A special publication of
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Buck Creek Festival Guide
What ’s going on at the Buck Creek Festival? Buck Creek tradition ............................................................. 4 Schedule of events ............................................................... 6
Editorial Graham Brooks, Stephen Dawkins, Alec Etheredge, Briana Harris, Madoline Markham, Keith McCoy, Emily Sparacino, Neal Wagner
Production
Buck Creek Festival sponsors ............................................... 7 Band lineup .......................................................................... 8
Connor Bucy, Jamie Dawkins, Kate Green
Marketing Ali Congdon, Kari George, Rachel Henderson, Daniel Holmes, Rhett McCreight, Kim McCulla, Jordan Price, Viridiana Romero, Kerrie Thompson
Customer Service Kristy Brown, Hailey Dolbare, Mary Jo Eskridge, Stacey Meadows
Administration
Lucky Ducks ....................................................................... 10 Buck Creek Festival vendors ............................................... 12 Sponsor Spotlight ............................................................... 13 Parking Information ............................................................ 14
Tim Prince, Katie McDowell
Festival Organizers Ron Holly, Amy Lisenba, Cris Nelson, Brian Peters, Bob Van Loan, Jack Gray, Laura Joseph, Jim McKinley, Stephanie Gray, Jennifer Richards, Crystal McLoughlin
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Buck Creek Festival returns for 18th year By GRAHAM BROOKS Staff Writer
S
ince 2002, Helena’s amphitheater park and the banks of Buck Creek have become a focal point for one of the most popular festivals in Shelby County during the second weekend in May. For the 18th year, the Buck Creek Festival returns to Helena the weekend of May 10, as the two-day family-friendly festival will feature plenty of food and retail vendors, musical entertainment, a children’s play area and of course, the famous Saturday duck race. The festival runs from 6-10 p.m. on Friday, May 10, and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, May 11. The second weekend in May means more in the city of Helena, and seemingly every year the Buck Creek Festival has grown in popularity thanks to sponsors, volunteer efforts and more. Whether it’s your first time making your way to Helena or if the Buck Creek Festival has become an annual tradition, there’s no denying there will be something fun for everyone. The Buck Creek Festival may just be a two-day event, but preparations for 4 • Buck Creek Festival 2019
the festival begin long before the second weekend in May arrives. The backbone of the festival has been the hard work and dedication of a core group of volunteers that help
secure vendors, musical talent, negotiate costs and their free time dedicated to help make the festival the best it can be. These volunteer efforts have led to an impressive total of more than $297,000
raised for area schools, charities and nonprofits through the 17-year history of the Buck Creek Festival. There will be no shortage of live musical entertainment May 10-11 as 10 musical groups will perform, highlighted by Friday night’s headliner Doctor Zarr’s Amazing Funk Monster and Deputy 5 as the Saturday night headliner. Sandwiched between the musical acts and vendors is the legendary duck race in which thousands of yellow rubber ducks sweep down Buck Creek. The duck race returns on Saturday, May 11 at 3 p.m., and those wishing to participate can purchase duck tickets at a number of retail stores around Helena or on the day of the festival. The lucky person whose duck crosses the finish line first will win $500, followed by $250 and $100 for second and third place. Last year, the duck race set a festival record as $14,270 was raised to support the Helena High School Band Boosters. Those unfamiliar with the duck race should plan to arrive at the banks of
Buck Creek early to secure a spot as an automatic dumper attached to a pontoon boat will dump thousands of rubber ducks into Buck Creek that’s become a sight worth seeing. Another big draw of the Buck Creek Festival has been the large children’s play area complete with plenty of inflatables for kids of all ages. The children’s area is conveniently located near the main stage as the purchase of a $5 wristband will include unlimited play. Once the festival concludes and the leftover funds are counted, the money is placed back in the community for a variety of projects and organizations to benefit Helena. Last year, the Buck Creek Festival Committee announced a total of $24,625 was raised and put back in the community. It was considered the most successful festival to date in terms of sponsors, vendors, volunteers, attendance and duck tickets sold as the committee looks to build on that momentum for the 2019 festival. For more information on the festival, visit Buckcreekfestival.com.
