Tourism in the city of Cullman typically ticks up significantly during the Spring and local officials have been prepping for what is primed to be another historic season.

Council member Clint Hollingsworth commended the Cullman Parks, Recreation and Sports Tourism department during the council’s meeting Monday, April 7, for what he said was an impressive soft launch of the city’s newest facility, the OmniPlex, which took place over the previous weekend.

Around two-dozen youth basketball teams competed in a tournament, showcasing the facility’s features and allowing staff to gain a solid footing before the start of the upcoming sports season.

“It was a good little first weekend to get things cranked up and broken in,” Hollingsworth said.

CPRST director Nathan Anderson told the council that the weekend had prepared the OmniPlex employees for a second tournament set to take place this coming weekend with more than 90 teams competing.

“Any time you take a risk like this you are looking for your reward and, I mean, we hadn’t gotten the facility open and the first year is already booked. So, opening weekend, I couldn’t be happier. This weekend we’re going to really be tested and I’m excited to see them do it,” Anderson said.

The council also approved a special event request which finalized the dates for the Alabama Strawberry Festival. The festival will once again be held in the special events district — centered around Depot Park — on April 25 and 26 and Anderson said there was at least one significant new addition to the festival that his department would be announcing in the coming days.

“It’s going to be something unlike anything we’ve had at any of our other festivals,” Anderson said. “It’s something our older teenagers have expressed interest in when we asked our Cullman Youth Leadership group what they would be interested in seeing at our festivals.”

In other business the council:

— Approved a special event request from Leldon Maxcy to hold the annual Warehouse District Street Sale on April 10 and April 11.

— Approved a special event request from CPRST to hold the annual Dinner on 1st fundraiser in the Warehouse District on May 17.

— Tabled a decision to approve a special event request from Michael McBayer to hold the annual Rock the South music festival until public safety plans had been finalized with officials from the Cullman Police and Fire departments.

— Approved an agreement with the Alabama Department of Transportation to maintain a sidewalk on Alabama Hwy. 69.

— Approved a tax abatement for Project Box, which council president Jenny Folsom said involved a $47 million capital investment from an existing local industry.