Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains or slavery?

Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take but as for me; give me liberty or give me death!

&045;

Patrick Henry

Families throughout Shelby County will be celebrating liberty next Friday and Saturday while attending Columbiana&8217;s 22nd-annual Liberty Day celebration.

This year&8217;s festivities will officially begin on Friday evening at 6:30 p.m. with music and fireworks next to the &8220;old&8221; courthouse.

The fun will continue on Saturday with lots of music, a historical walking tour, arts and crafts and much more.

Saturday evening festivities move to the Shelby County High School football stadium where crowds will enjoy local and regional musical artists along with a spectacular fireworks show.

The two days will be packed with too many fun activities to list here.

A parade, organized by the Columbiana Rotary Club and led by grand marshal Frank &8220;Butch&8221; Ellis, is set to begin at 4:15 p.m. on Main Street.

The parade will include all the pomp and circumstance expected of a great hometown parade:

elaborate floats, marching bands and more beauty queens than you can shake a tiara at including Miss Alabama and the newly crowned Miss Shelby County, who will be making her first public appearance.

A complete guide to this year&8217;s Liberty Day will be published as a special supplement in next week&8217;s newspaper.

According to the City of Columbiana, Liberty Day began in 1986 as a group of citizens organized to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty.

Since that time, Liberty Day has grown to include hundreds of vendors and thousands of people who gather downtown Columbiana each year for food, fellowship, arts and crafts booths and s parade.

Thanks to many generous sponsors, this year&8217;s celebration will not only be more extensive than all previous years, it will also be free to anyone interested in joining in on the fun.

Living in Shelby County offers access to many great festivals and events and Liberty Day is certainly one of the finest.

Here&8217;s hoping to see you there