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Buck Creek Festival 2019 Stage Schedule Friday, May 10
6 p.m. 2BLU & The Lucky Stiffs 8 p.m. Doctor Zarr’s Amazing Funk Monster
Saturday, May 11 10 a.m. Hooley
11 a.m. Helena HS Jazz Band 12:20 p.m. Tuckahoe Travelers 1:40 p.m. Automatic Slim Blues Band
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3 p.m. Duck Race at the dam 3:45 p.m. Razz Ma Tazz 5:15 p.m. Old South Band 6:45 p.m. Edmonds Butler Band 8:30 p.m. Deputy 5
Band schedule subject to change without notice. Free admission No dogs, coolers or alcoholic beverages Visit Buckcreekfestival.com
Buck Creek Festival 2019 Sponsors Presenting
Activity
iHeart Radio – The Bull & Magic 96 • ABC 3340/CW21/My68 Helena Reporter • It’s About Time Urgent Care
Senator Cam Ward • Pepsi Buffalo Rock Ray Peavy State Farm • Jacks • Hillsboro Rental Resource Group • The Hillsboro School Byars/Wright Insurance • Harris Doyle Homes Birmingham Bowl • Helena’s House Delegation
Patron Vulcan Materials Helena Quarry • America’s First Credit Union Sunbelt Rentals • Newks • Santek Waste Services
Contributing Bob and Diane Van Loan
Official Essential Solutions LLC • Karen Miller Allstate • Deb’s Party Rentals Home Plate Cooking • Smitty’s Golf Carts • Cahaba Dental Arts Bama Bud • Helena Landscape Supply Alabama Power Company • Uptown Salon • Riverwoods CountryBoyz Heating & Air • Publix • Movement Mortgage Steel City Production Group • Penny Miller RE/MAX Advantage South
Also supported by: The City of Helena, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama Caring Foundation
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Brian Pickett Place 2
Pres. Pro Tem
Council President Buck Creek Festival 2019 • 7
2019 Band Lineup Friday, May 10
2BLU & THE LUCKY STIFFS 6 P.M. Since 1994, 2BLU & The Lucky Stiffs has been delivering a funky mix of blues, funk, gospel and rock and roll. Comprised of longtime best friends, they’ve played hundreds of clubs, juke joints and festivals. The band has been selected for the International Blues Challenge in Memphis six times, where they were finalists in 2008 and 2018.
DOCTOR ZARR’S AMAZING FUNK MONSTER 8 P.M. For over the past 20 years, the band has been busy playing two different decades’ worth of music, performing at thousands of shows ranging from surprise birthday parties to annual corporate events to casinos to huge outdoor festivals to wedding receptions. You could call Doctor Zarr a BAND-IN-A-BOX, dressing up in your best disco-infused rock-n-roll outfits to help fill the night with dance moves and crowd participation leaving the crowd with smiles on their faces. People of all ages spanning from young to old are attracted to the light-hearted, fun-filled mood they bring to an event. Bring your dancing shoes and enjoy your Doctor Zarr’s Amazing Funk Monster experience! 8 • Buck Creek Festival 2019
Saturday, May 11
HOOLEY 10 A.M. For nearly 20 years Hooley has been entertaining folks throughout the Southeast with a mix of traditional Irish and Scottish tunes. Hooley promises to satisfy your need for a little Irish boost to your life in a St. Paddy’s Day fashion.
HELENA HIGH SCHOOL JAZZ BAND 11 A.M. The Helena High School Jazz Band is comprised of 26 HHS students ranging from grades nine through 12. The band is a big band style jazz group that plays a variety of styles and genres ranging from big band swing to light rock. They perform at most HHS Band events and are also active at events in and around the Helena area. Every appearance presents them as ambassadors for the era of big band music and our great city of Helena.
