The Alma Spinach Festival celebrates its 25th year

 

story and photos by Brittany Ransom
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The 25th Annual Spinach Festival kicked-off Friday (April 15) with a day packed full of carnival rides, delicious food and live music. The event is held in downtown Alma, the “Spinach Capital of the World.”

The carnival officially opened at 5 p.m. but Spinach Festival activities were in full-swing throughout the day. Amusement rides and games filled the park.

When cool and potentially rainy weather set in, some activities had to be relocated, including a benefit dinner sponsored by the Alma Rotary Club. The dinner was moved from Popeye Park to the Alma Boys and Girls Club down the street. The event helped raise money for construction of the new Alma Community Center. Live music was provided by the Frog Bayou Boys Bluegrass Band.

Local talent, including gospel groups, country artists and solo acts will comprise the entertainment line-up which began Saturday morning and ran throughout the entire day. The Masonic Lodge hosted a pancake breakfast from 7 a.m. to 10:30 am. The festival officially opened at 8 a.m. and will include crafts, a tractor show, a book sale, and a quilt show. Inflatable bounce-arounds, a rock wall and a petting zoo will also be open for kids to enjoy.

Several spinach and Popeye-themed activities will also make up Saturday’s festivities. Such activities include a Popeye character look-a-like contest, a spinach eating contest, a spinach growing contest, as well as a spinach drop.

New to the festival this year was the first annual “Popeye Classic Golf Tournament.” The tournament, which was to be held Friday afternoon at Eagle Crest in Alma, was postponed due to damage caused by Thursday evening’s storms. The tournament has been rescheduled for April 28.

The festival will conclude Saturday evening at 10 p.m.