The 4th Annual Clay County Music & Arts Festival is set for Saturday, May 15th from 10 am until dark.  This annual festival, sponsored by the Clay County Chamber of Commerce, rotates between Lineville and Ashland, Alabama. This year’s event will take place on the Historic Square of Ashland.

Excellent musical talent from around the area and the county is already lined up – download list below. You will not be disappointed!

Now is the time for Sponsors and Vendors to get on board. Use the links below to download applications and registration forms. There is also a booth diagram so vendors can choose the booth they want. Don’t wait … get your booth early. When we held the festival in Ashland in 2008, we sold out fast. Check back here often as we will be updating our progress in the weeks and months to come.

Download Sponsor Application – [Download not found]

Download Vendor Registration – [Download not found]

Download Booth Layout Map – [Download not found]

Download Musical Lineup – [Download not found]

As part of the 3rd Annual Clay County Music & Arts Festival, the Chamber conducted an Arts Contest open to all Clay County school students; including Public and Private schools. Submissions were required to portray a theme related to music and arts in Clay County.  Many students entered and the winners are listed below.

Elementary Winners:

1st Place Emily Ligon – $50
2nd Place Christian Cox – $25
3rd Place Brandon Cox – $10

Middle School Winners:

1st Place Evan Coleman – $50
2nd Place Kaitlyn Glenn – $25
3rd Place Joey Smith – $10

High School Winner:

1st Place Adam Franklin – $50

Art is on display at the Chamber office at the Farmer’s Market.

Thank you to all students who participated and we look forward to conducting this contest again next year at the 2010 Clay County Music & Arts Festival on Saturday, May 15th, 2010.

Gold Sponsors

Alabama 100.7 | Anniston Star | CenturyTel | Clay County Health Authority

East Alabama Portables | First State Bank | KOCH Foods of Ashland

Kowaliga Country 97.5 | Lake Wedowee Life Magazine | Momma’s Candles

Wellborn Cabinet, Inc. | Rooster 106.1 Clear Channel | The East Alabma Advertiser

Silver Sponsors

Adamson Insurance Agency | Emerald Realty Services, Inc. | Clay Automotive

Coca-Cola | Creekside Signs | Serv-Pro of Talladega, Clay, and Randolph Counties

Bronze Sponsors

City Auto Parts | City of Lineville | City of Sylacauga/Jake Jacobson

D&W Landclearing Service | Edward Jones | Fred’s Lineville

Lineville Health & Rehab | Little Mountain Grading | State Farm – Mike Coleman

Tru-Wood Cabinets | Wachovia Bank – Lineville

The forecast was calling for rain.  As we approached the weekend of the Festival, the percentages for rain went up.  By Friday, May 15th, the weather gurus were calling for 80% chance.   They were wrong … it was 100%.

Yes, it rained. And it rained some more.  But that didn’t dampen the spirits of the thousands of festival attendees as they braved the inclement weather to enjoy the 3rd Annual Clay County Music & Arts Festival at the Lineville, AL Recreational Park.  It rained off and on until about 3 pm.  Then, as if to reward these brave and dedicated souls, the rain stopped and the music cranked up.

It was stilll raining when Home Grown came on stage around 1:30 PM.  This group from Carrollton, GA won the crowd instantly. About the time Jonathan East went on, the rain stopped.  This local favorite rocked the crowd for almost an hour.  Then, Brittany Reilly and the Almost Accoustic Band took the stage and this group from NC gained a lot of new fans from Clay County.  Next up was one of Clay County’s favorite groups, Crooked Creek – a Festival regular. And as usual, they rocked the crowd.  Then it was time for regional gospel favorite Hope’s Journey.  If you’ve been around these parts for even a short period of time, you know how popular this band is with our citizens. After Hope’s Journey, it was time for Cleburne County Probate Judge Ryan Robertson and Roger Hammett and their band.  This was their first Festival gig but we doubt it will be their last.  And to close out the show was national country recording artist Doug Stone.  And the folks who hung in through all the bad weather were rewarded with an awesome set by Doug Stone.  Through his long-loved favorites to cuts from his new album, Doug Stone gave the audience everything they had waited for … and more.

If you missed the 3rd Annual Clay County Music & Arts Festival, go ahead and have some one kick you in the rear-end.  You deserve it!

We can’t wait to next year. See you at the Festival in 2010.