CULLMAN, Ala. – Illuminated by candles and overhead string lights crisscrossing 1st Avenue in the Warehouse District, Cullman Parks, Recreation and Sports Tourism (CPRST) hosted its Dinner on First event on Thursday evening.
The annual fundraiser, first held in 2016, has helped fund CPRST projects such as the Connected Park Project at Ingle Park which introduced Connected Playground, the city’s inclusive playground for children of all abilities.
This year’s celebratory dinner will invest in Cullman’s 8,000 square foot skatepark, currently under construction on 2nd Avenue NE just north of Depot Park.
“This is a special event for our community. There’s nothing else like it. To come together and raise money for a project like the skate park in a fun way is special,” shared CPRST Executive Director Nathan Anderson.
Cullman Mayor Woody Jacobs informed the crowd of an anonymous matching $50,000 donation to the skatepark project and was hopeful that the evening would meet and surpass that contribution.
Before dinner was served, guests mingled at the Festhalle enjoying hors d’oeuvres provided by Chat and Chew while catching up with friends and snapping photographs.
Cullman City Council President Jenny Folsom observed, “This is an absolutely wonderful event tonight. I’m so proud for the city and the people who have turned out to support Cullman Parks and Recreation. The weather is perfect, and we couldn’t ask for anything better.”
The tables, stretched down the block and graced with colorful flower arrangements and lanterns, were soon home to well over a hundred guests who broke bread together for the greater good of the community.
“It’s always special when we get people together in fellowship. We’ve been craving that for a while as a community. Dyron and his staff at the All Steak always do a great job. Cullman Parks and Rec have worked so hard for this night. We appreciate everyone’s help with the new project of the skatepark,” observed City Council member Clint Hollingsworth who attended with his gracious wife Leslie.
Soon immersed in the dinner prepared by Dyron Powell’s talented team from the All Steak, the chatter amongst the tables lowered from a quiet rumble to muffled words about the delectable menu. Each of the three courses were beloved especially the dessert course of strawberry shortcake highlighted by Cullman grown strawberries from Trent Boyd’s Harvest Farm.
After dinner, favorite local band Avenue G cranked up the party playing classic rock covers and kept the fun going well into the night.
View the photo gallery here.
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