It’s a small town festival looking to grow. McKenzie Fest, set for May 8, is the main fundraiser for the McKenzie VFD.

Downtown McKenzie will be the locale for the festival, set to run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

A variety of arts and crafts will be offered, along with concessions and live music from a number of area vocalists and musicians.

“We already have Baskets by Buster returning for their second year with us. These gift baskets make great Mother’s Day gifts,” said Leann Waters, one of the organizers for the event.

A duck pond for the kiddies where they can win goldfish, and a variety of give-away items courtesy of Georgiana Nursing Home are also already on tap.

Among the acts lined up to perform at McKenzie Fest are New Vision, Night Moves, Larry Turman and Family and Carl Tillery.

Waters said organizers are actively looking for vendors wishing to sell their crafts, jewelry, baked goods, woodcrafts and more at the event.

“We are trying to grow and build this into a festival lots of people will want to attend,” Waters said.

The dollars earned from McKenzie Fest go to support the needs of the town’s volunteer fire department, manned by seven fire fighters and three spouses.

“The federal funds we get are limited, so, like other volunteer fire departments, we have to hold fundraisers. And this is our big one,” Waters said.

Grants provided the McKenzie VFD with a new fire station and fire truck, but furnishings and supplies are still needed.

“Requirements are always changing. New electronics and regulations are being put into place. It all gets expensive. We had to buy new fire suits last year and those were close to $5,000,” Waters said.

“We get some help, but a lot of the things we need we have to pay for ourselves. It takes a lot of dedication to be a volunteer fire fighter, but we know how important it can be to the community.”

Anyone wishing additional information or to rent a booth space should contact Leeann Waters at 334-374-0069 or McKenzie Town Hall at 334-374-2311.