On June 4, countless hours of preparation, sacrifice and dedication will pay off in the form of one of the county’s biggest events.

Tens of thousands of Shelby County residents and visitors from across the state and country will descend upon Alabaster’s Municipal Park to enjoy great vendors, activities for all ages and some of the biggest names in musical performers.

Whether you enjoy country or rock, you are sure to hear something you like as country superstar Craig Morgan and alternative rock group Vertical Horizon are slated to take the stage that evening.

But as you enjoy the event, please take time to remember those who have worked tirelessly to organize the event and ensure it remains a free affair.

For years, the Alabaster Arts Council has done everything from lining up top-notch bands to stuffing goodie bags for visitors, and everything in between.

The Arts Council volunteers rarely get the recognition they deserve, but we think they have done a fantastic job turning what began as a modest community festival into one of the premier annual events in Alabama.

We also thank the many businesses who have signed on to sponsor the event year after year.

Putting on an event of this magnitude is not cheap, but festival attendees are not forced to cover any of that cost. Businesses such as Vic Smith CPA and Regions Bank are the reasons the festival has grown with the city’s explosive growth over the past decade, and are responsible for CityFest’s lack of admission charge.

So when you are deciding where to spend your hard-earned dollars, check out the CityFest sponsor and vendor list first.

It will help to ensure we are partying in Municipal Park for years to come.

The We Say is the opinion of the Shelby County Reporter editorial board.