Brilliant celebrats 25th anniversary of CoalFest on May 23, 24

BRILLIANT — For 25 years, the Town of Brilliant has held one of the very best festivals in the area. Organizers note 2025’s edition is gearing up to be no less than possibly the best ever.
Held annually on the Friday and Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend, this year’s CoalFest is set for Friday, May 23, and Saturday, May 24.
CoalFest features arts, crafts, rides, children’s attractions, lots of food and merchandise vendors, a horseshoe tournament, a car show, a motorcycle ride and much more.
Friday’s festival hours begin at 6 p.m. On Saturday, the festivities start at 9 a.m., with vendors lined up on both sides of Main Street all the way from the fire department to the main stage and its new train-themed backdrop.
“We’d like to invite everybody to come out to our festival,” Brilliant Mayor Perry Franks said. “It’s our 25th anniversary. It’s been a quarter of a century of good music and good times.
“I’d like to thank all our volunteers who help with CoalFest every year. I thank them for their hard work and dedication.”
The mayor also thanked the Brilliant Chamber of Commerce for its continuing efforts with the festival, as well as those who organize the benefit bike ride and car show each year.

Benefit bike
ride & car show
Held on Saturday, the benefit bike ride and car show will be hosted by the Marion

County Iron Angels, with all proceeds going to Wayne (Wineo) Hancock and Greg Markham.
Organizers note Hancock had a quadruple heart bypass surgery and Markham had a stroke following an 18-wheeler wreck.
Registration for the bike ride is at 8 a.m. at 10100 State Highway 129, Brilliant, 35548. Kick stands go up at 10 a.m.
The cost is $20 per ride and $5 for passengers. A lunch will be provided for participants. Included in the bike ride cost will be door prizes and a 50/50 drawing.
Car show registration is at 8 a.m., and entry fees are $20 per car. The car show is located on Main Street. Door prizes will be awarded mid-morning, with car show awards and a 50/50 drawing taking place near noon.

Great lineup
of musical acts
The mayor noted his nephew, Wendell Franks, has coordinated another great musical lineup for the 25th anniversary, including the very best in local and national acts.
Live music on Friday is scheduled for 6-10 p.m., with “international legend Lloyd Moses” kicking off the show in grand fashion.
Next on stage with be Carl & The Road Dawgs, featuring Hamilton native Carl Damone.
Headlining on Friday is FreeBird, noted as the “Ultimate Lynyrd Skynyrd Experience.” Organizers said FreeBird has decades of professional experience, including world tours, record label deals and thousands of shows.
Saturday’s musical lineup starts at 9 a.m. and continues until 5 p.m.
“To kickoff Saturday’s live music, Zander York of Brilliant will play the National Anthem (Star Spangled Banner) on guitar,” Wendell Franks said.
“Coaltown Sound will perform next. That’s Brad and Josh Frazier of Brilliant. After them, we’ll have The Whiskey River Band, featuring Dustin Franks.
“Then, we’ll have Dixie Mafia from Muscle Shoals. Area 51 from Memphis, Tenn., will perform next. They’re back by special request.
“Our Saturday headliner is The Band Loula. They’re an acoustic driven act. They do a lot of harmonies. They’ve been described as ‘embodying the soil and grit of North Georgia’ and bringing ‘a swampy and haunting acoustic spirit to their instantly transfixing country.’”
The band is composed of two best friends, Malachi Mills and Logan Simmons, each an artist in their own right.
Wendell Franks concluded, “This will be one of the best--up and down--lineups we’ve ever had, if not the best ever. It’s going to be good.”

Contact information
For more information on CoalFest, interested persons can call Brilliant Town Hall at 205-465-2281 or visit them on Facebook at BrilliantAlabamaCoalFest.