23rd annual Neighbor Day set for June 28-29

By Kathryn “Chazz” Hirschfeld
HACKLEBURG — The 23rd Annual Neighbor Day in Hackleburg will be celebrated this year on Friday, June 28, and Saturday, June 29.
Hours for Friday’s festivities are 5-10 p.m., with Saturday’s fun kicking off at 9 a.m. and continuing through the fireworks show which begins at 9 p.m.
Hackleburg Mayor Darryl Colburn invites everyone out to join in all the Neighbor Day excitement.
“We want to invite everybody out,” he said. “We’re hoping for great weather and a great turnout. We will have a car show, a motorcycle show, a motorcycle skills competition and lots of general vendors, as well as food vendors. It’s a family atmosphere, so bring the whole family.
“We’ll also have a kids’ zone set up for the youth. We’ll have great music on Friday night and all day Saturday on our main stage set up downtown.”
Town clerk Carla Rector said vendors will be lining both sides of Walker Street in the downtown area.
“All types of vendors will be lined up, starting at one end and going all around the curve to the town hall and the police department to the stop sign,” she said.
“We already have a lot of great vendors signed up, including several that will create a kids’ zone area. We’ll have all different kinds of food, too. It’s going to be a good day.”
Concerning the fireworks show, the mayor said the event has grown in both size and reputation each year.
“It’s a fireworks show that people travel to see,” he said. “And this year’s show will be as good or better than any of the rest we’ve had. We welcome everybody out.”
Regarding the best place to see the fireworks, Hackleburg Police Chief Kenny Hallmark said if you’re set up to view the main stage, you’re already in the perfect spot for the fireworks show.
Town officials said the main stage will be located in downtown Hackleburg in the curve on Walker Street next to Bright Beginnings Daycare, which is located at 310 Walker Street.

Musical lineup
The mayor explained Neighbor Day’s musical entertainment for 2024 will consist of some of the very best local and area artists.
“We are looking to showcase our local talent here and from around the area,” he said. “We have some great talent from around here, and this year our music acts and bands are all really good.”
Hallmark also commented on the great entertainment planned and provided a lineup, as well.
“On Friday, at 5 p.m., we’ll have Wendell Franks and Shane Blaylock. Then we’ll have the Rustic River Band from Haleyville and Fayette.
“Right after them, we’ll have the Cooter Brown Band, consisting of members from all over the area. Ken Randolph, originally from Guin, but now living in Tuscaloosa, is one of the members. The rest are from different places, but they’ve all played with a lot of big bands and big names over the years.
“On Saturday, we’ll start off with a local favorite, Joseph Baldwin, at 3 p.m. After him, we’ll have Dustin Busbee and Nathan Sandlin. Leah Rose from Mississippi is next, and she’s actually charting right now with her music.
“Handshake Promise will close it out Saturday night right before the fireworks. They were one of our hits last year, so we wanted them to be our headliner. All these are good bands that we’ve had a lot of good response to.”

Hackleburg
4th of July
Cars & Bike Show
Labeled as the “Hackleburg 4th of July Cars & Bike Show” and located at Bozeman’s Hackleburg Market, the festival’s Saturday, June 28, car, truck and bike show is open to all comers.
Hallmark also helped provide some details on the show.
“Any car can enter the show,” he noted. “If you’re happy with your car or truck--no matter its age--bring it out and put it in the show.
“We’ll also have a motorcycle show, along with a motorcycle skills competition. You can do one or the other or both.
“If you don’t want to enter the skills competition, you can still bring your motorcycle to the show. If you want to be in the show and compete, you register and enter the show, go do the competition and then come back to the show….”

Fireworks show
Saturday night
On Saturday night, the mayor noted Neighbor Day will finish off with a bang, with a fireworks show as its grand finale.
“We’ll conclude with a fireworks show around 9 p.m. on Saturday night,” he said. “Since the Fourth of July falls during the week this year, our annual fireworks show will be part of our Neighbor Day celebration the weekend before.”