Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Every year Rooster Day gets bigger and better. If anyone should know it’s Kirk Brooker, who has been a part of the celebration from the start.

The eighth edition of Rooster Day this Saturday, April 13, will feature even more area artisans and craftsmen, the return of popular activities, tasty dishes from local chefs and a few surprises.

Word is spreading about Rooster Day, drawing more vendors and more spectators to the Public Square, he continued. From the beginning the event organizers wanted to showcase the talented people who create their own special items.

“We’re sticking to all handmade,” said Brooker. At first it was tough going to attract vendors, but he said this year is proving to be better than ever.”

The Marengo County Historical Society (MCHS) started Rooster Day in 2016 with the purpose of raising funds for the upkeep of its two historic house museums, Lyon Hall and Bluff Hall. It has run every year since, except for 2020 when the COVID pandemic suspended the event and “Rooster Day Lite” was held the next year.

The celebration has raised an average of $30,000 each year, said Brooker, curator of the MCHS.

“As of right now we have more [exhibitors] than we’ve ever had,” he said, and they continue to apply to showcase their wares.

That includes food vendors which are the well-liked “mom-and-pop” regional cooks.

Among the goods for sale are paintings, pottery, metal art, textiles, candles, bags, jewelry, furniture, leather goods and more, Brooker explained.

Rooster Day is designed to be a family-friendly event, and people can enjoy many of the activities at no cost.

Back again are the activities for children, so named “Coop Games” to keep with the rooster theme. Inflatables, face painting, balloon art, crafts and corn hole toss have been joined by a new activity – Touch-a-Truck. The local Boy Scout troop also is expected to erect a rope bridge in the park again.

All these Coop Games are free. The petting zoo has a small charge, but children can pay one fee and return all day long.

Thanks to sponsorship by the Demopolis Industrial Development Board, Touch-a-Truck will feature a dump truck, tractor, fire engine, police car, backhoe, and other big-wheeled vehicles for kids to climb in and on. Touch-a-Truck will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Anchoring the park will be the entertainment stage. Music, dance and demonstrations are scheduled throughout the day. Brooker has been a big proponent of the stage from the first.

“We’re not going to not have that stage,” he insisted.

Time slots remain available for those who want to add their talent for the pleasure of the crowd.

The day starts off at 8 a.m. with the Cock’s Crow 5k race, followed at 9 a.m. with a 1k fun run. In past years, groups wearing rooster headpieces have joined together for the race and to delight in the merriment of Rooster Day.