By By Adrienne McKenzie
Atmore is turning 100 next Wednesday and in celebration, the city will be having a huge birthday bash this Saturday at Heritage Park.
The Centennial celebration will begin at 2 p.m. and will last all afternoon until fireworks conclude the evening.
The Atmore Area Chamber of Commerce president Nancy Helton is looking forward to the event.
"We're really excited about this weekend," Helton said. "We hope to have a good turnout."
There are several different sources of entertainment for the event and according to executive director of the Atmore Area Chamber of Commerce Emilie Mims, many periods of time will be covered throughout the day.
"Entertainment for the evening should be very interesting," Mims said. "We have tried to cover as many eras of music as possible, from early Alabama fiddle tunes to the Big Band era. The stage will be set up on the front porch of the Watson Cabin and we invite the community to join us for a great event. You will need to bring a lawn chair or blanket. Several local organizations will be offering food."
The schedule of entertainment for the Centennial celebration includes, corporate games beginning at 2 p.m., pie contest at 4 p.m., historic tours of Atmore from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m., logging demonstrations and historical displays from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m., Haskell Dunn performing gospel music from 4:10 p.m. until 4:30 p.m., Felicia Bishop performing 'old time gospel' from 4:35 p.m. until 4:55 p.m., Flying Jenny performing fiddle tunes from 5 p.m. until 5:40 p.m., Mayor Howard Shell will speak from 5:45 p.m. until 6:05 p.m., USO Show Andrews Sisters will perform from 6:05 p.m. until 7 p.m., Chuck Stevens will perform tunes from the Big Band era from 7 p.m. until 7:25 p.m. and Flying Jenny will return to the stage from 7:30 p.m. until 8:10. At this time the birthday party will move to Tom Byrne Park for a fireworks show that will bring the evening to a close.
The Centennial Corporate Cup Challenge is being coordinated by the Atmore Area YMCA and will involve teams competing in horseshoes, tug-o-war and wiffle ball. The team that wins will be given the Atmore Centennial Corporate Cup. These competitions will be held between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Mims and Bonnie Latino will host the wagon tours from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. Both individuals will give narrative tours throughout the City of Atmore in a tractor driven carriage.
Hot dogs, chicken and dumplings, lemonade, ice cream, old-fashioned desserts and roasted corn will be served at the Centennial celebration by local citizens.
The U.S. Postal Service will offer a special cancellation beginning May 23 that will feature the Centennial logo in honor of Atmore's 100th birthday.
The Chamber of Commerce is also selling centennial T-shirts, coffee mugs and postcards of the 'Human 100.' The Atmore Historical Society will be selling Christmas ornaments.
For more information, please contact the Chamber of Commerce at 368-3305.