TUCKAHOE TRAVELERS 12:20 P.M. Taking influences from a variety of genres and the upbringings of a Southern heritage, the Tuckahoe Travelers are a five-piece group originating from Gadsden, with a sound that has been described as a new take on the Southern rock genre. The group came together in the fall of 2017 and immediately began playing the college circuit throughout the state of Alabama.
AUTOMATIC SLIM BLUES BAND 1:40 P.M. The real deal down home blues! Nowhere will you find a band that continues the great tradition of the blues like the Automatic Slim Blues Band. Hailing from Birmingham, they are hard-driving, true to their roots and spreading the gospel of Da Bluz. They love to take great blues tunes and color them with their own style and flavor and make them their own.
DUCK RACE 3 P.M.
RAZZ MA TAZZ 3:45 P.M. The band brings to the stage the sounds of Motown, blues, rock and country and features Henry Lovoy on drums, vocal; Greg Brown on lead guitar, vocals; Kenny Webber on bass, harmonica, vocals; and Mike Webber on keyboards, guitar, vocals. These musicians have been friends for many years and finally decided to pool their talents—and over 150 years of combined experience—to form one of the best bands around.
OLD SOUTH BAND 5:15 P.M. Old South Band is a six-piece Country outfit based out of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Starting out as college kids following a passion for music, OSB quickly gained a strong following in the Tuscaloosa bar scene due to their raucous shows and popular setlists. OSB began writing original music and released their debut 6 Song EP, “Done-Me-Wrongs & Drinkin’ Songs” in August of 2018, which displays versatility and variety in their songwriting that resonates to Country Music fans of all ages. OSB has played all over the Southeast but mainly play shows in Birmingham and Tuscaloosa, as several members attend the University of Alabama. They currently play live shows on a weekly basis and are in the process of writing and recording new original music.
THE EDMONDS BUTLER BAND 6:45 P.M. The Edmonds Butler Band is a Birminghambased group of working musicians who’ve entertained far and wide for many years. Josh, Gary, Eric and Lief deliver a strong taste of Southern rock, blues and soul. They will whet your appetite and leave you wondering if you have room for dessert.
DEPUTY 5 8:30 P.M. Deputy 5 is a country band based in Birmingham that has an extensive repertoire of songs ranging anywhere from the latest hits to the classic country of the Haggard/Cash era. They’ve also been known to break into a Southern anthem theme like “Sweet Home Alabama” if the mood fits.
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Buck Creek Festival’s highlight event to feature famous duck race By GRAHAM BROOKS Staff Writer
I
f you’ve never had the chance to experience the Buck Creek Festival in Helena, the ultimate highlight takes place
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in the middle of the afternoon on day two of the festival on the banks of the creek. On Saturday, May 11, hundreds and even thousands of spectators will line the banks of Buck Creek as the creek will quickly turn into a sea of yellow.
If you’re thinking all that yellow is pollen, which is quite common during the time of the festival, that is incorrect, as the yellow represents the thousands of rubber ducks that will be dumped into Buck Creek and descend over the waterfall.
