ELBERTA, Ala. — The Elberta Police Department will debut its Wings, Rhythm and Brews Festival this weekend.

The two-day event will take place 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday at the Elberta Town Park.

The family-oriented festival will feature a kids’ station that will include everything from water slides, slip and slides, and bouncy houses to a three-station sports play. The area can be accessed through the duration of the event by purchasing a wristband for $5.

In a recent interview, Elberta Police Sgt. Ryan Pelfry said proceeds will fund the Elberta Police Department’s “Be a Buddy, Not a Bully” program. Through that initiative, officers visit Elberta-area schools and both give talks and provide students with material designed to shed light on the dangers of bullying.

“This is in support of antibullying,” Pelfrey said.

He explained that the need for such a program arose when police and Elberta area school officials noticed students with unaccounted for injuries.

“There’s so many instances that don’t get reported to us,” he said, referencing one instance where a student would not tell how his arm got broken.

But since Elberta Police began the “Be a Buddy, Not a Bully” initiative, such occurrences have diminished.

“We have not had any instances,” Pelfrey said, adding that police are only brought in when schools feel it is necessary.

In addition to the water activities, the festival will include live entertainment provided by such area artists as Modern Eldorados, White Caps, Logan Spicer, Lelly Poole and the Swingset, Neil Dover, Bama Boys and Dunnottar. The music kicks off at 10 a.m. Saturday.

During a recent Elberta Town Council meeting, town leaders expressed concern about having the event start early on Sunday when nearby churches might be holding services. However, Pelfrey said a solution has been reached.

“The festival is still going to start at 8 a.m. Sunday,” he said. “But the bands won’t start until noon.”

Throughout the event, visitors can also purchase hot wings, with proceeds also benefitting “Be a Buddy, Not a Bully.” And more than 100 vendors will be on hand to sell arts, and crafts, as well as concessions.

For food and fun that supports a good cause this weekend, head to Elberta Town Park for the inaugural Wings, Rhythm and Brews Festival. Plus, “Be a Buddy” T-shirts will be available for purchase.

Pelfrey stressed the point that all proceeds from this weekend’s festival will be earmarked for “Be a Buddy, Not a Bully.”

“The Elberta Police Department will not make one red cent for this,” the sergeant said.

Find out what else is happening this weekend in the next edition of The Buzz, free in Friday’s Onlooker.