First Rails & Roots Festival a Hit

The 2026 Rails & Roots Festival was a huge success. Judging by all the smiling faces, I believe it is safe to say that a very good time was had by all. All proceeds went to our firefighters. All told, over ,800 was raised for the Valley Head Volunteer Fire Department. Thank you to all our sponsors, volunteers, and vendors. Everyone’s commitment to our fire department and our entire community is so appreciated.

The fire department held a successful cornhole tournament and burger sale. Thanks to Holly Owen and the many wonderful ladies in our community, a bake sale took place at the fire hall Saturday. We had over 55 vendors on the field and lined up on Commerce Street Saturday.

All vendors reported great sales and cannot wait to come back again next year. From barbecue to ice cream and coffee drinks to peanuts, there was something for everyone.

And the musicians certainly did not disappoint! From TPS Report starting the party on Friday night to Brandon Maddox finishing up the festival on Sunday afternoon, the Town of Valley Head was alive with amazing performances. A very special thank you to each and every performer who took the time to travel to our little town to be a part of this wonderful festival.

The hospitality tent was a huge hit and gave welcome relief from the May sun. It was a great spot to sit in the shade and rest our feet during the festival. Among the highlights this year were the children’s activities. From pony rides to bouncy houses to the train ride, kids young and old had a great time the entire weekend. We would once again like to thank Stephanie Fritz for her generous donation that provided for all the children’s activities. Thanks to all of our fabulous vendors for being so wonderful and to all of you who generously donated items to our raffle drawing.

I want to personally thank my entire festival committee; my council members and their families; Dawn Holloway; our police force and their families; my clerk, Lora; Raymond and Shannon Beasley; my husband, Charley Vest; James Mann; the Boy Scouts (Hunter and his brother); and a special thank you to Jennifer Chambers. I could not have done any of this without my team!

We still have a limited supply of our beautiful Rails & Roots festival t-shirts for sale. You may stop by Town Hall and purchase one if you missed your chance during the festival.

The Valley Head Volunteer Fire Department is proud to be up to 15 members. They are always looking for new volunteers. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer fireman, please call town hall at 256-635-6814, and we will give you Chief Dustin Burt’s contact information.

Valley Head holds its Town Council meeting on the first Monday of each month, beginning at 6 p.m. The public is always welcome to attend. Our next meeting is Monday, June 8.