May Day activities set Saturday in Opp
Published 12:11 am Friday, May 12, 2017
It’s May Day time.
The annual Opp May Day celebration is set for tomorrow.
“The event area will be at Hardin Street south of the intersection of Kellum Street to the MLK Complex and south on Gavin Street to the intersection of Mullins Street,” said Opp Police Chief Mike McDonald.
NAACP President Aaron Bogen said they are going to play softball and have vendors set up.
“We’re going to have a car show, too,” he said. “The ball game is going to start at 11 a.m., and then things will really get kicked off around 2 to 3 p.m.”
Bogen said that vendors will be cooking out.
“Anybody that wants to sell something needs to call City Hall or they can come that day and pay for the spot,” he said. “It’s going to be a good day.”
Bogen said that Chief McDonald and the OPD have been very helpful.
“They are going to block the streets off so you can’t park on the side to keep the traffic flow,” he said. “I’m thankful for Chief McDonald’s willingness to work with me.”
Bogen said May Day is a fun thing for event-goers to do.
The Opp event was originally coordinated to celebrate African Americans’ freedom from slavery.
“The reason we are throwing it this weekend is two events in one,” he said. “You can come home for May Day, and meet with people that you haven’t met in a while. And Sunday is for Mother’s Day.”
Bogen said there are people coming home from way out of town.
“It’s something to not be bored,” he said. “A lot of people had stopped coming home and we started this May Day.”
McDonald said the event will continue until 10 p.m.
“The softball field lights will be cut off at 10 p.m.,” he said. “Participants are reminded to please follow the instructions given by police officers.”