The Boom Days Heritage Celebration, Fort Payne’s annual art and music festival, will feature dozens of the South’s finest visual artists and traditional craftsmen, as well as dozens of the area’s most talented musical groups on Saturday, Sept. 20.

“This year’s event will be bigger and even better than last year,” said festival committee member Andrew Hairston.

Four blocks of the city’s downtown district will be closed to traffic from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. while art shows occupy Alabama Park and City Park, and a variety of music flows from four outdoor stages. Downtown merchants will operate sidewalk sales, and cultural and historical displays will be mounted at the Fort Payne Culture & Heritage Center and the Depot Museum.

Hamilton, Ala., ninth-generation traditional potter Jerry Brown, the remarkable Gee’s Bend Quilters, the Sloss Furnace Smelters, the Mighty Fine Art Assault Team, Glassworker Cal Breed, Colonial Furniture maker Will Henry Cobble and North Carolina folk artist Robert Seven will display their work and demonstrate their techniques, as part of the art show component of the festival.

Travis Wammack, the “Fastest Guitar Player in the South”, will headline the Downtown Music Stage, where the Britt Meacham Band (Mobile), the Tommy Patterson Band (Muscle Shoals), Trial By Jury, and others will also perform. Acts on other stages include Rock Killough (Greenville, Ala.), Atomic Boogie (Rome, Ga.), Pierce Pettis, Mad Tea Party (Asheville, N.C.), the Alabama Gravy Soppers, Black Skillet, the Flint River Boys and many more.

There is no admission charge for any of these daytime, outdoor events.

Among this year’s other festivities will be a 5K run, a pet parade, a children’s area featuring art and dance and gymnastics, a classic and antique car show, a quilt show, and a food court.

The Third Annual Pap Baxter Heritage Gospel Singing will be held at the Opera House, and will feature a New Book Singing beginning at 10 a.m. and an Old Book Singing at 6 p.m. Special performances by the Owen Family, the Melody Men and Heath Locklear will highlight the evening program.

Beginning at 6:30 p.m., Memphis legends Dan Penn and Bobby Emmons will entertain at the First Federal Songwriters’ Showcase, at the City Auditorium. These two music industry giants will demonstrate their talents by performing hits like “I’m Your Puppet”, “Cry Like A Baby”, “Do Right Woman” and "Luckenbach, Texas."

At 8:30 p.m., the Dippin’ Dots Rock & Roll Show will crank up at the DeKalb Theatre. Johnny Neel & Criminal Element (Allman Brothers, Gov’t Mule) will open for Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit (Drive By Truckers). Green Hill, Alabama native Isbell has gained wide recognition in Europe and the United States with the release of his New West Records CD “Sirens of the Ditch.”

Tickets for the Songwriters’ Showcase and the Rock & Roll Show will be available at the Fort Payne Chamber of Commerce beginning Aug. 1.

For additional information, call 256 845-2741.