By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – Despite a curve ball from Mother Nature, Alabaster’s CityFest drew tens of thousands of visitors to the city’s Municipal Park on June 4 to enjoy everything from live entertainment to kids’ activities.

While the rainy weather held off for most of the day, keeping temperatures much lower than normal at the event, a downpour hit late in the day shortly before Black Jacket Symphony took the stage at 7 p.m.

But those who braved the rain were rewarded when members of the Thompson High School marching band took the stage with Black Jacket Symphony to perform a surprise encore of the Fleetwood Mac song “Tusk.”

“That was a really neat experience for the kids, getting to play on the stage with Black Jacket Symphony,” said Alabaster Arts Council President Adam Moseley.

Following Black Jacket Symphony’s performance of the entire Fleetwood Mac album “Rumours,” event headliner David Nail took the stage at about 9:20 p.m. to perform for the spectators who stuck it out through the rainstorm.

“We only had to delay him going on stage by about 20 minutes, and he put on a good show. All of our performers did throughout the day,” Moseley said. “We had a lot of positive feedback from the crowd.”

Fleetwood Mac and David Nail capped off the daylong event, which also featured musical performances from bands and musicians such as The M-80s, The Phil Dudley Band and Sanchez Tannehill.

The day also featured dozens of vendors, a car show, a KidsFest area and much more.

Over the past 14 years, CityFest has grown exponentially from only a few hundred attendees at the first event to tens of thousands of visitors over the past few years.

Moseley said the event’s sponsors and volunteers have kept CityFest free for attendees every year.

“Fourteen years ago, when we first did this, I was amazed how many people came together to make it happen,” Moseley said. “It still amazes me to this day, because we’ve still got a community of volunteers and sponsors who make it happen.

“The rain did affect the crowd, but overall we still had great attendance and people had fun,” Moseley added. “That’s what it’s really all about: Providing a fun event for the community.”