ARAB, Ala. – More than 170 craft vendors displayed their wares Saturday at Arab’s annual SugarFest. The all-day, sweet-themed festival at Arab City Park also saw 23 food trucks, live music, plenty of kids’ activities, the Sugar Rush 5K and the Miss SugarFest Pageant.
Festivalgoers could stroll through the Arab Historic Village in between visiting vendor tents. Nestled just behind the park, the Historical Complex showcases buildings preserved with authentic furnishings and décor from the 1880s to the 1940s.
Residents also had the chance to dunk their city officials, including Mayor Bob Joslin, at the dunking booth for $1 per throw to go toward the Arab Emergency Relief Fund.
Live music included Winston Ramble, Lamont Landers Band and headliner, Trotline.
The festival concluded with the grand fireworks show after dark. East Coast Pyrotechnics out of South Carolina, which also organizes the fireworks for the Atlanta Braves, handled the show at SugarFest.
“It is seriously the most incredible fireworks show you’ve ever seen,” said volunteer Chandler Dunn.
Arab’s SugarFest began in 2019 with a group of residents looking to plan a unique community event. They did not expect many people to show up but had an estimated 5,000 attend the first festival. Last year the festival doubled in size, with 10,000 guests attending.
City of Arab Director of Economic Development Melissa Cook said the festival keeps growing every year.
“It looks like the crowd is much bigger,” she said. “The kids’ area is bigger, entertainment is better.”
Various organizations volunteer to help the festival run smoothly. The presenting sponsor this year was City of Arab Parks and Recreation. Proceeds from the event go back into the festival, to local causes and scholarships.
See more photos at www.facebook.com/thesugarfest.
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