The community event has activities geared toward children ages 4-16, including 50-and 100-yard dashes, Frisbee-tossing, hula hoop and softball-throwing contests. First through third prizes will be awarded for each event, and everyone is a winner.
Adults can take part in the John “Bubba” Broom Jr. Baseball Tournament, 3-on-3 and 5-on-5 basketball tournaments, a slamdunk contest and a horseshoethrowing competition. So far, three baseball, eight 3-on-3 and 10 5-on-5 teams are expected to compete.
Bubba Broom, who died in 2005, managed the South Anniston Dodgers youth baseball team and was heavily involved in community baseball.
John “Kebo” Broom, an event organizer and Bubba Broom’s son, said the event’s purpose is a nod to the community’s baseball tradition, his father’s memory and to foster community togetherness by providing kids with wholesome activity while school is out.
“It’s about bringing the community closer together, keeping everybody on the same level of thinking that ‘we are family,’” Broome said. “It’s something for the kids to look forward to.”
An award will be presented to the Senior Citizen of the Year based on his or her service in the community.
Children’s activities start at 10 a.m., followed by the adult baseball and basketball tournaments. Hot dogs, snow cones and balloons will be provided free of charge, and each child will receive a baseball courtesy of the American Baseball Foundation.
The event will be at John Nettles Park in Anniston, where streets will be blocked off for kids to run around between fields, the pool and all over — everywhere there’s activity, Broom said.
