Mission Statement
A festival born out of history, community and broken memories.
The city of Palmerdale, which resides within the city limits of Pinson, Alabama, was founded from the Subsistence Homestead Project of Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1930's after the depression. The purpose was for the government to fund and development 100 homesteads to provide incentives to distraught "white collar" men, who because of depression conditions, could no longer generate income from their industries.
City folks eager for a fresh start applied for the new homesteads and began moving in. The most of the entrie community was moved in by 1935. Throughout the years that followed churches, stores, banks, schools, and a whole community blossomed.
By the 21st century one of the community schools was closed under the direction of the Jefferson County Board of Education. During the months that followed, vandalism and damage took it's toll creating a tiring eye-sore for the community. It was at this state that some local residents came forward requesting approval to renovate and restore the old school into a local community center.
Since renovation started, this team has been able to renovate much of the building into what is now called the Palmerdale Homestead Community Center. They now have a working kitchen, meeting rooms, basketball courts, stage and auditorium. The committee plans to continue to renovate the entire building one room at a time.
The Alabama Butterbean Festival was born as an effort to unite the senior citizen population of Palmerdale with the present and younger generations throughout the area. It also aides as an effort for funding the renovations. The theme for the festival came from the original roots of the community, a laid back, friendly butterbean eating neighborhood. Many memories spawn from the thought of eating butterbeans and cornbread while visiting with neighbors on the front porch.
This gathering has spread to much further than just the community! We are a State festival and have visitors and vendors from throughout the southeast and beyond. Come see our Southern Hospitality for yourselves!!
Description
Too much to list all - please visit our website for further information!
The festival itself is a one day event on August 30, 2008. However, we have events leading up to the festival such as a Mr. & Miss Butterbean Pageant; Alabama Butterbean Festival (ABF) Golf Tournament; ABF Softball Tournament; 10K and 1 mile fun run; Century Bike Ride; Tail Waggin Dog Pageant; Butterbean and Cornbread recipe competitions and much, much more!!
We need volunteers for everything from trash pickup, city cleanup, event organizers, group leaders, and anything you think you may like to do. In order to have this, our third festival, be a success we need many more than we have at this time.
Please choose to help us make this a successful event!!!
