The Crothersville Red White & Blue Festival kicks off tomorrow, Thursday, June 9, for a flag waiving salute to Old Glory and military service veterans. This year’s event is June 9-11 held at the Crothersville Community School grounds.
This is the 41st festival for the annual patriotic salute tagged as “Indiana’s Most Patriotic Festival,” said festival director Sherry Bridges. Our community takes pride in honoring our veterans and Old Glory.
“This year is even a bigger celebration as the State of Indiana will celebrate it’s 200th birthday,” she said. A special event is planned, “Celebrate Indiana 200,” for Saturday, June 11 at 4:30 p.m. Dr. Terry Goodin, Baron Hill and Crothersville’s own Scott McKain will be on hand as well as a few other special speakers. The RWB Festival has been endorsed by the Indiana Bicentennial Commission with the Legacy Project Seal.
Tonight (Wednesday) is bracelet night at the festival carnival. Brady Amusements will offer a special ride promotion.
Terry Prine is Master of Ceremonies throughout the three-day festival. Bobby Deal is entertainment chairman.
Always a crowd draw, the Baby Contest registration will begin at 2:30 p.m on Thursday, June 9 in the main gym at CHS. Judging begins at 4 p.m. Categories are, birth to three months, four to seven months, eight to 12 months. 13 to 24 months, 25 to 36 months and 37 to 48 months. First and second will be awarded to a boy and a girl in each category. Entry fee is $5. Winners will be announced from the stage at 6 p.m. Reins to Recovery is sponsoring this event.
Booths open at 5 p.m. and at 5:30 p.m. the crowning of the 41st RWB Prince & Princess will take center stage. CHS Yearbook staff and sponsor Zabrina Nicholson is organizing the contest. Last year’s RWB Prince & Princess Logan O’Sullivan and Destiney Lawrence will crown the new prince & princess
Little Mr & Miss Red White & Blue is open for all boy and girls ages five to seven who live in Jackson County. Cans have been placed around the county and the winners will be announced on stage Thursday at 6:15 p.m.
Proceeds from the contest will fund Zambelli Fireworks Show.
Opening ceremonies will take place at 6:30 from the stage as the community pauses to salute a local veteran and honor, “Old Glory”.
At 7 p.m., Crothersville Little League will hand out this season’s baseball awards.
The RWB Talent show will begin at 7:30 p.m. Master of Ceremonies will be Robert Becker from 96.3 WJAA. Registration is at 7 p.m. at the announcer’s booth. Following the talent show, F.E. Project Band will close out the evening.
On Friday, June 10, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m, the Crothersville Senior Center, at 114 E. Main Street, will be serving hot dogs, chili dogs, taco in a bowl, pop, snack cakes, There will be hand crafted items as well as music.
Friday, June 10 is Bluegrass night, booths open at 5 p.m. and Boy Scout Pack 522 will present a flag ceremony at that time.
At 5:30 Country Kickers will perform in front of the stage. At 6 p.m. 105.3 WMPI will broadcast live from the festival and visitors will have the opportunity to spin the wheel for prizes.
Midwest Station will take the stage at 6:30 followed by Grandview Junction at 7:30 p.m. Featuring former resident Linda Miller Musselwhite.
The CHS Class of 2019 will hold a 5K Glow Run/Walk beginning at 8:30 p.m. Registration is 7:30 at the flag pole.
Closing out the evening is Backwood Bluegrass.
The Festival starts early Saturday morning on June 11. The entire day is filled with wholesome fun family activities.
Crothersville FFA will serve breakfast at 7 a.m. Tipping off at 8 a.m. in the high school gym will be Otter Basketball Camp for the entire day.
Crothersville-Vernon Twp. Fire Department is bringing back the Water Ball Contest. Registration is 7:30 a.m. with contest to begin at 8 a.m. in front of the gym on Preston Street.
At 10 a.m. is a Bubble Gum Blowing Contest in front of the stage. Age groups are, five to seven years, eight to 10, 11 to 12 and 13 and up.
