The city of Linden is introducing a new spring festival, hoping it is at least as popular as the first-time Veterans Day program was last November.

The spring event is called “Easter at the Gazebo,” and will take place on Saturday, April 3, the day before Easter Sunday.

“We’ve got train and pony rides at the Sweet Water State Bank branch in Linden,” said city secretary Bruce Ward. “There are Relay for Life teams doing that. We’ve got soaps and lotions, flowers, arts and crafts and all kinds of cakes and goodies. That will all be located at the gazebo.

“The Easter Bunny will be there, and people can have their pictures made with him at the gazebo from noon to 2 p.m. Hopefully, he’ll be able to roam around to the stores.”

Ward said the idea for Easter at the Gazebo came when city officials wanted to have a spring event for the town.

“We were trying to get a spring event, and we were trying to tie in the softball benefit game and the Easter event as much as possible,” he said. “It would be three days, and we were thinking about having the carnival there as well. That didn’t work out, so we just broke up both events. We plan on having the carnival here later in the year.”

Linden businesses will also have special sales or will house bake sales and other sales.

“We will have several gospel groups,” Ward said. “Glory Road will be here, as will Firebrands for Christ. Mayor Mitzi Gates will sing, and some people from her church will also be singing. The Rev. Tom Strickland will be here as well.

“We are trying to get more vendors to take part in that. Vending forms are available through the city’s Web site, www.lindenalabama.net, or people can call me at the office at (334) 295-5051.”

There will also be a benefit softball game on Wednesday, March 31, at 1 p.m. at Scott Park. Admission is $2, and the Quest Club of Linden will have a concession stand. All proceeds will benefit Relay for Life.

“The game is going to feature the Linden Youth Advisors, which is comprised of students from Linden High School and Marengo Academy,” Ward said. “They will play against the Linden Department of Public Safety, which is policemen, firemen and maybe other city workers.

“We hope to have other activities going on with that, too. The Youth Advisors group has already raised $1,562 for Haiti relief at red-light bucket drops for donations.”