The fan favorite rubber duck race is set to return for another year to the Buck Creek Festival at 3 p.m. on May 11, as it serves as the most significant fundraiser for the festival. Those unfamiliar with the duck race should plan to arrive at the banks of Buck Creek early to secure a spot as an automatic dumper attached to a pontoon boat will dump thousands of rubber ducks into Buck Creek that’s become a sight worth seeing. Once the rubber ducks cross the waterfall and make their way down the creek, some important personnel to keep an eye on are the duck wranglers wading in the water. The wranglers are armed and ready with waders, nets and more as the crew of about 10 volunteers corral the thousands of ducks before they can travel out of sight. Prior to the festival, anyone is allowed to sponsor a duck to be entered into the race with a chance to win a prize. Duck tickets may be purchased at local Helena businesses including Beef ‘O’ Brady’s, the Helena branch of Regions Bank, Starfish Lane, Oh My Sole or The Petal Cart. Tickets for the duck race are on sale now and may be purchased individually for $5 or a flock of five ducks may also be purchased. Go to https:// www.helenahighband.com/the-buck-creek-festival to purchase tickets. A flock of ducks consists of five ducks at a cost of $25 that also includes a Buck Creek Festival T-shirt showing off the latest festival logo. The lucky person whose duck crosses the finish line first will win $500, followed by $250 and $100 for second and third place. Last year’s Buck Creek Festival was the most successful to date, as the leftover proceeds from the duck race benefitted the Helena High School Band Boosters. The 2018 duck race raised $14,270 to help support the program. Buck Creek Festival 2019 • 11
Buck Creek Festival Vendors FOOD R&S Peanuts
The Beaditudes Jewelry, pottery, etc.
Bayou Billy Sweet Dixie Tea
Buck Creek Stained Glass Glass art
Venice Gelato Old Towne Music Summer Time Snow Musical instruments and Funnel cakes, cotton candy, drinks accessories Dan’s Ole Fashion Concessions Sweet Home Chicago Lemonade, hand-dipped ice cream Jams and jellies Kona Ice Shaved ice
Designs by C Monograms Monogramed shirts, car tags, hooded towels, etc.
Frios Goumet Pops City Bowls Acai and pitaya bowls Red’s C&L Roasters Roasted corn The Chill Factory Slushies Golden Rule BBQ BBQ, wings, potato salad, slaw, beans, banana pudding Rae Rae’s Catering Polish sausage, phillys, pulled chicken, chips, nachos and cheese, punch, water, drinks RETAIL Space Air Airbrushing Tattoos From Boards to Bowls Bowls, bird houses, etc. Lilla Rose by Felicia Hair accessories and products Jewelry by Joyce Silver jewelry, handbags, fashion jewelry Southern Natural Soap Soaps, bath salts, etc. 12 • Buck Creek Festival 2019
Rock Creek Boutique Clothing, shoes, purses, jewelry, etc. Roger’s This & That Para cord, jewelry, leggings, purses
Creations by Mary Handmade jewelry, little girl dresses, burp cloths, baby blankets Shine Bright Handmade indoor/outdoor lights (military, teams, cartoons) BFF Creations Jewelry, keychains Deep Roots Art Handmade wooden signs, décor, crafts
Skull Girl Soaps Soaps McNespey Candles Candles Gemini Treats Prepackaged dry mixes, dips, soups J.J.’s Wood Crafts Wooden décor, trays – stovetop, bath, serving
Unique Boutique by Nicole Clothing – girls, boys, women
Southern Shores Merchandising Co. T-shirts, caps, hoodies, Fishee shirts, logos
Sammy Reaves Caps
INFORMATION Husky Tails
Jonah Schaffer Tie-dye shirts and apparel
Studio V Salon Ortho South
Angie’s This & That Helena Fence & Deck Boutique clothes, home décor, toys Hibiscus Beads Susie Serio – Mary Kay Jewelry Mary Kay products Stephanie Uptain – Bags, Jewelry Creations by Chase & Hair Bows T-shirts, mouse pads, cards, Jewelry, hair bows, stuffed pillows, prints, suncatchers animals, keychains, toys
Precision Chiropractic Pesek Counseling Services Avadian Credit Union Ultimate Gutter Guard Therapy South Helena
Reclaimed by Rocking R Horse shoes, art and décor, dreamcatchers, pallet signs, drinkware, vintage hats and crosses Masquerade Face Painting Face painting, flower crowns Dixie Gourmet Packaged dip and soup mixes Coastal Lights & Creations Lights, suncatchers, bird feeders, lanterns, etc. Kelly Gamble Jewelry, crochet baby blankets
Color Street Nails and polish, etc.
