Kenan's Mill Festival is a celebration of rural life and traditions in the Black Belt. Harkening back to the days when families drove their wagons full of corn to the mill to have it ground into meal, the large water-powered stones of the grist mill will again grind corn into cornmeal.
This year's festival will have several unique events. This year's festival will host the Second Annual Selma's Best Chili Cookoff. Teams will provide tasting for the public to enjoy. There will be many of Selma’s best artists on hand providing the public with a rare opportunity to see some of the best local art as well as arts and craft vendors.
Live music starts at 10 am, with 8 year old Caleb Bryant and his grandfather. Caleb was the crowd favorite last year and wowed them with his fiddle. Around 12 noon the band Hurricane Creek will perform. They are regarded as one of the most entertaining bluegrass acts on the scene today. Based in Decatur, Alabama, their hard-driving stage presence, exceptional musicianship and great original material have been wowing audiences across the country for well over a decade. Also taking the stage in the afternoon with a lively set will be the Dixie Land Cloggers.
Other activities include corn-grinding demonstrations, tours of the mill, cottage, and demonstration gardens adjacent to the cottage. You can also walk across the swinging bridge to see the "beehive" kiln. Hint; test the neat acoustics in the kiln by standing in the very center and vocalizing.
A vintage 1951 Ford tractor will be providing wagon rides for the kids all afternoon and other children's activities such as "hands on pottery", face painting, and popup inflatables will be available also.
When you work up an appetite, head for the vittles wagon for southern favorites such as hamburgers, hotdogs, and beverages, or calm your sweet tooth with some home-made cookies or a fried apple pie.
The usual seating on hay bales will be available, but you may want to bring a chair to sit on while you enjoy the music.
Admission is only $5 per carload, so bring several friends. Spend the day at Kenan's Mill. You will feel like you have experienced a little bit of times gone by.
November 7, 2009 - 9am-5pm
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