The Lions Club barbecue is an Independence Day tradition in Prattville

Posted: July 5, 2024, 10:14 a.m. CDT

from
WAKA Action 8 News

Most people think of fireworks and parades when they think of Independence Day celebrations, but in Prattville, barbecue is an important part of the city’s Fourth of July traditions.

Each year, members of the Prattville Lions Club spend countless hours preparing for the annual club barbecue at Pratt Park.

The event features camp stew, pulled pork, Boston butts and more. And it’s all for a good cause.

“We use all the proceeds from the barbecue, it goes directly to the community,” Josh Bingham, president of the Prattville Lions Club, told Action 8 News. “We sponsor kids to attend a youth diabetes camp, we provide free eye exams and free vision corrections, so all the money goes back into the community.”

“When you support the community, everyone is there for you. It’s a win-win for everyone. They do a lot of good, like other charities in the area, and the more you support them, the better they can support their own community and help everyone have a better life,” said Steve Chudzinski, a vendor.

The primary mission of Lions Club members is to provide free vision screenings to visually impaired and diabetic individuals, a mission they have been pursuing since 1939.

This year, the Prattville Lions Club began the day with the grand opening of the new pavilion in Pratt Park.