By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

One of my favorite days of the year is coming up this weekend. Greeting folks from our tent at the event’s entrance, enjoying a day full of incredible local and nationally known music acts and, yes, even the sweltering heat.

I love everything about CityFest.

The Shelby County Reporter and the Alabaster Reporter have been fortunate enough to sponsor CityFest for the past several years, and we are proud to be associated with the celebration.

One of my favorite aspects of the event is how it has grown over the years. More than a decade ago, a group of Alabaster leaders got together to plan a way to celebrate Alabaster’s 50th anniversary.

That first CityFest drew about 8,000 people from across the area, who enjoyed food, vendors and music from local and regional bands. The first festival in 2003 was a far cry from what CityFest has grown to today.

Bands such as Eve6, Sister Hazel, Diamond Rio, Travis Tritt and Everclear have led to exponential attendance growth over the years at the festival. From 8,000 attendees in 2003 to the current record of more than 70,000 in 2012, CityFest organizers have certainly seen the fruits of their labor over the years.

The city of Alabaster organized the first few CityFest events, but the festival even tually grew beyond what the city could handle, which led to the formation of the Alabaster Arts Council several years ago.

“By the third or fourth CityFest, the Alabaster Arts Council took over,” Arts Council President Adam Moseley said. “Once it started getting bigger, the Arts Council was able to do a lot the city couldn’t do.”

Because of sponsor support over the years, including longtime title sponsor Regions Bank and local businesses such as Vic Smith, 102.5 The Bull and 103.7 The Q, the event has always – and will always – be free to the public.

Be sure to grab a copy of our CityFest guide at the event to learn everything about this year’s festival. We’ll see you at Municipal Park on Saturday.

Neal Wagner is the managing editor for the Shelby County Reporter. He can be reached at 669-3131 ext. 11 or by email at neal.wagner@shelbycountyreporter.com.