Helena Dog House
Any Name Jewelry Jewelry – stainless, charms, bracelets
Helena Health Club
Whimmmsy Flower crowns, paintings, henna tattoos
Keller Williams
Faith & Grace Gift Boutique Home items, décor, candles, coasters, signs
Champion Windows
The Endless Knot Macrame
RIDES Bungee Jump by Happenings
LeafFilter North of Ala, LLC
Morgan Door & Window
Batteries Plus Bulbs
Vulcan Materials Helena Quarry returns as patron sponsor of BCF
O
rganizers of the annual Buck Creek Festival credit the event’s sponsors with ensuring the festival continues year after year. Longtime sponsors like Vulcan Materials Helena Quarry have played a big role in the festival’s success. “Vulcan Materials Helena Quarry has partnered with the Buck Creek Festival for over a decade,” Buck Creek Festival committee member Cris Nelson said. “This alliance has allowed the festival to grow and prosper to the benefit of the charities and nonprofits affiliated with our event.” According to Rickey Duffey, plant manager of Vulcan Materials Helena Quarry, the company provides the crushed stone used in road projects, parking lots and shopping centers, along with individual projects, such as a private driveway. Duffey said Vulcan Materials has 22 plants in the state, all the way from the Gulf Coast up to Huntsville. The Helena plant serves a market consisting of a nearly 25-mile radius around the plant. “I’ve been at the Helena quarry itself for 34 years, and I’ve been with Vulcan for 41,” Duffey said. “I enjoy getting up and coming to work every day.”
Duffey said the company enjoys being a part of the community and helping out with the festival each year. “Even during the hard times of the recession, Vulcan Materials made sure they continued their support to our
organization, which has allowed us to continue to be one of the largest fundraising events in Shelby County,” Nelson said. “Thank you to Rickey Duffey and the Vulcan team for their continued support.”
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Parking Information FREE PARKING for the festival is available at Ruffin Park, Helena Elementary School and Helena Baptist Church. A festival shuttle will run on Friday afternoon and Saturday to Lot A. Lot B at Helena Elementary will be closed Friday. Festival shuttle will run until 30 minutes after the festival closes. Best parking will be at Lot A.
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A Big Thank You To All Our Sponsors! Presenting Sponsors
iHeart Radio – The Bull & Magic 96 • ABC 3340/CW21/My68 • Helena Reporter • It’s About Time Urgent Care
Patron
Vulcan Materials Helena Quarry • America’s First Credit Union • Sunbelt Rentals • Newk’s • Santek Waste Services
Official Penny Miller RE/MAX Advantage South 205-365-5419 Pwmrealtor@gmail.com Pennymiller.org
Meɒ Hiɭkɡ ƴǔǒS #ʵ94024
Movement Mortgage www.MegHicks.com 205.283.3598
“Movement Mortgage” is a registered trademark of the Movement Mortgage LLC and a Delaware limited liability company Please be aware that e-mail is NOT a secured com-
Essential Solutions LLC • Karen Miller Allstate • Deb’s Party Rentals • Home Plate Cooking • Smitty’s Golf Carts • Cahaba Dental Arts Bama Bud • Helena Landscape Supply • Alabama Power Company • Uptown Salon • Riverwoods • CountryBoyz Heating & Air Publix • Movement Mortgage • Steel City Productions • Penny Miller RE/MAX Advantage South
Activity
Senator Cam Ward • Pepsi Buffalo Rock • Ray Peavy State Farm • Jacks • Hillsboro • Rental Resource Group • The Hillsboro School Byars/Wright Insurance • Harris Doyle Homes • Birmingham Bowl • Helena AL House Delegation
Contributing Bob and Diane Van Loan
Also supported by:
The City of Helena, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama Caring Foundation Buck Creek Festival 2019 • 15
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