The Stockton Heritage Association invites you Saturday, Nov. 2 for the first Stockton Sawmill Days event. Held on the beautiful wooded grounds of Baldwin County’s Bicentennial Park in Stockton, just 1.5 miles off Interstate 65, this event celebrates our community’s history and heritage as home to the first sawmill in the State of Alabama.

Step back in time to the days of logging with mules and draft horses. Learn to hitch a team, pull logs, and load a wagon. Experience the feats of log rolling, speed-pole climbing, cross-cut sawing, wood chopping, and chain saw carving by professional lumberjacks. Watch wood being sawed, saws sharpened, horses shod while listening to the rich earthy tones of Paul Tillman; the fresh new sounds of bluegrass by Delta Reign; the authentic 1840s and1850s music by Kracker Dan, dressed in period attire; dulcimers; and soulful gospel sounds by the Fifth Generation.

Visit booths of carefully selected folk art; exhibits by the Alabama Loggers Council; the Baldwin County Extension Forestry Department; Dr. Matthew Smidt with Auburn School of Forestry; the Alabama Forestry Commission; Chuck Simmons with the Alabama Coop, dressed in period attire telling about the piney woods cattle and oxen; the Baldwin County Forestry Department.; Five Rivers Delta Resource Center; Dr. Greg Waselkor with University of South Alabama on turpentine; Leslie Smith with his book “Gone to the Swamp;” artifacts from Kennedy Mills from Troy State University; Blaze the arson dog and Smokey the Bear.

Sawmills from around south Alabama will be displayed with information on their history. Forestry equipment will be on display by several local companies and Woodmizer will feature their portable sawmill.

Arrive early and enjoy “sawmill” biscuits with tomato gravy, or “flap-jacks” with sorghum syrup. Later, enjoy local fried catfish with cheese grits and buttermilk pie, cracklings, corn on the cob, and collards and corn bread. Watch as mules, draft horses, wagons and antique cars parade through the park. This is an event that you do not want to miss — promised to be fun and educational for adults and children alike.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is adults $15; children (12 to 6) $5; under 6 free.

For more information, visit stocktonala.com, facebook.com/StocktonSawmillDays. or call 251-937-3738. All proceeds go to the Stockton Heritage Museum.