Boom Days, A Week of Fun

From the Pettis Family to Theresa Andersson Boom Days was a success. We had the perfect weather all week and a stellar day last Saturday for our annual all day downtown event. I want to thank Collins and Kathy Kirby, the Boom Days planning committee, all the volunteers and the City of Fort Payne for making Boom Days a very successful and unique festival for North Alabama. There were nearly 30 music acts this year over the course of the week and we are talking about talented artists. The very talented Pettis family started our week long event on Saturday evening the 8^th. It is hard to believe so much musical talent can exist in one family. If you were there, you know. It all ended last Saturday night with a performance by Theresa Andersson that defies explanation. Here is a lady who is the total one person show…literally! She writes, sings, plays drums, violin, and plays a host of foot pedals which play through a loop replicating her voice to give her own background singers.  Unfortunately I do not have the expertise to properly tell you how she did all of this but she performed to an extremely enthusiastic crowd. She received a rousing standing ovation and came out for two more songs.

Boom Days Saturday consisted of perfect weather, more artists and more vendors than ever before. There were two car shows, puppet shows, music all over the place, all day. There was food and drinks, a $500.00 cash rally, smiling faces and good crowds all day. I met a lot of out of town people who came to spend the day with us and some spent the night. Events like this are primarily local but they bring in outside spending too, all of this is helpful in collecting tax revenue. Retail spending, restaurants, lodgings and gas stations all show increases during Boom Days. Our area is a place visitors come to time and time again. Our beautiful scenery coupled with the quaint all Americana look of our towns makes DeKalb County a favorite among visitors throughout the Southeast.

If you missed Boom Days, you should try to attend next year. It is always third Saturday in September with the opening events beginning the Saturday night prior. For more information about Boom Days check out www.BoomDays.org

John Dersham