By JEFFREY SMITH
Leader staff writer
The 37th annual CabotFest will begin at 8:30 a.m. Saturday in the streets of downtown Cabot. It’s a celebration that started in 1978 to signify the rebuilding of Cabot after the city was leveled by a deadly tornado in 1976.
Admission and parking to the event is free.
This year, the carnival will begin Thursday and be from 6 until 10 p.m. It continues on Friday from 5 until 11 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.
Carnival-ride armbands are $17 per person per day in advance until noon Thursday at the Cabot Chamber of Commerce, 110 S. First St., or $20 at the gate. Armbands are for Thursday and Friday only.
Entertainment starts at 6:30 p.m. Friday with Jon Aitchison. Triple Threat follows at 7:30 p.m., and the Larry Weathers Band rounds out the night at 8:30 p.m.
On Saturday, Blend will take the stage at 2:45 p.m. Backroad Anthem performs at 3:45 p.m., and the Just Sayin’ Band wraps up CabotFest at 5:15 p.m.
“It looks like we’re going to have fantastic weather, says Cabot Chamber of Commerce Director Amy Williams.
“We’ve added a new day for the carnival, and we’ll have more musical entertainment by adding Friday night. It is going to be good,” she told The Leader.
The Faith Support Ministry 5K run/walk for cancer awareness starts at 9 a.m.
New this year is the Cabot Public Schools Entertainment Stage. It will showcase the talents of school district’s students, teachers and staff.
“The Cabot schools stage is going to get a lot of interest,” Williams said.
CabotFest will have 130 food and other vendors.
And the New Life Church is returning with its puppet show.
Activities will be happening all day long.
Those include the ReNew Church cricket-spitting contest, AARP Bingo, a car show, a First Electric climbing pole, paintball, inflatables and slides.
The Cabot Animal Shelter mobile pet adoption unit will be out and about at CabotFest.
The Game and Fish Commission’s traveling aquarium will make an appearance, too, as will the Cabot Public Schools bookmobile.
