Pinson's Butterbean Festival Evolves, New Event Launched

0:00It's March 30, I'm Cory with the story. This is Birmingham News Today, driven by AI. The Clay Pinson Chamber of Commerce just dropped a bomb by canceling the Alabama Butter Being Festival after 20 years. This annual event kicked off in 2005 and grew big under the chamber since 2011. But now, they're shutting down chamber operations to fund first responders in education instead. Funds boiled over funding fights with Pinson City leaders. The chamber owns the festival name, mascot Bucky, and website, refusing to hand them over without solid support. They turned down a flat $10,000 fee offer, seeing it as a sign funding was off the table after a February council meeting. Folks were stunned, vendors hit hard, and social media exploded with why questions until comments got shut off. Over Pinson Mayor Robbie Roberts dug in, calling talks with chamber board members fractured, like they were holding the event hostage over cash.

1:01Pinson Council moved fast with meetings on May 20th and a special one, March 26th. They voted unanimously to save the festival spirit, inking a deal with the new North Jefferson Chamber for $15,000 to launch Pinson. Butter being days on Main Street, that fresh events page already snagged over 1,000 likes, building quick momentum while the old ones 10,000 followers fade. Cities adapt, festivals evolve, and Pinson's keeping the Butterbean vibe alive come fall.