Monitor Photo/Carla Gray
Kason Jones shows off his glasses that he won when playing the carnival games at the Aley picnic July 5.

Monitor Photo/Carla Gray
Families come together for food and fun at the 96th Aley Picnic July 5. Smith Bacon (left), Knox Bacon, Lacey Bacon, Shane Bacon, Annie Shields, Abby Bacon and Ella Greenhaw are enjoying a challenging game of bingo.

Monitor Photo/Carla Gray
Buddy Himes lives every dogs dream, to attend the Aley annual picnic held the Friday after the Fourth of July since 1928.

Monitor Photo/Carla Gray
Bingo was the game to play at the Aley picnic July 5. Bingo players Brenda Powell (left), Donna Hyde and Jerene McKinney have their cards ready to win.

ALEY–Since 1928 Aley has held their annual picnic at the King Cemetery. Funds from the picnic go toward the maintenance of the cemetery and community tragedies. A community tragedy is when a community member has experienced a family death and needs help with burial expenses. 
The King Cemetery was established in 1856 before Aley was a town. There, one will find the gravesites of those who fought in wars from World War 1 through the Vietnam War. Texas Calvery soldiers are interned there as well as family members who have lived in the area for well over one hundred years.
The Aley Picnic was established in 1928. That was when the community would gather to clean, mow, and set out fresh flowers at the local cemetery. They would bring food for a picnic after their labor. Times have changed over the past 96 years. The picnic is still a time of families and friends gathering to visit and update each other over the past year’s events. However, playing Bingo, the auction, a raffle, music, and burgers are part of the evolution of time.
The Aley picnic begins with the famous hamburgers.  These burgers are only prepared once a year.  What makes them famous? Maybe it is the fresh vegetables, or maybe it is the seasoned grill that is only used once a year, whatever the reason is the burgers start selling at noon the day of the picnic, hours before the real festivities begin to happen.
The evening activities begin at 6:00 p.m. under the giant oak trees next to the cemetery. There are four major stops to be made, after the burger stop. The first is the cakewalk, a game that is for all ages. The award for winning is a sweet treat that cannot begin to be compared to store-bought cakes. The next stop is the country store, handmade cherished treasures that will make memories for a lifetime. Moving on is bingo! You purchase a card for a dollar and use dried corn for markers.  This area is intense, and it should be for the prizes are well worth the concentration, sweat, and perseverance. The last stop is the pavilion.  There you will listen to the live music of Catus Moon, a band that plays toe tapping, boot scooting, seat swaying melodies way into the night. Before the night ends the winners of the raffle will be announced and some lucky yard bird will receive a brand-new cub cadet mower.
To say the least, the Aley picnic celebrates a long tradition of a family fun-filled evening.  It is a historic event that is rarely seen in the 21st century.  Providing a well-kept place of interment for family members, comfort for a family at their worst of times, and a sense of community.  To learn more about the picnic visit, https://www.facebook.com/groups/aleypicnic/