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By DONALD MOTTERN | Staff Writer

COLUMBIANA – Discover Shelby Fest will return for its third annual outing this October and will bring with it a chance for residents to enjoy live music and appreciate fresh wine from a variety of local wineries.

This year’s festive event will be held on Saturday, Oct. 12 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Columbiana at Old Mill Square Park.

The Shelby County Arts Council is proud to help continue presenting the annual festival alongside several other sponsors, including Kyle Mims of Edward Jones, AmFirst, Discover Shelby, Alabama Power, the city of Columbiana and Home Alabama Tourism.

“The third annual DSF will host around 8-10 Alabama wineries,” SCAC Community Engagement and Event Manager Leslie Belk said. “You can taste, or get a glass and enjoy the live music and art vendors.”

This year’s festival has already attained cooperation from at least eight local Alabama wineries that will have their products featured during the event, including Morgan Creek Vineyards, Hidden Meadows Vineyard, Corbin Farms Winery and Ozan Winery.

In total, the festival will offer two independent stages with one located at Old Mill Square Park and another located at the end of Main Street near the old courthouse. This year’s headliner band will be Beatles tribute band The Return.

Hailing from Griffin, Georgia, The Return has played shows across the South and will be making their Discover Shelby Fest debut this year.

Although admission to the event and its music offerings is free for all in the community, event attendees will have to purchase wristbands to participate in the wine samplings.

Wristbands purchased in advance will cost a total of $20 per person, while those who wait to purchase them at the gate will pay $25.

“You must be of legal drinking age and will be required to show your ID on the day of the event,” the announcement read.

VIP wristbands will also be made available to partners and supporters of the Shelby County Arts Council, Discover Shelby, the city of Columbiana and those who elect to purchase VIP wristbands prior to the event.

The VIP experience will include an air-conditioned private area, catered food options, indoor games, a photo booth area and live-streamed college football games that will be made available in the Grande Hall at the SCAC. Those VIP passes will cost $50 in advance and $65 at the door the day of the event while available.

A number of area food trucks will also be featured at the event and will compliment a host of local Columbiana restaurants and stores who plan to remain open during the festival. Local vendors will also be set up and ready for business at areas both around Old Mill Square Park and along Columbiana’s Main Street.

Both normal and VIP level wristbands for the festival can be found for purchase at the SCAC website at Shelbycountyartscouncil.com/discover-shelby-fest-wristbands-2024.

Those in search for more information or who would like to become an event sponsor, may call 205-669-0044 or email event organizers at info@shelbycountyartscouncil.com.