By Joanie Morris
For the Salisbury Post
KANNAPOLIS ó In the current economy, itís hard to find things for the entire family to do for free. In downtown Kannapolis this weekend, you can.
Beginning tonight at 5, the 32nd annual Village Festival will commence with Cooperative Christian Ministry and A.L. Brown High Schoolís Festival of the Arts held on West Avenue in the Village. The two-day event, organized by Cabarrus Events Association, is presented by Rowan Regional Medical Center.
After the Festival of the Arts, Brian Free and the Assurance Band will perform, sponsored by Central Baptist Church and Ford Broadcasting, beginning at 7 p.m.
Then Saturday beginning at 9 a.m., the festival continues with more bands, dance exhibitions and more.
ěOne of our goals as the Cabarrus Events Association is to bring family friendly entertainment to our community that is free,î said Brenda Drye, executive director of the Cabarrus Events Association.
There will be childrenís inflatables, dance troupes and schools performing, a Zumba party and arts and crafts booth sponsored by West Point Baptist Church with some hands-on activities for children to take home.
At 2 p.m. the Tsunami Wave Riders will perform, followed by the Tim Clark Band at 7 p.m. Fireworks for those who want to wait will begin at 10 p.m.
ěWeíre also doing a food and school supplies drive in conjunction with West Point Baptist Church,î said Drye. While itís not required, event organizers are hoping festival attendants will bring food pantry items for the churchís food pantry and school supplies for their mission trip to West Virginia this summer.
There will be plenty to spend money on too, if participants choose, said Drye. In addition to helicopter rides for $25 per rider and food vendors, participants can also purchase Motherís Day gifts at one of the local arts and craft vendors or one of the stores remaining in the Village ó keeping dollars local.
Have a cool car? Enter it in the first-ever Kannapolis Cruise-In Car Show, held in conjunction with Village Fest. For $20, you can enter your car and receive a trophy. The car show will be held behind the Village on Oak Avenue.
One thing missing from the festival this year will be hot air balloons. In the past years, the wind has been too strong for anyone to go up in the balloons, Drye said. So event planners decided to skip balloons this year. ěMaybe weíll get them back another year,î she said.
For more information on the event, visit www.cabarrusevents.org.
Joanie Morris is a freelance reporter for the Salisbury Post. Contact her at 704-797-4248.