,” Taliaferro emphasized. “I don’t think they have had one.”
“Every town has its individual things for Christmas,” added Campbell. “What we’re trying to do is bring the whole county together for an entire county festival.”
“I can’t tell you how many Christmas trees we have gotten now,” Patten added. “We just want to light it up.”
Free guided tours will allow the public to see first-hand ongoing renovations. Tours of the Looney’s complex will take place throughout the day of the Christmas festival, guided by arts council members,  who want the public to see the progress of the ongoing renovations and to answer any questions about the complex, Snoddy emphasized.
“They need to come see.  Looney’s is put on by the Arts Council, but it’s an all-county thing,” explained Snoddy. “Everybody in the county is contributing to help Looney’s one way or the other.”
This help comes in the form of ongoing contributions, as well as grants the arts council has received, that go into the major renovation and restoration efforts, arts council members said.
Town, counties, state legislators and individuals are also helping in contributions or securing grants to keep the efforts ongoing, so events such as the Christmas festival can be held, Snoddy explained.
These grants and contributions so far have totaled over $1 million, according to Snoddy.
Although the Christmas festival will primarily encompass the large open parking area, other areas of the complex will be open for the public to either enjoy Christmas activities or to tour the ongoing renovations, Snoddy explained.
“We’re going to have it decorated for Christmas. It is really going to be nice. It will be a really good opportunity for folks to come and see what we have done,” Snoddy pointed out.
“You will miss a good opportunity, if you don’t come,” Snoddy added.
Indoor areas of the complex such as The Lodge, formerly Sister Sarah’s restaurant, will be open during the festival, for the public to go inside and eat.
“Sometimes in December it can be cool or it can be moderately warm,” Snoddy noted. “So we’re going to try to cover both basis.”