No doubt about it, West Point Day was an awesome event. The crowd on East 9th Street this past Sunday afternoon was massive. Police officers who were serving and protecting the public on this day estimate the crowd to be somewhere between 5,000 and 7,500 people. West Point Vision did an incredible job of organizing the event. People with West Point ties came from as far away as New York, Ohio and California to be part of this special event.

It’s quite a trick to get between 5,000 and 7,500 people to come to a town that has only around 3,500 people. Anyone who was there saw that the turnout was enormous and that everyone was having a good time. There were dozens of tents for people to stay in the shade on a hot day, plenty of cold drinks, the smells of some great chicken and ribs cooking on grills and fun games for kids and adults. DJ Ice and the Slow Talkin’ DJ had everyone feeling good about the day. A fleet of golf carts transported people from one end of the venue to the other. There was lots of laughter and smiling faces. All in all, it was the kind of event we need more of in the local area. When it comes to making West Point a destination, West Point Vision hit a grand slam. There’s no doubt West Point is on the way to being THE place to be on the Sunday before Labor Day.

Lanett has a good thing going on with a film festival. It’s an event that attracts up-and-coming filmmakers to our community. People are given a chance to go out and see the early works of talented people who could be household names in a few years. It’s something the community needs to get behind and make an annual tradition for Lanett and the surrounding community.

Next weekend will be “Last of the Goodtime Summertime,” a juried art show presented by the Valley Arts Council. This is another event the community needs to get behind and support. It will be at Valley Community Center from 10 a.m. till 5 p.m. EDT on Saturday and from 1-4 on Sunday. Let’s get out and support our local arts community. Events such as this show that there are some truly gifted people in our own backyard. Your attendance will show them that you appreciate what they do.

Arts on display will include painting, drawing, pottery, sculpture, photography, jewelry making, wood transforming, fiber and needle art, mixed media, glass, metal and more.

Go and check it out. Who knows, you may purchase some art items for your home.