STOCKTON, Ala. — The Festival of Musicians, a five-day music festival has been approved by the Baldwin County Commission to take place July 8-12.

Billed as the “music festival for musicians,” and long-awaited by many, organizers have been in the planning stages for 14 months.

The festival was nearly derailed in March when the city of Foley pulled the festival’s permit nine days before its inaugural run. City officials cited fears of local residents that the event would be too large, and would be another “Woodstock.”

Event organizers tried to dispel these rumors as being totally off-base, but the council was unmoved.

Executive Producer Rick Shell says, “Never give up when you have something you really believe in. The world is full of people who will try to stop you. You must overcome any obstacles no matter what.”

The Festival of Musicians event is now slated to take place amid thousands of acres of woodlands, wetlands, rivers, lakes and forests in the new 400-acre Bicentennial Park, Highway 225 in Stockton. Visit www.festivalofmusicians.com for more information.