By MOLLIE BROWN / Community Columnist

Where would fall be without its iconic pumpkin? Imagine Thanksgiving dinner without pumpkin pie or Halloween without glowing jack-o-lanterns. With this in mind, Alabama Furniture Market will celebrate the fall season with “Pumpkins on Parade” on Oct. 14.

“This will be the third parade since my husband, Chris, and I opened the store six years ago this month,” owner Avery Akins said. “We’ve enjoyed it so much in the past and hope for our biggest turnout this year. We hold the event to show our appreciation to the Calera community and the greater Birmingham community who come down here and shop.”

The event is from 2-6 p.m. Farmers and artisans will be set up on the store’s front porch for customers to purchase produce and handmade items, as well as great buys in the store. To date are: R & S Farms’ heirloom pumpkins, Al Hooks Produce, Nana’s Herbs, Rhonda Cracraft’s homemade bread and cookie decorating station, author Rebecca Corley’s Sweet Children’s Books and Boozer Farms. Calera Farmers Market coordinators will be on site with information about our local market.

A local jazz combo will lead the parade that begins at 4 p.m. Children from all communities are invited to wear Halloween costumes and follow the band shaking vintage Halloween noise makers that will be provided. Drawings for six items to represent the six years of business will be held during the festivities. Winners must be present to claim their prize. Items range in size from a deliciously scented candle to a large piece of furniture.

“This is a fun, free event,” Akins said. “We sincerely hope the community will join us in celebrating the fall season with the parade, snacks and live bluegrass music.”

Alabama Furniture Market’s 35,000-square-foot facility offers beautiful furniture for every room of your home. Store hours are Mon-Sat, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday 2-6 p.m. Like them on Facebook to receive Warehouse Web Wednesday offers, an item sold every Wednesday at a drastically reduced price not advertised in the store.

The event is sure to be a smash! Avery and Chris hope to see you there.

 

Mollie Brown can be reached at dmjhb1@bellsouth.net.