FRONT PORCH FAIR ON MAY 22: OLD ALABAMA TOWN PRESENTS OFFICIAL FAMILY EVENT OF JUBILEE’S FIRST WEEKE

May 16, 2010

MONTGOMERY, Ala.--Old Alabama Town and Jubilee CityFest have joined hands to present a day of old-fashioned family fun at the Front Porch Fair on May 22, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at historic Old Alabama Town in downtown Montgomery. Highlights of the event will include storytelling by Kathryn Tucker Windham and Mary Ann Neeley and a concert by one of the state's top bluegrass bands, Cottonmouth Creek.

Organized as the family friendly event for the first of two Jubilee CityFest weekends, the Front Porch Fair will feature craft demonstrations by blacksmiths, woodcarvers, potters, chair caners, candlemakers, spinners, weavers, and other artists. Historical interpreters will interact with guests on front porches throughout the authentic 19th century village.

The children's activity area will feature a presentation by the Montgomery Zoo of animals native to Alabama, a puppet show by Paw-Paw Cotton Tales, and traditional games and activities. Mom and Dad will enjoy sampling muscadine wine, courtesy of Alabama's own Morgan Creek Winery, as well as browsing in a vendor's area featuring handmade organic soaps and body products, hot sauces, honey, fresh fruits and vegetables, homemade soy candles, hand-crafted jewelry, pottery, woodcarved pieces, paintings and more.

Beloved Alabama storyteller Kathryn Tucker Windham and Montgomery historian Mary Ann Neeley will present an encore performance of their popular Women's History Month program, "Gabbin' with the GRITS," at 10:30 a.m. The two legendary "Girls Raised in the South" (GRITS) will partake in casual porch talk while sitting in rockers and sipping iced tea. Musicians are welcome to bring their acoustic instruments and join the Old Alabama Town Jammers for some pickin' and grinnin' from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. At 1 p.m., one of the state's best bluegrass acts, Cottonmouth Creek of Birmingham, will take the stage.

The Front Porch Fair is new to Jubilee, added as the festival expanded to two weekends in 2010. It serves as the main family friendly event of the first weekend, while KidsFest will entertain young ones during the second weekend on May 29, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Renaissance Hotel & Spa Convention Center.

"We are pleased Jubilee CityFest has asked us to join one of the best events in the River Region," said Buffy Lockette, marketing director of Old Alabama Town and one of the fair's organizers. "It is our hope that the Front Porch Fair will bring families closer together as they enjoy traditional activities that entertained early Alabamians."

Admission to the Front Porch Fair is $10 for the general public, $5 for Jubilee CityFest passholders, and free to children ages 12 and younger. For more information, contact Old Alabama Town at 334-240-4500 or visit www.jubileecityfest.org.