The 33rd annual Crothersville Lions Club Red, White & Blue Festival will have a more family focus, festival director Sherry Bridges said this week. “Combine a family reunion and a 4th of July picnic and you will begin to envision some of the things we have in store,” she said.
This year’s annual patriotic tribute is scheduled for Thursday, June 12 through Saturday, June 14.
The traditional carnival rides will not be found at this year’s festival. “The economic times and high fuel prices have put a number of small carnivals out of business,” said Bridges. “To make up for that we will be implementing more events, games and activities that are family oriented,” she said.
A new event which is already creating quite a bit of buzz is an antique tractor show.
Vintage, restored farm machinery will be on display throughout the festival in front of the school along Preston Street. Participants will be encouraged to enter their antique equipment in Saturday’s festival parade, said Kevin Hoevner, the event organizer. For more information contact Hoevener at 524-0372.
The festival kicks off Thursday, June 12, with booth opening at 5 p.m. Registration for the baby contest will commence at 4:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church.
The Red, White & Blue Festival Princess coronation will be held from the stage at 6 p.m. followed by the winners of the baby contest.
A new event, a corn hole tournament will begin at 7 p.m.
Josh Colwell will perform at 7 p.m. and the VFW Ladies Auxiliary will begin a cake walk at that time as well.
The festival talent show will begin at 7:30 followed at 8:30 by the ‘50’s-’60’s & ’70’s Rock & Roll sounds of Hooz Next Band.
On Friday from noon to 3 p.m. the Crothersville Jr. High Cheerleaders will be conducting a cheer clinic for Kindergarten through grade 4 girls in the CHS Auxiliary Gym. Cost of the clinic is $20 per participant.
For more information, contact Savanna Bailey at 528-3204.
The Crothersville Elementary School choir will perform at 5:10 on Friday.
At 6 p.m. the winner from the previous evening’s talent show will perform.
A “Parade of Ugly Women” will take place on the stage at 6:30. The CHS volleyball team will be in outlandish dress seeking for you penny per vote contribution for their fund raiser.
At 7 p.m. the VFW Ladies Auxiliary cake walk returns.
At 7 p.m. Country kickers dance group performs.
Corn hole tourney begins at 7 p.m.
At 8 p.m. the gospel sound of 4-Given Band performs.
On Saturday morning the FFA pancake breakfast begins serving at 6:30 followed by a calorie burning 5KRun/Walk at 8 a.m.
Registration begins at 9 a.m. for the 3-on-3 basketball tourney begins and the tourney tips off at 9:30 in the auxiliary gym.
The Pet & Bike Parade will begin at 10 a.m.
At 11:00 a.m. the Pedal Tractor Pull will be held.
Festival parade registration begins at noon with the parade beginning at 4 p.m.
The Red, White & Blue Festival dog show will be held at 5:30 p.m. followed at 6 p.m. by a CHS band concert.
At 6:30 the results of public voting in the CHS volleyball team ‘Ugly Woman Contest’ will be announced.
The Columbia Cloggers will bring the dance skills to the festival at 6:30 p.m.
At 7 p.m. the final night of the corn hole competition will begin.
At 8 p.m. the Dan Wright Band will perform.
Drawings for the variety of festival raffles will be held from the stage at 8:45 p.m.
Throughout the festival Scott Lodge 120 F&AM will be conducting photo & DNA sessions for elementary and pre-school students. Photos of students and DNA samples will be taken and given to the child’s parent for use in the future if identification is ever necessary.
The popular game of corn hole will make its festival debut. The tourney will begin at 7 p.m. each evening at the festival Entry fee is $20 for the double elimination event. Registration deadline is June 9 with tournament paring done June 10.
For more information about the tourney, contact Ron Hall at 793-2440.
The 3-on-3 basketball tournament allows for a 4-man squad. Registration is $50 per team with sign-up deadline June 10.
For more information about this event, contact Chad Ord at 528-0955.
Handicap parking will be available in the elementary parking lot off Oak Street, Bridges said.
She explained that for the safety of festival attendees no bicycles and no pets (other than for the dog show and pet & bike parade) are permitted on the festival grounds.
For general information about the festival or events, call 793-3378.
