ALABASTER- Alabaster residents and members of nearby communities gathered at the Alabaster Municipal Park to enjoy free live music, support local vendors and participate in family friendly activities at the 15^th annual Alabaster CityFest.

CityFest, which is the largest outdoor music festival in Shelby County, began at 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 3, with the opening of a cruise-in car show sponsored by Ernest McCarty Ford, an area for vendors and the KidsFest area.

“It’s a beautiful day. I love seeing all of these people come out. It works for everybody, for kids and adults,” Alabaster local Melinda Bennett said. “I lie that, at night, it becomes more for adults and during the day, there are all of these KidsFest things.”

Alabaster residents Hunter and Brittany Lindsey said they enjoyed bringing their family to CityFest for the first time.

“We wanted to bring the kids to see what was going on. We wanted to see what kind of entertainment they had for kids, and I like the food,” Hunter Lindsey said. “The kids had a lot of fun, and now they’re worn out.”

“It was really fun. It was definitely worth it to come,” Brittany Lindsey added.

Thompson High School marching members Bryanna Brown and Travis Hopper-Haas said CityFest offers plenty of volunteer opportunities each year.

“Last year, the band performed onstage with Black Jacket Symphony,” Haas said.

According Haas, CityFest has a way of bringing an already close-knit community even closer for one day.

“There’s a lot of events and stuff to go. People get together and socialize, and you get to meet new people,” Haas said.

Brown said she especially enjoyed the musical aspect of CityFest.

“I really like the live performers. They’re definitely great,” Brown said.

Bennett, who is also the Sales and Marketing Director for Candlewood Suites, said the hotel is proud to serve as the official CityFest hotel sponsor for the fourth consecutive year.

“The staging crew and the bands all stay with us every year, and we love it,” Bennett said.

The festival will last until the end of CityFest headliner and singer-songwriter duo Maddie and Tae’s performance, which is set to start at 9 p.m.