Also at 10 a.m. Traditional Young Farmers will begin registering for the Pedal Tractor Pull with pulling to begin at 10:30am on South Preston in front of the festival grounds.
Marion Gill, Parade Chairman will be set up at the corner of East and Bard Streets at 10am to register entry’s for the 41st RWB Parade. Judging begins at 1pm and the parade steps off at 1:30 p.m.
Cake and Pie contest will be held at the Crothersville Town Hall. Baked goods can be registered from 10 to 11 a.m. by entering the meeting room door with judging at 11:15. Categories for the pies are, fruit, cream, your specialty and cobblers. For the cakes, layer, sheet, decorated and your specialty. Winners will be announced from the stage at 5:45pm with the raffle to follow. The event is sponsored by the Crothersville Town Council and Danieta Foster is chairman.
At 11 a.m., Denise Maxie will set the table for constants as they participate in the, Pork Burger Eating Contest. Constants will see how many, “World Famous FFA Pork Burgers” they can eat in 10 minutes. The winner will receive a cash prize.
For almost 40 years children of the community have been decorating their bicycles and dressing up their pets in red, white and blue. This year the Pet & Bike parade will be at noon in front of the stage. Cash prizes will be given to the winners. Ages are Pre-school to kindergarten, first and second grade, third and fourth grade.
The Long Family Singers a gospel group from Freetown will take the stage at 12:30 p.m.
The 41st RWB Parade steps off at 1:30 p.m. Grand Marshall is Linda Begley, a teacher and FFA advisor at CHS for 28 years.
“Linda represents the community with all the activities and community involvement of the Crothersville FFA Chapter,” said parade organizer Marion Gill. “Without her leadership and involvement as a teacher and FFA leader, the community would not have the successful food and toy drive, pork burgers, plant sales and winning entries at the FFA conventions.”
Stars & Stripes will be stepping to the music in front of the stage at 3:00pm followed by KO’s Martial Arts at 4pm.
“Celebrate Indiana 200” is a bicentennial salute to Indiana upon becoming a state. The Crothersville community will launch 200 balloons for the celebration as Crothersville’s own Scott McKain will be on hand as well as U.S. Senate candidate Baron Hill and Dr. Terry Goodin, Superintendent of Crothersville Community Schools.
On Stage at 5 p.m. will be Southern Gospel group, Redemption.
The Cake and Pie winners will be announced at 5:50pm and all entry’s will be auctioned off.
Jerry Zollman and Troy Seal will be entertaining us starting at 6pm followed by Hewett & Fink at 7pm.
Southern Comfort a community favorite will perform at 7:45 with country rock band, Last Exit at 9 p.m.
Vendor raffles will be drawn at 8:45pm from the stage.
Radio 96.3 WJAA will broadcast live starting at 9 p.m. and will start the countdown at 10 p.m. as Zambelli Fireworks light up the Crothersville sky. Visitors are encouraged to come early with their lawn chairs or blanket, mark their spot an head to the festival grounds and enjoy the food, visit with family and friends. 3-D glasses will be available for enjoyment.
Throughout the festival the Antique Farm Machinery Show will take place along Howard Street. Kevin and Melanie Hoevener are once again organizing this event which promises to be another great show.
Not only will the Crothersville-Vernon Twp. Fire Department sponsor the Water Ball Contest they will be frying fish at the firehouse on Moore Street on Thursday, from 10 am to 10pm. Friday and Saturday 10am to 9:30pm.
A collection of pictures of Crothersville and it’s residents from the archives of Garland ‘Gus’ Louden, well know US Shoe supervisor and photographer-hobbyists will be on display at Hamacher Hall on East Howard Street during Festival hours.
Handicap parking will be in the school Administration Building parking lot at the south end of Preston Street. Restrooms are located inside the gym entrance to the left.
The festival ask that you leave your pets at home unless they are a service animal. Also, bicycles are not to be ridden on the festival grounds unless in one the parades.
The RWB Festival committee encourages the community to bring their lawn chairs and enjoy the events while visiting with family and friends.