Name change for pre-ALWS festival
The 7th Inning Stretch Festival, the annual event held the weekend before the American Legion World Series in Shelby, N.C., as a thank-you to the community for its support, is getting a name change.
The redubbed American Legion World Series Festival will take place Aug. 10, with the Department of North Carolina continuing as presenting sponsor.
“This is the 10th year for the festival so it’s an ideal time to pull out all the stops,” said ALWS committee chairman Eddie Holbrook.
Organizers said it will be larger, longer and louder than previous festivals. The festival area will cover more space in Uptown Shelby; the event will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and there are more music acts booked than in years past.
“We have four music performances scheduled for the North Point Custom Builders’ Hometown Stage, beginning at 1 p.m.,” Holbrook said. “We are showcasing local and regional talent on that stage as well as the Little Miss American Legion World Series pageant at 10 a.m.
“On the Main Stage, we have three artists that we know are crowd pleasers. We will announce the Main Stage musical entertainment at a future date.”
Hometown Stage performers will include Shelby native Mason Cole; the band Falling Forty-Two, founded by Shelby sisters Emily and Kate Strickland; The Bailey Marie Band, featuring Charlotte-based singer-songwriter and actor Bailey Marie; and Tangerine Trees, a Beatles tribute band from Gastonia, N.C.
This year’s festival will add a classic car show, and Cleveland Community College’s sports teams will take part in YetiVille. There will also be a larger kid zone, and the new ALWS mascot, AL, will be signing autographs and mingling with the crowd.
Members of the U.S. Army’s parachute team, the Golden Knights, will interact with the crowd.
“We are tying the festival directly to the ALWS,” Holbrook said. “It has always been an ALWS kickoff event and this year we are asking the vendors to create a baseball theme for their booths. We are adding baseball-themed games and entertainment to emphasize the connection. The Golden Knights will perform twice during the baseball tournament, and people at the festival will get a chance to meet some of the parachutists.
“Add in our increased music performances and we are expecting a tremendous turnout for our 10th year.”
For more information, visit alwsfestival.us.
The 97th American Legion World Series will take place Aug. 15-20 at Veterans Field at Keeter Stadium in Shelby, the permanent home of the ALWS.
