By Staff
FESTIVAL Stonewall's Fall Festival organizer Susan Allen, right, talks with Assistant Fire Chief Jimmy Andrews about the upcoming event to be held at the Stonewall ball field. All proceeds from the festival go to the Stonewall Volunteer Fire Department. Photo by Paula Merritt/The Meridian Star
By Penny Randall/The Meridian Star
Sept. 7, 2001
The Stonewall Fall Festival will celebrate its 10th anniversary Saturday filled with fun, food and entertainment for all ages.
The festival began as a tribute to Allen's brother, Willie Griffin, who died suddenly in 1992 at the age of 38.
Each year, the song "Wind Beneath My Wings" is performed in honor of Willie Griffin.
In the beginning, Allen began traveling to festivals and picking up vendors' cards. She created homemade applications and started mailing them out.
The first fall festival was a huge success, surprising Allen and city leaders.
This year a special tribute for veterans is planned. Beginning at 1 p.m., there will be a recognition ceremony for all veterans, a fireworks display and a cake-cutting. Allen also has special flag pins to present to veterans.
Food vendors will include include cooks selling chicken on a stick, fish baskets, hamburger and hot dogs, funnel cakes, ice cream, snowballs and much more.
There will be numerous arts and crafts booths, flea market items and live entertainment.
The Stonewall Volunteer Fire Department is in charge of games for both adults and kids including a bungee run, super slide, jail, hay ride, dunking booth and obstacle course.
Festival-goers can also enjoy a motorcycle and open car show. Plaques will be presented for Mayor's Choice Award, Merchant's Choice and People's Choice.
Allen stresses the festival is for everyone. Golf cart tours around the festival will be available for disabled people. There will be a huge tent set up for the entertainment.
All proceeds from the festival go to the Stonewall Volunteer Fire Department.
Penny Randall is an editorial assistant at The Meridian Star. Call her at 693-1551, ext. 3216, or e-mail her at prandall@themeridianstar.com