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By DONALD MOTTERN | Staff Writer

COLUMBIANA – Senior citizens in Shelby County will soon have a day of community and fellowship when they attend Shelby County’s upcoming Senior Picnic and Spring Fling event scheduled for later this month.

“This is probably one of the biggest events of the year (we have), said Mindy Dent, manager of community services with Shelby County. “The Shelby County Senior Picnic serves anywhere from 750 to 1,000 of our senior citizens every year. This year, it is being held at the Shelby County Exhibition Center in Columbiana.”

Running from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24, seniors will be able to partake in a day of togetherness and socialize in one of the largest county events of the year. Residents from across the 14 major senior centers in Shelby County will partake in the event, but event organizers want all members in the community over the age of 55 to know that they too are welcome to attend.

“This year they are going to have a hot barbeque lunch from Tin Top BBQ in Columbiana, and we have entertainment this year (as well),” Dent said. “The Shelby County High School Show Choir is going to be performing and we will also have the BT Collective, which is a gospel performance. We are also going to have line dancing.”

To help present the picnic and spring fling, and ensure it remains free to the public, the county has partnered with a number of local community sponsors that have helped supply the event with the food and entertainment.

The list of those sponsors include:

•  Discover Shelby
•  Publix
•  Positive Maturity
•  Shelby County Reporter
•  O’Kelley Architecture
•  M4A
•  Shelby County Arts Council

“It is important for us to serve our senior citizens not only with the resources available to them throughout our county, but to also have some fun—with food, music and dancing,” Dent said. “We look forward to having a great time at this year’s event.”

Those who wish to attend are encouraged by event organizers to register online at Picnic.shelbyal.com. Attendees can register up to the day of the event.