What better way to get an event off to a great start than to bring a community together for a time of worshipful singing and praise.

For 16 years, the kickoff event for the Annual Peanut Butter Festival has been the Brush Arbor Singing on the Wednesday night before the big Saturday event.

The first two Brush Arbor Singings were sponsored by the Brundidge Historical Society but the next year, First National Bank of Brundidge offered to sponsor the community sing-along and has done so every year since.

This year’s Brush Arbor Singing will be at 7 p.m. Oct. 22 at the Knox Ryals Pavilion on the grounds of the historic Bass House.

The We Piddle Around Scratch Band will play from 6:30 until 7 p.m. as people gather for the congregational singing. Refreshments of apple cider and salted nuts will be served prior to the singing, compliments of First National Bank.

“The Brush Arbor Singing is a very popular event and a great way to get the Peanut Butter Festival under way,” said Jimmy Ramage, bank president. “Those of us at the bank always look forward to it and I know that many people in the community do, too.”

Ramage said each Brush Arbor Singing opens and closes with prayer.

“We believe that’s the way it should be,” he said. “The Brush Arbor Singing is a worship service of songs.”

The congregational singing will be led by local directors and everyone is invited to make a joyful noise.

“We provide songbooks but most people know all the songs anyway,” Ramage said. “Some people like to bring flashlights so they can see better if there’s a song or a verse they happen not to know.”

The Brush Arbor Singing lasts about an hour, so some people bring a jacket or light blanket to keep the night chill away.

“We realize that Wednesday night is church night for many churches and we invite the churches to attend their services and then join us for this spiritual service,” Ramage said.

Bleacher seating will be provided but some prefer to bring lawn chairs. Those who choose to bring lawn chairs are encouraged to put the chairs to the front or to the side of the bleachers so they will be able to see the stage.

Everyone is encouraged to come early and enjoy the fellowship of friends and neighbors and stay until the last note is sung.