10/02/2014 – Mentone’s Colorful Event Welcomes the Arrival of Autumn

Courtesy of Mentone Alabama Festivals Facebook Page

Fort Payne, Ala. – A two-day celebration filled with free family fun atop Lookout Mountain welcomes the arrival of the autumn season and all its colorful glory. Set for October 18-19, 2014, Colorfest brings together art, music, food and other family-friendly activities as Mother Nature puts on a fabulous display of colors. The annual event is sponsored by the Mentone Area Preservation Association.

On Saturday morning, gates open at 9 a.m. to a beautiful display of arts and crafts from over 70 premier artists and craftsmen in Brow Park with breathtaking autumn views in the background. Swing by Mason Park to admire the Scarecrow Holler display and vote for your favorite handmade scarecrow.

This year’s event brings an additional blast of talent for festival goers to enjoy. The Echota Cherokee Tribe of Alabama and singers and musicians from area schools will perform throughout the weekend at the Children’s Festival located in the side parking lot of Kamama Gallery. The Children’s Festival will also offer pony rides, pumpkin bowling, glitter tattoos, cookie decoration and a dunking booth where festival goers have the opportunity to soak their favorite politician or other community leader.

Exciting, down-home mountain music fills the air beginning Friday evening, October 17th with a two-hour tribute to the Beatles by David Lusk at the Mentone Inn pavilion from 8 to 10 p.m. Live music will keep festival goers on their toes throughout the weekend. Jess Goggans, Lisa Crow, Taylor Poff, Jared Cushen, Marc Womack, Silvia Constantino, Jerry Bloom, Ryan Keefe, Jordan Brown, Larry Joe Hall, David Lusk and Terry Hutcheson are all slated to perform at the Brow Park pavilion.

Rise early Saturday morning for the One World Adventure Color Craze 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run before the festival. Modeled after popular color runs held across the country, participants will enjoy a scenic route beginning at Mason Park while being doused with colored powder. Sign in and race day registration begin at 7 a.m. with the first wave starting at 7:50 a.m. For more information and a registration form, visit www.oneworldadventureco.com/fall-fundraising-events/.

During festival hours, the Taste of Mentone will be underway giving festival goers an opportunity to try a signature dish from one of the many locally owned eateries. Additional activities include a huge scavenger hunt, a silent auction, horse carriage rides, and a Fish Fry hosted by One World Adventure at the Mentone Inn backyard pavilion on Friday from 3:30 to 7 p.m. Cost is $10 each and includes a heaping plate of fresh catfish, Dave’s hush puppies, homemade slaw, drink and dessert.

Festival hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Brow Park is located off of Alabama Highway 117, north at the caution light in Mentone. All activities are held rain or shine and festival goers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and picnic blankets. Admission is free.

Sponsors include Jet Polymer Recycling, DeKalb Tourism, Skelton Orthodontics, Kamama Gallery, Wildflower Café, Mentone Realty, Custom Home Designs, Mentone Camps (Camp Laney, Alpine Camp, Camp Skyline, Camp DeSoto, and Riverview Camp), Wilson Funeral Home and Crematory, Accel Graphics, First Fidelity Bank, The Citizens Bank of Valley Head, Bruce’s Foodland, Westmoreland Tire Company, Valley Head Drugs, First State Bank of DeKalb, Dixie Salvage, BJ Foodmart, and Mountain Top Country Store.

For more information on Colorfest or on additional things to do in and around DeKalb County, contact DeKalb Tourism at 888.805.4740 or visit www.DiscoverLookoutMountain.com.

About DeKalb Tourism

DeKalb Tourism is a not-for-profit organization promoting tourism and economic growth in DeKalb County. Our mission includes to provide outstanding customer service to all guests; to provide complete and detailed information about DeKalb County, its history and attractions; to leave visitors with a positive experience; to develop strong positive long term relationships with the people and businesses of our communities; and to be a leader in the education and promotion of our county, locally, nationwide and internationally.