City hall gets a musical grand opening [Video]

Inside and outside the new city hall, music carried through the High Notes event from start to finish.

High Notes was the grand opening event for the city hall and police department buildings on Oct. 13. Residents got to tour the new facilities, located behind the Red Lobster on Montgomery Highway, and enjoy free food and children's activities such as face painting and bounce houses.

Lilla Hood, Chris and Duncan Smith were among the crowd at High Notes. In addition to dinner, Duncan also got put in "jail" in the new police department.

"We hope it's the last time," Chris joked.

Choral groups from Vestavia Hills City Schools performed inside the building, while middle and high school jazz bands played outside. The Vestavia Belles were on hand to greet guests, and children played football and turned cartwheels on the new front lawn. At 7 p.m., the Boy Scouts of Troop 96 hoisted the city hall flags and the Alabama Symphony Orchestra took the stage for the main concert.

VHHS student Kate Jessup was among the Vestavia Belles that were at the event to greet visitors and give them building maps and programs. She said she thought the new city hall was beautiful.

Mayor Alberto "Butch" Zaragoza said the crowds started showing up even before the event officially began at 4 p.m., and the building and grounds stayed full the rest of the evening. Among the features for visitors to see was the art gallery, which included the winners and several runners-up of the city's photo contest.

VHPD Officer Randall Jones was working security at the event and said he hadn't seen the police department since it was finished, but he was excited for his first day of work inside it.

"We're very happy about the new facilities. It's something not a lot of police officers get to say that they work in a new building in their career," Jones said.