With the mercury rising and the waters of Logan Martin Lake warming each day, St. Clair County residents are gearing up for a summer of fun and festivities, beginning this weekend. Over the next month, locals will have the opportunity to get outside and enjoy a variety of music, foods and activities near home.

Today: Pell City Block Party

Downtown Pell City will play host to thousands of Pell City residents and visitors during the 12th Annual Hometown Block Party, sponsored by the Greater Pell City Chamber of Commerce, from 5:30 – 11:30 p.m.

With more vendors than ever before, activities for all ages and plenty of homemade ice cream and snow cones to help beat the heat, the event is bracing for record crowds.

“We had huge crowds last year, and I think we’re going to top that this year. It’s such a wide range of vendors, there will be something for everyone, like there is for music,” said Lynn Batemon, executive director of the Greater Pell City Chamber of Commerce.

This year’s featured acts include the Liverton Brothers, Jameson Willis, Stephanie Pickett ‘n’ Style and Rend. TCB Shows will have celebrity impersonators including Tom Jones, Rascal Flatts, Elvis and New Beginning.

In addition to the traditional Kids Corner, which will feature a scrambler, moonwalk and train rides, there will be a new Teen Block with a bungee run, trampoline and boxing ring, among other activities.

With so many offerings close to home, the event is a great way to reconnect with the community.

“Come on out, bring a chair, wear your dancing shoes and come stay with us for the evening,” Batemon said.

Saturday-Sunday: Logan Martin LakeFest

While LakeFest allows nautical enthusiasts a chance to get out on the water and check out this year’s new boats and other watercraft, the event holds much more in store this year: a chance to ensure the health of Logan Martin Lake for the future.

This year, the Logan Martin Lake Protection Agency helped organize the event, and will benefit from funds raised during the day alongside other local non-profit organizations.

“It’s not just about cleaning up the lake and getting water levels up, we’re also promoting business on the lake. Not just in one area, either, it’s Pell City, Riverside and Talladega,” said Mike Riley, vice president of the LMLPA.

Riley said that success on the lake with festivals like the one this weekend is success for this area, and it should grow each year.

Lakefest, like Friday’s Block Party in Pell City, is supported by the Greater Pell City Chamber of Commerce, and is also a free event despite its growth in recent years.

“We hope this is a very successful convention and successful for the Logan Martin Lake Protection Agency. I, personally, really got on board when I heard my friend, Mike (Riley) and the LMLPA said they were going to be a sponsor of this,” Pell City Mayor Bill Hereford said.

June 10-11: White’s Mountain Bluegrass Festival

White’s Mountain in Springville will host their annual Bluegrass on the Mountain weekend. One of the Alabama Tourism Department’s 50 Must-See Music Festivals for the year, the event is likely to draw crowds of bluegrass enthusiasts from near and far.

“It’s a threefold event — a  lot of people like to come out and get in the park and enjoy the outdoors, a lot come to enjoy the camping and a lot come strictly for the bluegrass music,” said Tommy White, one of the festival’s organizers.

The event kicks off Thursday evening with a free jam session — anyone who wants to participate or watch is encouraged to attend.

Then, throughout the weekend, acts like Dixie Breeze, Crimsongrass, the Flint River Boys, Sugar Rush, Palmetto Bluegrass Band, the Bailey and Southern Heart Bluegrass Band will take the stage.

Three miles of mountain hiking trails are also open for use, and the Old Number 97 train will make its way through the festival, as well.

“This isn’t a real huge festival, but we have one of the most beautiful parks in the state. It’s one of the best-kept secrets,” White said.

Admission is $10 for Friday and $15 for Saturday, or $20 for the weekend. Children age 12 and under are admitted at no charge. Camping is also available for $15 per night including electricity, and the venue is drug- and alcohol-free. Pets are allowed at campsites only. For more information, contact Tommy White at 205-467-6927

June 11-12: Headwaters Festival

With the themes of “Move, imagine, feast, relax” Headwaters Festival in Trussville Springs is the newest in the St. Clair area summer lineup.

The festival aims to be a multi-tiered and energetic summertime experience for the area that will let the community enjoy the ecosystem of Cahaba River while providing activities promoting health wellness, create artistic connections for the region.

“The festival is going to largely envelop the banks of the Cahaba River,” said Eileen Kunzman, with Magic City Art Connection, who is putting on the festival.

Five bands have been booked to headline the two-day event, which is being touted as an active and artistic community get-together.

The cornerstone of the festival is the gallery expo, but there will be plenty of other entertaining and eating to be had, too.

“Getting us moving is big for us and we hope that people will come and help us move,” Kunzman said.

The festival features include:  

* The River Stage Dance Pavilion with dance lessons in multiple styles, and partner dancing to live music.

* The Riverwalk Gallery Expo with over 20 galleries and arts organizations featuring their own stables of artists.

* Headwaters games and competitions, which will include kick ball, frisbee, bag toss, horseshoes, croquet, badminton, relay races and other activities.

* Cahaba Café summer foods and treats.

* Kids’ Workbench, which includes imaginative play, art workshops and other projects.

* Live acoustic music.

* Cahaba River exploring and interacting.

Headwaters Festival will take place at Trussville Springs, a new neighborhood nestled riverside off of Highway 11.

More information at HeadwatersFestival.com

June 18: Odenville Music Festival

In its second year of existence, the Odenville Music Festival is bringing in more vendors and bigger headliners to raise money for storm relief efforts in addition to Cops for Tots this year.

“We already have a lot more vendors, there’s a lot of participation so I really think we’re going to see a much larger crowd this year,” said Trese Mashburn, one of the festival’s organizers.

The event kicks off at noon with G2:20 and Jacob and Aaron performing in the early afternoon hours. Then, after a mid-afternoon break, the Thunder 92.7 Country Showdown will take the stage at 4 p.m.

“The Country Showdown is something that has been around for 30 years or so. Artists like LeAnn Rimes, Martina McBride and Garth Brooks got their start by participating in events like this,” Mashburn said.  

Six or seven finalists which qualified through the radio station will perform and be critiqued by a panel of judges in a manner similar to American Idol. The winner will go on to regional and possibly national competition.

After the showdown, 4th and One will take the stage at 5 p.m., with 2 Daze Gone following at 6:30 p.m., and headliners Confederate Railroad starting at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door, and can be purchased at the Odenville Police Department, Odenville Piggly Wiggly, Odenville Drugs, Ashville Drugs and the Pell City Library.