|
 | Photo by Sue Watson
Reagan
and Rex Forsythe participated in the kids’ parade. Their parents moved
from the northern states to Moore Plantation and love living in the
country and the town of Byhalia. |
Sounds of Summer successful By SUE WATSON
Staff Writer Attendance
at Sounds of Summer was estimated at about 600, according to Sarah
Sawyer, executive director of the Byhalia Area Chamber of Commerce. The
August 25 event survived in spite of dreary, misty rain throughout the
day that vanished by 5 p.m. when the gates opened. She said people are
pleased with having the annual activities at the town’s walking park. Food
and vendors helped make the festival colorful and enjoyable to the
palate. Fourteen vendors and six concessions participated. Some
offerings were body painting and tattoos, hand-sewn crafts such as
aprons and bows, jewelry, jumpers, and a corn toss, which was popular
this year. Entertainment was provided by Papa Don McMinn & Third Generation, Prayznmor, Eddie Smith Band and the Davide House Band. “We hope to grow the 5K,” said Sawyer. “Everyone who did this enjoyed it.” Another
event that was a huge hit was Kids’ Zone, an area set aside for
children to enjoy jumpers and other exercising activities such as
swinging. Weather cooperated to make the evening pleasant in terms of temperature and there was no insect pressure. “It
was a beautiful night and so many positive comments (on Facebook
too),” Sawyer said. “The walking track seems to be working well as a
location and the corn-hole tournament was a big success.” Chamber president Leah Grant said attendance seemed to be up this year, despite the threat of rain all day. “Despite
the rain all day, our vendors didn’t give up, and we wondered if we
were going to have a turnout, but we did,” she said.  | 
Photos by Sue Watson
(Left)Tedric
Culp, a student at Byhalia, helps his parents cook. They were among
other vendors serving hot foods at the Sounds of Summer. (Above) Eddie Smith
and his band offered musical entertainment that pleased the crowd. |
Some
Sounds of Summer events that were a big shot in the arm this year were
the sky lamp lanterns, the Kids’ Parade, the corn-hole tourney, and the
kids’ area and church booths, Grant said. Citizens Bank sponsored the Kids’ Zone with Robyn Turner as chair. “She really brought it to life,” Grant said. Turner
said there were many involved in making Kids’ Zone the success that it
was, including three churches (Byhalia First Baptist, Byhalia United
Methodist, and Fellowship Baptist) that brought games and crafts. “The Kids’ Zone would not have been the success that it was, had it not been for their participation,” she said. The
vendor turnout increased from three last year to 14 this year, all due
to the hard work of Janice and Faye Woods, who served as chairpersons,
Grant said. Sponsors’ contributions and
volunteer turnout helped make the Sounds of Summer a financial success
as well as a community-binding event, she said. “It grew all the way around,” Grant said. This is the second year the event has been held at the walking trail. Faye
Woods said she was pleased at the vendor turnout and polled the vendors
and they were all pleased and said they would come back next year. “We are going to work hard next year and get twice as many vendors,” Woods said.  | | Jake
and Charlie Clayton (front) and Marcus Hill make comfortable on the
lawn as Sounds of Summer cranks up on stage. |
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