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As spring draws closer, Gantt will be home to the inaugural Festival 7 community event on Pier 7 Road from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 2.

“Bees will be buzzing, birds will be singing, and Festival 7 will be in full swing. It is going to be a fun-filled and exciting day at beautiful Gantt Lake. I will be hosting this free community event. The event is geared toward bringing the community together as a whole, encouraging cohesiveness and instilling pride in the area. It will be family-oriented and kid-friendly for everyone who attends,” Festival 7 Coordinator Sherry Prevett said.

Prevett added that there would be an informative speech on April serving as Child Abuse Awareness Month.

“We will have pamphlets available to keep all information up to date and hold two raffles that day. One will raffle off a child abuse awareness bracket and a men’s child abuse T-shirt. Those proceeds will go to the Covington County Child Advocacy Center. A breast cancer bracelet will also be raffled with those proceeds sent to Women of Hope. Each ticket will cost $1.00, and we invite you to support these two important causes.”

The Festival 7 event is open to the general public and will not have an entrance fee or parking fee. “We encourage everyone to take a break from their normal day-to-day activities. Come spend some time with the children, families, and friends. Your furry ones are welcome to come as well on a leash of course.”

Chris Eiland and Matt Holmes will perform live country rock music.

“I’m so grateful to have Chris and Matt. After you shake those tail feathers, take a stroll down memory lane as you walk down to the car show area. Andalusia Classic and Street Rods and Crenshaw KoolRidz will have some neat cars for your viewing enjoyment. BIMO the Magician will be here entertaining not only the little ones but also the adults with his magic and twisting balloons. He has been named the number-one children’s performer in Pensacola. Kids can have fun bouncing for hours in the bouncy house. The Easter Bunny will make a special appearance from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., so grab your cameras for a perfect photo opportunity. Another cool ride that will be available is the 4 M’s Horse and Buggy Rides. Enjoy a nice breeze and listen to clipty clop of the horses’ hooves as you view beautiful Gantt Lake,” she said.

The event is free to attend. Arts and crafts will be available for purchase with those profits going to the vendors. “Cool off with a Snow cone, get your crunch on with kettle corn, and Gantt Area Fire and Rescue will be grilling and selling hamburgers, hot dogs, and BBQ to raise funds for the department,” said Chief Scott Fight.

According to Prevett, there will be 26 vendors on display at the event.

“Artists and people who do crafts have all expressed a desire to be a part of Festival 7, which gets its name from the area where it will be held: Pier 7. There will be many treasures to choose from including antiques, artwork by local artists, jewelry, door hangers and wreaths, quilts, hand-painted wooden rocking horses, children’s chalkboard table and chair sets, jams, jellies, American Indian-inspired items, and more. It will be the perfect time to find Easter and Mother’s Day gifts.”

For more information call Sherry Prevett at 334-508-2797.

“Mother Teresa said it best: ‘Do small things, with great love.’ We hope everyone will join us the first Saturday of April for our first-ever Festival 7 at Gantt Lake,” Prevett said.