Photo by Jon Anderson.
Members of the Greystone Elementary School Jumpin’ Jags Jump Rope Team show off their skills at the 2018 Celebrate Hoover Day at Veterans Park. The citywide celebration returns this year on April 27.
It’s time to celebrate Hoover again.
The city’s annual Celebrate Hoover Day at Veterans Park returns for its 13th year on Saturday, April 27, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The citywide festival in past years has drawn anywhere from 10,000 to 18,000 people and includes live entertainment, food, games, carnival rides and much more.
The day will begin with a ceremony to honor veterans in the Veterans Memorial Plaza, with special attention given to veterans whose family and friends have chosen to honor them by dedicating a paver in the plaza.
Military members from Hoover who have been killed in action also will be honored, and the Howlin’ Mad Smith Detachment of the U.S. Marine Corps League will re-enact the famous raising of a U.S. flag at Iwo Jima in World War II.
City leaders then will dig into a giant apple pie (the pan is 10 feet, 3 inches in diameter), and volunteers will serve the pie along with ice cream for free.
“That’s our signature moment for the event,” city events coordinator Erin Colbaugh said.
Live entertainment typically includes musicians and dance groups from Hoover schools and the community at large.
Children can enjoy carnival rides, inflatables, pony rides, a petting zoo, extreme bungee, balloon artists, face painting, airbrush tattoos and a disc jockey who usually oversees games such as sack races, hula hoop contests and similar activities.
The Hoover Police Department will offer free child ID kits that include fingerprinting, and the police and fire departments will show off their specialty equipment, such as a mobile command center, tactical vehicle and technical rescue team.
Businesses and other groups with the Hoover Area Chamber of Commerce will have a large exhibitor tent, and there will be food trucks. The Dixie Vintage Antique Automobile Club is holding an antique and classic car show from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with prizes and trophies. Registration costs $20 and can be done through dvaac.com.
Free parking and shuttles for the festival will be at Spain Park High School, and Shred-It will do free document destruction in the school parking lot. If the festival is rained out Saturday, it will be Sunday, April 28, from 1:30-5:30 p.m.
