Huntsville dives in for big 250th celebration
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
The committee has been at work since last August. Photo: Courtesy of the city of Huntsville
America's got a big birthday coming up.
Why it matters: Huntsville's going all out for the occasion, with events lined up over the next couple of months, culminating in a major July 4 celebration at Big Spring Park.
Catch up quick: The city announced its yearlong celebration of America's 250th anniversary in February, and the forming of the Huntsville Salutes America's 250th committee led by chair Sally Warden.
- The 20-member committee includes representatives from a diverse group of Huntsville organizations, from the city and the Chamber of Commerce to historical organizations and the Cherokee Tribe of Northeast Alabama.
- The official website allows other organizations to get involved and post their events to the calendar.
Zoom in: "Our main goal was to create an event on July 4 in downtown Huntsville, and because it's on a Saturday, obviously we need to do something big," Warden told Axios.
- Festivities will start with vendors, reenactments and more in the early afternoon, then a parade at 5pm, live music in Big Spring Park at 6pm, and fireworks at 8:45pm.
- The 50 or so entrants will fit the parade's theme: "American Eras," from before the Revolution to a futuristic view of the next 250 years, Warden said.
Yes but: Promoting other community events is also a priority, Warden noted, and those events will lead up to July 4, including fireworks at Ditto Landing the week before.
- A few other highlights are Burritt on the Mountain's British Invasion Tribute and Pub Dinner May 1, and the Rocket City Celebrates America 250, a free concert at Joe Davis Stadium.
- Downtown businesses will also participate in a Downtown Huntsville Inc.-sponsored door decorating contest that will create a festive atmosphere weeks before the big show, Warden said.
"Alabama really got on board," she added, crediting state Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur), who is chairing the statewide committee on the 250th.
- Part of the state committee's work is the more than 500 pages of K–12 educational resources now being used by 20 other states, Warden said.
By the numbers: The all-volunteer effort came up with a roughly $75,000 price tag for celebration, she said. Meta signed on as the exclusive sponsor, providing those funds to cover the whole day.
The bottom line: Warden hopes to see tens of thousands attend the celebration.