CEDAR BLUFF — Thousands of people are expected to pour into the town park here on Saturday, July 3 for the 18th annual Liberty Day celebration.

What began as a simple children's day with grilled hot dogs and a couple of rides has since evolved into the town's most impressive annual event. An idea originally devised by former mayor Bob Davis, Liberty Day is as much a county-wide tradition as football in the South.

Cedar Bluff is a small town, nestled on the shores of Weiss Lake. It is home to only one traffic light and less than 1,500 people. However, each year the town welcomes thousands of adults and children of all ages to the all-day street party.

Entertainment will kick off at 9:30 a.m. with the line dancing troupe the Weiss Lake Steppers. Weiss Lake Bluegrass, the Dirtseller Xpress Band, and the Bluegrass Buddies will play bluegrass and bluegrass gospel music. Twelve-year-old vocalist Payton Sells will wow the crowd with a country song, and Erica Ray, a 15-year-old vocalist, will also sing. Other acts include swamp blues musician Russell Gulley and southern rockers 7 Day Ride. TDS Telecom will sponsor a performance by local country music singer Leah Seawright, beginning at 7:30 p.m.
All entertainment will be onstage under the large pavilion in Cedar Bluff Town Park with MC Ron Seawright.

Also this year, the Southern Rodders Car Club will sponsor its 18th annual antique car and tractor show. This event is one of the largest antique car shows in the area.
Liberty Day also sports one of the largest selections of mouth-watering goodies sold by a variety of food vendors. And as usual, the Cedar Bluff Volunteer Fire Department will be set up at the fire hall selling barbeque, baked beans, potato salad, and slaw.

Among the vendors, visitors will find endless, fun activities around every corner. There will be a moonwalk, waterslide, slide, jousting, and bungee jump for the kids, as well as a train tide and magic tricks, campfire stories and songs, and a puppet show.

Prince Wimbley, captain of the Crimson Tide's 1992 national championship team, will be selling merchandise and signing autographs.

Perhaps the most prominent Liberty Day mainstay is the event-ending fireworks display. Every year, traffic along Highway 9 comes to a standstill and hundreds of boats float on Weiss Lake as explosions fill the air. A patriotic simulcast will be broadcast on WEIS Radio (AM-990, FM-100.5).

For more information contact Misty Ferguson at 256-779-6121 or Delmus Brewster at 256-484- 1144, or visit Cedar Bluff's website at www.cedarbluff-al.com.