FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Karen Beasley, Vice President of Marketing & Communications
Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association
PHONE: 256.350.3500 / 800.648.5381
EMAIL: karen@northalabama.org
Haleyville’s 9-1-1 Festival Set for May 31-June 1
Decatur, Ala. (May 14, 2024) – Over fifty years ago, the first 911 emergency call was made in the United States and the call was placed in the North Alabama town of Haleyville. The Haleyville Area Chamber of Commerce and the town come together each year to host a two-day festival to celebrate the town’s role in making the first 911 call and to honor law enforcement and first responders. Set for May 31-June 1, 2024, the 9-1-1 Festival offers activities for kids, arts and crafts vendors, parade, live music, classic car and antique tractor show and more. Admission is free.
Beginning at 3 p.m. on Friday, May 31, downtown Haleyville comes alive with free fun for the entire family. Activities include shopping among arts and crafts and food vendors, a kid’s zone with inflatables and enjoying live music which gets underway at 5:00 p.m. Slated to perform are Backdraft, Area 51 Memphis Bank, Paul Thorn and headliner Rodney Atkins. Rockin’ River Bottom Band is slated to perform at the after party at 11 p.m. at the Heart of Haleyville Park.
On Saturday, June 1, the festivities get underway at 8:00 a.m. and include a classic car show and antique tractor show, arts and crafts and food vendors and a kid’s zone with inflatables. Entertainment lined up on the Heart of Haleyville Park includes a performance by the North Alabama Dance Theatre followed by live music by Wendell and Shane and Singing with Grace. The annual Haleyville alumni and first responders parade gets underway at 10 a.m.
Fifty-six years ago in 1968, Alabama Speaker of the House Rankin Fite placed the first 911 emergency call from City Hall and it was answered just a short distance away at the city’s police station by U.S. Representative Tom Bevill. The annual 9-1-1 Festival celebrates the history making moment with a free family-friendly event. All activities are held in downtown Haleyville and festivalgoers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.
Activities take place in downtown Haleyville and festival goers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs. For more information, follow the event on Facebook at Haleyville Alabama 9-1-1 Festival or call 205-486-4611.
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About Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association (AMLA)
AMLA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion and development of the $4.7 billion North Alabama travel industry within the 16 northernmost counties of the state. It is supported by 500-plus members consisting of chambers of commerce, convention & visitors bureaus, attractions, campgrounds, festivals, communities, golf courses, restaurants, accommodations and vendors. 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 by calling 800.648.5381, by visiting www.NorthAlabama.org and by following us on social media @VisitNorthAL.
