Jammin’ for a great cause
Story by Carol Pappas
Photos by Mackenzie Free
It certainly wasn’t a first for Homestead Hollow. They’re used to hosting an outdoor festival drawing crowds from all around the region. But for newly opened Big Canoe Creek Nature Preserve, its successful first venture looks like a gateway to an annual fundraiser.
Creek Jam was an all-day, outdoor musical festival, featuring bands, entertainment and activities for the entire family and drawing 1,500 to 2,000 attendees. And Homestead Hollow provided the ideal setting on its main stage featuring: Winston Ramble, Jason Bailey Trio, The Stepdads, Love Rat, Len Park, Cottonmouth Creek, LeeJ The DJ and more.
An educational tent was run by two of the Big Canoe Creek Preserve Partners, Jimmy Stiles and Jill Chambers. Jimmy brought creek critters, such as a baby alligator, snakes, turtles and other species. Jill brought microscopes for kids to view all sorts of things found in Nature. The Nature Conservancy, Forever Wild and the Coosa Riverkeeper also manned educational tents.
Camping was available, providing more time to listen to the bands and to explore the preserve.
“It was a good turnout,” said Preserve Manager Doug Morrison. “We’ve had good feedback. People came from Gadsden, Hoover, Locust Fork – from all over. We were real pleased.”
The feedback, he added, centered on how impressed they were with the venue and “how well put together the event was.”
It had a little something for everybody with artisans and makers as vendors, food galore and music of all genres – and plenty of it.
Festival goers spread blankets, set up camp and lawn chairs or strolled through the open fields to just enjoy the day and the outdoors.
After all, that’s what it was all about – the treasures found in simply getting outside – just like at the preserve.
Morrison thanked sponsors for their support:
- St. Clair County Commission
- City of Springville
- Buffalo Rock/Pepsi, our Presenting Sponsor
- Big Canoe Creek Preserve Partners
- APEX Roofing
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama, The Caring Foundation
- St. Clair EDC
- AmFirst
- Peritus Wealth Management
- PPM Consultants
- Hill, Gossett, Kemp, P.C.
- Thompsons Tractor Rental
- Schoel Engineering
- Springville Dental
In-Kind Sponsors:
- Cahaba Brewing Company
- Ghost Train Brewery
- Back Forty Beer Company
- Steel Hall Brewing
- Sweet Home Spirits
- Creative Entertainment
- Bob Tedrow of Homewood Music
- Rusty’s BBQ
- The Farm House
In addition, Morrison had high praise for:
Terri and Dean Goforth, who provided the venue space; Mayor Dave Thomas and Springville City Council; Commission Chairman Stan Batemon and the County Commission; all volunteers; Salient Projects, who organized the soundstage, bands and helped tremendously with planning; city employees from Parks and Rec; the planning committee – Terri & Dean Goforth, Mayor Thomas, Lucy Cleaver, Lee Jeffrey, Mandi Rae Trot, Candice Hill, Blair Goodgame and Morrison; Springville Parks and Rec Board; bands and individual musicians who played on the side stage and vendors.
