Maplesville Heritage Day’s fifth anniversary was a success, according to event organizers. 

The event, which was hosted by the Maplesville Volunteer Fire Department for the first time this year—the Maplesville Historical Society has hosted the event the previous four years—saw 37 vendors line Main Street.

Event coordinator Christine Epperson said she was pleased with the turnout Heritage Day received.

“People from the town supported us,” she said. “As always, our town may be small, but we have a big heart.”

Epperson said exact attendance numbers were unavailable, but “estimated” that around 1,000 people came out.

In addition to vendors that offered crafts, clothing and food to those in attendance, Heritage Day featured a car show and live music.

One of the vendors, Jimmy Tinsley with Mighty Through God Apostolic Ministry in Clanton, said the event gave the group a chance to spread their message to a different audience.

“We chose Heritage Day because there are so many people,” he said. “We’re just trying to get the Word (of God) out. It’s a great opportunity to meet people.”

The event raised around $1,200 from the vendors for the fire department, and town clerk Dawn Smitherman said the event offered great publicity for the town.

“We had a good crowd,” she said. “We had some new vendors, and hopefully they did well and will come back.”

Smitherman said she felt the fire department did well to put together the event in only around two months.

“The fire department did an awesome job,” she said.

Smitherman also said the fire department actually had to answer a call regarding an airlift for an injury at a nearby motorcycle race during the event.

“A helicopter had to land at the school,” she said. “They had to set up a landing pad.”

Epperson said she felt proud of the effort the department put into the event, as well as the support from the town government.

“For our first time, I think we did pretty good,” she said. “I can’t thank Dawn (Smitherman) enough. We have some wonderful town clerks, and they go beyond for us. We thank them, but sometimes I feel that’s not enough.”