The 36th annual Crothersville Lions Club Red, White & Blue Festival kicks off next Thursday, June 9, for a flag waving salute to Old Glory and military service veterans. Area residents are encouraged to bring lawn chairs to the Crothersville School grounds to enjoy wholesome family fun, area bands and great festival food.
The annual salute to veterans and the nation’s flag is June 9-11.
“There will be food galore,” said festival director Sherry Bridges, highlighting the FFA porkburgers, fire department fish sandwiches, and a variety of lemon shake-ups, taco in a bag, pulled pork sandwiches, fried veggies, elephant ears, ice cream and giant stuffed potatoes.
Starting off this year’s festival on Wednesday will be a community dinner sponsored by the Methodist Church in Crothersville. Served from 5-6:30 p.m. at the Methodist Fellowship Hall on US 31, the menu will consist of beef manhattan, green beans, salads, desserts and beverages. A free will donation will be accepted with proceeds going to the church’s youth group activities.
Fiesta Carnival will begin Wednesday evening with a special ride promotion, according to Red, White & Blue Festival director Sherry Bridges.
The baby contest will begin Thursday evening’s activities with registration and judging at the First Baptist Church beginning at 4:30 p.m.
Booths open at 5 p.m and at 5:30 p.m. on the festival stage will be the crowning of the RWB Festival Princess.
At 6 p.m. the baby contest winners will be announced from the stage,
Opening ceremonies honoring all veterans and honoring Old Glory will be at 6:30 p.m.
The Red, White & Blue Festival talent show will begin at 7 p.m. Robert Becker of 96.3 will be the emcee. Sarah Cole is in charge of the event.
Following the talent show will be the classic rock band “Code Blue”.
Friday evening is a full schedule of events including Rebecca Lewis from Richmond, Kentucky with a tribute to Patsy Cline.
At 6 p.m. the Country Kickers will perform and the FFA pedal pull will be contested at 6:30 p.m.
The Copperbottom Band performs on stage at 7 p.m. and the Alumni Basketball Showcase will tip off in the CHS auxiliary. At 7 p.m. the Crothersville VFW Ladies Auxiliary will hole a cake walk.
The Southern Comfort closes out the evening’s entertainment at 8 p.m.
The Crothersville FFA will be serving breakfast at 6:30 a.m. on Saturday. The Crothersville Class of 2016 is sponsoring the 5K Run/Walk at 8:30 a.m. A Co-Ed volleyball tournament also begins at 8:30 a.m. A 3-on-3 Basketball tourney will begin at 9 a.m.
Fun for the kids begins with a Bubble Gum Blowing contest at 10:30 a.m. at a Pet & Bike Parade at 11:30 a.m.
A new event this year will be a pie baking contest. The contest is open to all pie bakers in the area. Pies can be registered on Saturday morning from 10-10:30 a.m. in the school gymnasium lobby. Categories are fruit, cream, your specialty and cobblers. First place winners will be announced along with the best of show immediately following the parade. Janet Lewis is heading up the event. She said prize winning pies will be auctioned off and remaining pies can be purchased whole or by the slice.
Registration for the festival parade begins at noon on East Street. Gordon K. Butler will be the parade marshal, according to local Lions Club president Mark Trisler.
Rebecca Lewis returns to the stage at 2 p.m. with her musical variety show. At 3 p.m. the cloggers, Stars & Stripes, perform.
The 36th RWB Festival Parade steps off at 4 p.m. with a slightly different parade route than previous years.
The parade begins at Bard Street Park and heads west on Bard Street turning south on US 31. The parade then turns east on Main Street, travels to Preston where it will turn north heading through the festival grounds before disbanding.
“This change had to occur because of providing emergency vehicles an alternative route during the parade,” said Bridges.
At 5:30 p.m. Ko’s Martial Arts Academy will perform, Also at 5:30 p.m. the band ‘Crothersville Road’ will perform Gospel and country songs from years gone by.
Lonesome Highway Bluegrass Band will be on stage at 6 p.m. followed by the Nazarene Kids Stix.
At 7 p.m. the VFW Ladies Auxiliary will have another cake walk.
The 812 Band closes out the festival at 8 p.m.
At 8:45 p.m. the drawing for the various booth raffles will be announced from the stage. Winners will be able to take their prize home.
Throughout the festival the Antique Farm Machinery Show will take place along Howard Street. Kevin Hoevener is organizing the event which promises to be one of the biggest displays in southern Indiana, Bridges said.
Handicap parking will be in the school Adaministration Building parking lot at the south end of Preston Street.
“The festival asks that you leave your pets at home unless you are entering them in a contest,” advised bridges. “Also bicycles are not to be ridden on the festival grounds unless in one of the parades.”
Festival Information
Who To Contact
Booths & Information
Sherry Bridges 569-0407
Talent Show
Sarah Cole 525-9709
Baby Contest
Kristi Farmer 528-8045
Pie Contest
Janet Lewis 793-2752
Pedal Tractor Pull
Dennis Maxie 216-1951
CHS Alumni Basketball
Drew Markel 793-2051
5K Run/Walk
Tina Kilgore 793-3670
Co-Ed Volleyball
Drew Markel 793-2051
3/3 Basketball
John Riley 528-0610
Pet & Bike Parade
Annette Hagen 793-3117
Antique Farm Show
Kevin Hoevener 524-0372
Parade
‘Buster’ Erwin 521-5053
Carnival
Todd Baker 528-9254
