ARLEY, Ala. – The 53rd annual Arley Day Festival is set for Saturday, May 16, at D.H. Hamner Memorial Park. Hosted by the Arley Women’s Club, the festival will run from 8 a.m.- 2 p.m. with free admission. This year’s theme is “Celebrating the 250th Birthday of the United States.”
“The Arley Day Festival has, since its inception, been a celebration of what the Arley Women’s Club strives to accomplish each year,” said Arley Women’s Club President Cynthia Cunningham. “This year, we are excited to include the semiquincentennial of our country as the theme.”
She added, “The theme will be evident from the beginning with our kick-off parade. Parade participants are all asked to reflect the 250th celebration in their decorations. The theme will carry through to the kids’ zone, where children can get a patriot face painting session for free! Actually, all other kids’ activities are free, including lunch.”
The day will begin with a pancake breakfast from 7-8:30 a.m. at the Arley Fire Station, hosted by Arley First Baptist Church. All donations will benefit the Arley Volunteer Fire Department. The Arley Day Parade will follow at 8, traveling through town and ending at Meek Baptist Church, located near the park.
Festival activities will include a car show with cash prizes in multiple categories, a wide variety of vendors, food trucks, businesses, nonprofits and arts and crafts booths, as well as a full lineup of children’s attractions such as water slides, horseback rides, an obstacle course and games.
The event will also feature the third annual Arley Day Pickleball Tournament, beginning at 8 a.m., with a $25 registration fee per player. Additionally, a raffle will be held for a Traeger pellet grill package valued at $1,000. Tickets are $5 each or five for $20.
With its 53rd year hitting the books, Cunningham said the festival represents decades of dedication from the Arley Women’s Club.
“Seeing how far the club has come in 53 years is just amazing, and seeing what we’ve accomplished is even more so,” she said. “I’m extremely proud of the vision and dedication the founding ladies had for the Town of Arley and proud to carry that forward.”
While the event serves as a fundraiser to give back to the community, Cunningham shares that the goal has always been something greater than that.
“Our biggest hope each year is to strengthen our connection to the community,” she said. “The Arley Women’s Club exists to improve the lives of its citizens, whether that’s through our local schools, the Winston County Rescue Squad or through our scholarship program, and the festival is just a wonderful way to celebrate our achievements each year.”
All proceeds from the event will go to support a variety of local initiatives, including schools, the fire department, rescue services, the library and park improvements.
For more information or to register as a vendor, parade participant or car show entry, visit www.arleywomensclub.org/arley-day-festival. Registration for the pickleball tournament is available online at https://forms.gle/sLgQD995QJSQspDL6. For all future updates, follow the Arley Women’s Club on Facebook.
D.H. Hamner Memorial Park is located at 170 Helicon Road in Arley.
