Red, White & Blue Festival ready to roll out the fun

This year's Crothersville Lions Club Red, White and Blue Festival will provide a lot of wholesome, family centered activities for everyone, organizers say.

Salute to veterans

The 34th annual salute to veterans and the nation's flag will be held Thursday through Saturday. Each day will be celebrated with a theme. Thursday will be Veterans Night and everyone is asked to wear red in support of the veterans and those now serving.

Friday is Crothersville High School class reunion night. Stop by the information booth for your name tag with your graduation year.

Saturday is designated Kids Day. Kids of all ages may take part in the fun activities for the day.

Fiesta Rides will kick off the festival tonight with bracelet night.

On Thursday, the Crothersville Athletic Boosters-sponsored baby contest will be held. Registration will begin at 4:30 p.m. at the First Baptist Church Family Life Center, and judging begins at 5 p.m. Winners will be announced from the stage at 6:15 p.m.

All booths will open at 5 p.m.

 Princess contest

The festival princess contest sponsored by Phi Beta Psi Sorority will be announced at 6 p.m.

The festival's patriotic ceremonies will feature Crothersville's Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1083 accompanied by the Ladies and Men's Auxiliary at 6:30 p.m.

Crothersville's Most Talented will be center stage at 7 p.m. The talent show will be changed somewhat this year. Everyone is invited to share their talent, from musical to comical. The winners will be determined by the people's choice. You will have two ways to vote, text messaging or paper ballots. The cakewalk sponsored by the VFW Post 1083 Ladies Auxiliary will be on Preston Street at 7:30 p.m. The Colwells gospel group will close out Thursday evening.

On Friday, Getting Froggy Karaoke will kick off the evening at 4:30 p.m. Crothersville's own Mark Johnson will be encouraging folks to step up and sing their best.

At 6 p.m., Country Kickers Line Dancing will entertain, followed by the FFA Pedal Tractor Pull at 7 p.m. Also at 7, the Ladies Auxiliary will have another cakewalk.

Stage entertainment

Stage entertainment will start at 7 p.m. with Twilight Entertainment and Light Show. Throughout the evening, decade music will be played, with each year recognized and each decade highlighted with a historical reading. Make plans now to reunite with your classmates and reminisce about old times at CHS.

Saturday, "Kids Day," will kick off at 6:30 a.m. with the FFA serving breakfast.

5K run/walk

At 8:30 a.m., the Class of 2010 will sponsor a 5K run/walk. Participants will begin at the flagpole in front of the high school. The Pet and People Walk will step off at 8:30 a.m. from the town hall.

The 3 on 3 Basketball Tourney will be held in the girls gym at the high school. Enter through the north door. Registration is at 9 a.m. Drawings will be at 10 a.m. and playing will begin immediately afterward.

At 9 a.m., all booths will open for the day. Kids Saturday will begin at 10 a.m. Games and demonstrations will continue until 2 p.m. Kids' games will be played at the old First Baptist Church parking lot. Demonstrations will be held in front of the festival stage.

 Corn Hole Tourney

At 10 a.m., registration for the Corn Hole Tourney sponsored by Tri-County Conservation Club will begin. Warm-up is from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., with the tourney beginning at 11 a.m. The tourney will take place in the Christian Church parking lot.

VFW Post 1083 Men's Auxiliary will sponsor a Horseshoe Tournament, with registration beginning at 10:30 a.m. and pitching will start at 11 a.m. The tournament will be held in the side yard of the Brock home on North Preston Street.

 Parade

Parade registration begins at noon on East Street. The 34th Festival Parade will begin promptly at 4 p.m.

The Festival Dog Show will be at 6 p.m. This is the second year for the dog show and a big crowd is expected, organizers say.

In front of the stage at 6:30 p.m., Crothersville Nazarene Youth "Stix" will perform.

A crowd-pleaser for the past few years, Southern Comfort will close out the festival with rock and country music.

The Antique Farm Machinery demonstrations will return to the three-day event. This is always a favorite with local farmers.

 Re-enactors

Also, The 78th Frazier Highlander Re-enactment Group out of Indianapolis will be setting up camp during the festival.

As in years past, Scott Lodge 120 Free and Accepted Masons will be providing a community service of photos and fingerprints of your children. Parents may visit their booth and take advantage of this useful information.

 Variety of food

Once again the aroma of Firehouse Fish, World Famous FFA Pork Burgers, Taco-in-a-Bag, homemade ice cream, lemon shake-ups, elephant ears and giant tenderloin sandwiches will fill the air on the festival grounds.

People may bring their lawn chairs.

Handicapped parking will be in the Administration Building parking lot at the south end of Preston Street. The Festival Committee asks that you leave your pets at home unless you are entering them in a contest. Also, bicycles are not to be ridden on festival grounds.

At 8:45 p.m., the drawings from the booth raffles will be announced from the stage. Winners will be able to take their prizes home.

"We have just a few blocks of time available and expect those to be filled well before our festival gets under way," festival chair Sherry Bridges said in a press release. "We have a lot of new events and we're still fine-tuning a few others."

Information

For information about festival events, contact the following people:
Baby Contest - Taleen Baker, 793-2474.
Crothersville's Most Talented - Tracy Karnes, 793-3033.
Antique Farm Machinery - Kevin Hoevener, 524-0372.
CHS Class Reunion - Brenda Holzworth, 793-2760.
5K Run/Walk - Linda Maxie, 793-2051.
Pet and People Walk - Tracy Karnes, 793-3033.
Dog Show - Doris Kovener, 793-2573.
3 on 3 Basketball Tourney - John Riley, 528-0610.
Horseshoe Tournament - Tim Nehrt, 793-3565.
Parade - Buster Erwin, 793-2111.
Kids Saturday - Linda Seals, 793-2322.
Corn Hole Tourney - Terry Prine, 523-3869.
Entertainment - Kim Tillson, 793-2623.
Grounds - Todd Baker, 793-2284.
Booths and General Information - Sherry Bridges, 569-0407.