FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association

PHONE: 256.350.3500 / 800.648.5381

EMAIL: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

ANNUAL EVENT CLEBRATES ARRIVAL OF CRAPE MYRTLE BLOOMS

Decatur, Ala. – The town of Ardmore welcomes the arrival of colorful crape myrtle blooms each summer with a free family-friendly event filled with live entertainment, pageants, food, and fun. The annual Crape Myrtle Festival is set for August 26-27, 2011 as hundreds of crape myrtle trees explode with color throughout the town.

The two-day event kicks off on Friday at 6 p.m. with performances by Sydnee Goff, Tessia Perry, and Jeff Whitlow. The festivities resume on Saturday beginning at 8 a.m. and features live performances by Peggy and Calvin Holt, The Pollards, Roger Harwell and Friends, Compression Southern Gospel Trio, LeRoy Anyon Band, Mitchell Brothers Band, Gates Brothers, John Douglas Mitchell and Friends, Good News Bluegrass, Mable Hill Puppet Ministry throughout the day. Festival-goers are encouraged to bring lawn chair and picnic blankets.

Along with ongoing live music, food vendors featuring traditional festival food and dozens of vendors offering home-baked goods, homemade crafts, clothing, jewelry, candles, and more will be set up. Crape myrtles of various colors available in three- and five-gallon containers will be for sale throughout the day. To pre-order your favorite color, call 256.423.2141.

The Crape Myrtle Festival will be held Friday 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at John Barnes City Park located on Ardmore Ridge Road in Ardmore, Tennessee. Admission is free. For more information, call the Ardmore AL/TN Chamber of Commerce Office at 256.423.7588.

About Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association (AMLA)

AMLA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion and development of the travel industry within the 16 northernmost counties of the state. It is supported by 500-plus members consist of chambers of commerce, Convention & Visitors Bureaus, attractions, campgrounds, festivals, communities, counties, golf courses, restaurants, tour operators, accommodations, vendors, financial institutions and individuals. Counties included within the AMLA region are Blount, Cherokee, Colbert, Cullman, DeKalb, Etowah, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan and Winston. Additional information on North Alabama destinations, accommodations and special events is available from the AMLA by calling 800.648.5381 or by visiting their web site at www.NorthAlabama.org.

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