Sun Festival Preview A lexander City’s 10th annual celebration of summer kicks off June 2 with exciting new activities, as well as the return of many favorite events, culminating with the Jazz Fest concert series at Strand Park and Lake Martin Amphitheater. This year’s Sun Festival calendar includes 30 events over nine days, beginning with a brand new cocktail exhibition in the downtown alley prior to the Strand Sessions concert in the park. Castelluccio head bartender Crayton Walton will set up the exhibition in the alley beside the restaurant, where he will demonstrate the assembly of some of the dining venue’s most popular beverages. This free exhibition will start at 5:15 p.m., and cocktails will be available for sale to be enjoyed during the Lake Martin Young Professionals’ Strand Session concert at the top of the Strand Park hill. Another new free event this year, the KidsFest Russell Forest Sampler will take place from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Monday, June 6, at Lake Martin Innovation Center. Russell Lands naturalist Marianne Hudson will bring a variety of woodland wonders for active investigation and discovery, including live animals. This hands-on sensory learning experience will encourage touching, holding, listening and smelling to renew an interest in the wild outdoors in our own backyard. Hudson will recommend customized trail experiences through Russell Forest. Bring a camera to this event. Then, solve the social entertainment conundrum with a summer charcuterie make-and-take-a-board event at The Square Downtown at 6 p.m. Miss P will cover the basics of cheese choices and embellishment details, including the popular salami rose. At the end of this hands-on workshop, participants will have made a board to take home. The workshop cost is $65. Reserve your spot before May 24 by calling or texting 512-501-0775 and paying the full fee. In addition to these new options on the 2022 Sun Festival calendar, fabulous favorites are back, from the medallion hunt to Tykes in Trucks, glow-in-the-dark golf, 16 Lake Martin Living
a $2 showing of a new-release movie, celebrating America’s heroes and a host of KidsFest activities to delight and excite. Sun Festival will officially open the Alex City Farmer’s Market for the season on June 4, and the fun continues all week long. A highlight of the summer celebration, Jazz Fest will open its 32nd concert series at Strand Park at 6 p.m. with The Talismen. Formed in 2015 in Montgomery, The Talismen combine energy with sophistication beyond their years to put on a show of soulful and funk‐ filled originals, along with some music from their favorite artists across the jam, rock and funk spectrum. Friday night’s headliner is The Hot 8 Brass Band, who received a 2021 Grammy nomination for Best Album, We Are with Jon Batiste. The New Orleans based brass band blends hip hop, jazz and funk styles with traditional New Orleans jazz sounds. The Hot 8 Brass Band was formed by Bennie Pete, Jerome Jones and Harry Cook in 1995 with the merging of two earlier bands, the Looney Tunes Brass Band and the High Steppers Brass Band. Saturday night’s show will have an American Idol vibe with Tristen Gressett scheduled Jazzing Things Ups to open the festivities at 6 p.m. Taylor Hicks will return to at Lake Martin Amphitheater. the Jazz Fest stage as Returning to Alabama after headliner on Saturday making the Top 11 on the night. most recent American Idol, the 17‐year‐old Gressett has a soulful retro rock n’ roll spirit and has already released his first EP. The middle act of the second night, Joslyn & The Sweet Compression will deliver a hook‐filled mix of funk and soul that continues to captivate audiences with their stirring live performances. To round out the 32nd edition of the Alexander City Jazz Fest, Alabama native and former American Idol winner Taylor Hicks will bring excitement to the stage with his soulful vocals and talented group of band mates for an up‐tempo, high‐energy closer. Visit alexcityjazzfest.com for Jazz Fest details and follow the Sun Festival Alexander City Facebook page for more information or call 256-234-3461.
