Each year, the Haleyville Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Haleyville host a festival to celebrate its heritage and honor first responders.
Last year the 9-1-1 Festival received the great honor of being named one ofthe Southeast Tourism Society’s Top 20 Events in the Southeast United States for June of 2016.
The annual Festival, set for next Friday and Saturday, June 2-3, celebrates the ‘Home of 9-1-1,’ where the first emergency call originated, with a family-friendly event including music, children’s activities, street vendors, a parade, a classic car show and much more, while honoring its police, fire, rescue and emergency personnel.
The Festival Committee is thrilled to announce that DIAMOND RIO will headline the 9-1-1 music stage this year. Diamond Rio signed to Arista Records and in 1991 became the first country group in history to reach No. 1 with a debut single, “Meet In The Middle.”
And the hits just kept on coming: “How Your Love Makes Me Feel,” “One More Day,” “Beautiful Mess,” “Unbelievable,” “In a Week or Two,” and more.
DIAMOND RIO has sold more than 10 million albums, won a Grammy Award, a Dove Award, six CMA and ACM Vocal Group of the Year honors, released two Greatest Hits Albums, earned five multi-week No. 1 singles, 22 Top 10 singles, three certified Platinum and five gold albums, and much more…all with zero band member changes.
Known for their charity commitments, including serving as long-time spokespersons for Big Brothers/Big Sisters, DIAMOND RIO has raised over a million dollars for non-profits and received the Minnie Pearl Humanitarian Award. You can read more about this fabulous group by visiting the website www.diamondrio.com.
The 9-1-1 festivities get underway at noon on Friday, June 2 when Haleyville’s Main Street area closes to allow set-up of the many arts/crafts/retail and food vendors. At 5 p.m. the Kids’ Zone opens with free inflatable fun for those 12 years and younger.
The music stage will come alive at 5:15 p.m. with local talent Reid Haughton, followed by “Handshake Promise” and the local roots and sounds of “The Band Steele.” The popular sis-country trio “Sweet Tea” returns, and headliner DIAMOND RIO will take the stage at 9:30 p.m. The music stage is also free to the public and made possible by our 9-1-1 Festival Sponsors, including Encore Rehab/Sportsfit, Kith Kitchens, Rowe Machinery, Guthrie’s Franchising Inc. and Jack’s Family Restaurants.
First thing Saturday morning on June 3 is the sixth annual 5K Extreme Challenge Color Fun Run at 7 a.m. sponsored by Encore Rehab/SportsFit. A classic car show to benefit the Haleyville High School Automotive Technology program and an antique tractor show will both open at 8 a.m.
A variety of activities will include something for everyone, with the Kids’ Zone and the arts/crafts and food vendors opening at 9 a.m. Judging and awards for the car show will take place in the afternoon. Also on Saturday, the local group “We Are The Branches” will entertain with live music and host an open mic for other area artists to showcase their talents.
In 1968, the very first 9-1-1 emergency call was placed from City Hall by Alabama Speaker of the House Rankin Fite to U.S. Rep. Tom Bevill at the city’s police station. The annual 9-1-1 Festival celebrates this history-making moment with an entirely free event made possible by Haleyville business, industry and individual sponsors.
Festival-goers should bring lawn chairs for music events, and all activities are held in downtown Haleyville. For more info, visit www.haleyvillechamber.org or call 205-486-4611. Follow and like us on Facebook at Haleyville Alabama 9-1-1 Festival.
