These elementary young ladies are competing in the 37th annual Crothersville Red, White & Blue Festival Princess contest. The coronation ceremony will take place at 5:30 p.m. tomorrow (Thursday) evening on the festival stage.
Seated are: Morgan Banks, Sydney Stewart, Shayla Lamb, Riley Murphy and Abby Freeman.
Standing: Lauren Knieriem, Laney Gumm, Karmyn Williams, Bethanie Holder and Cammi Keasler.
The annual fundraiser is sponsored by the Phi Beta Psi sorority.
Take an old-fashioned flag waving 4th of July picnic, combine it with all the yummy food of a family reunion, sprinkle in some clowns, a carnival, live music and a contest or two and you have all the ingredients for the Crothersville Red, White & Blue Festival.
Since 1976 the Crothersville community has held a patriotic festival the second weekend in June near Flag Day. This year’s festival runs June 7-9 at the Crothersville Community School grounds.
“This is the 37th year for the annual Patriotic salute tagged as ‘Indiana’s Most Patriotic Festival’,” said festival organizer Sherry Bridges. “Our community takes pride in honoring veterans and Old Glory.”
There will be a variety of festival food ranging from porkburgers, BBQ sandwiches, crab cakes, walking tacos, waffle dogs, ice cream floats, lemon shake ups, elephant ears, funnel cakes, deep fried twinkies, apple dumplings, shave ice, alligator and shrimp on a stick, Amish homemade ice cream, caramel apples.
Fiesta Carnival will begin tonight (Wednesday) with a special ride promotion, Bridges said.
Always a crowd draw, the baby contest will begin Thursday evening’s activities with registration at 4 p.m. The contest has been moved to the CHS main gym with some new categories for youngsters from birth to 48 months.
A most patriotic boy and girl will be judged. Marshall Memories Photography will be donating prizes for the boy and girl winners of the Most Patriotic category.
Cost of each entry is $5 and parents can enter their child twice; in their age group and in the most patriotic. Winners will be announced on stage at 6 p.m.
At 5:30 p.m. the Red, White & Blue Festival Princess coronation will take place on the festival stage.
An emotion stirring patriotic opening ceremony will be featured on the festival stage at 6:30 p.m. “It is always an honor to see the number of community members who turn out to pay tribute to our veterans,” said Bridges.
The Festival Talent Show featuring area talent will begin at 7 p.m. emceed by Robert Becker of 96.3 WJAA. Also at 7 p.m. the Ladies Auxiliary of VFW Post 1083 will hold a cake walk.
Following the talent show the country rock band Hillbilly Rush will close the evening’s activities.
On Friday, June 8, the evening’s entertainment will be entirely local. At 5 p.m. the Lasting Hope band will perform. At 7 p.m. Brian Fink will take to the stage and Southern Comfort will close out the evening beginning at 8 p.m.
The Country Kickers will perform at 6 p.m. and the VFW Auxiliary will hold a cake walk at 7 p.m.
The Indiana Blood Center will take part in this year’s festival seeking donations from festival visitors from 5-9 p.m. There is a goal of 37 pints, one for each year of the festival.
Saturday’s activities start early with the FFA serving breakfast at 6:30 a.m.
A 3 on 3 Basketball Tourney and Volleyball Tourney registration begins at 7:30 a.m. with play for both beginning at 8 a.m. The Volleyball tourney will be played in the CHS main gym and the 3 on 3 tourney will tip off in the auxiliary gym.
A 5l Run/Walk starts at 8:30 a.m. in front of the main entrance to the school.
The pie contest is open to all pie bakers in the area, Pies can be registered at 10 a.m. in the lobby of the gymnasium. Categories are fruit, cream, your specialty, cobbler and best of show will be chosen. Winners will be announced at 3:45 p.m. and the pies will be auctioned off with the money going to the Youth For Christ Outreach of the Crothersville Methodist Church.
Registration for the RWB Festival parade will begin at noon on East Street. The Pet & Bike Parade, a hit with the young children, will make its way down Preston Street at noon also. Children are encouraged to decorate their bike or bring their favorite pet.
The Crothersville Town players will hold an open house at Hamacher Hall from 10 a.m. to after the parade on Saturday.
The Monday Night Special Bank will be on the stage at 2 p.m. bringing country music from the 40’s & 50’s followed by the Stars & Stripes Line Dancers at 3 p.m.
Crothersville’s Ed Hall Sr. will be the RWB Parade Marshal this year for the parade which begins at 4 p.m. from Bard Street.
Following the parade, the modern country band Taking Root will perform. Common Ground will perform bluegrass at 6 p.m. Brett Turner & 84 Beacon Street Band will follow at 7 p.m. Closing out the festival will be Down Grade Band playing old rock and roll.
At 8:45 p.m. winners of the drawings 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.
New this year is a petting zoo. Children of all ages will enjoy up close llamas, miniature donkeys and horses, a baby camel, micro pig and pigmy goats to name just a few. Also the world’s smallest buffalo, certified by the Guinness Book of World Records will be at the festival. Youngsters can purchase a cup of fed for $1 to feed the animals.
Handicap parking will be in the school administration building parking lot at the south end of Preston Street.
“The festivals asks that you leave your pets at home unless you enter them in a contest,” said Bridges. “Also bicycles are not to be ridden on festival grounds unless used in the parades.”
Restrooms are located inside the school gymnasium entrance.
“We encourage the community to bring their lawn chairs and enjoy the events of the festival and to visit with family and friends,” she added.
“Community festivals require an incredible amount of work in organization and preparation. We have a large contingent of local volunteers who have put in a lot of hours since last year’s festival to make sure all our festival visitors have a good time,” said Bridges.
Who To Contact
Booths & General Info
Sherry Bridges 569-0407
Baby Contest
Kristi Farmer 528-8045
Princess Contest
Chrystal Street 528-4078
Talent Contest
Sarah Cole 525-9709
Volleyball Tourney
Chrystal Street 528-4078
3/3 Basketball
Chad Wilson 530-1181
5K Run/Walk
Tina Kilgore 525-7351
Pie Contest
Christy Jones 793-2943
Pet & Bike Parade
Annette Hagen 793-3117
Antique Farm Machinery
Kevin Hoevener 524-0371
Festival Parade
Gordon Butler 793-2693
Carnival
Roger Teipen 216-0839
Entertainment
Bobby Deal 889-3710
Flea Market
John Shirley 498-6909
