Rides are back for the 43rd annual Crothersville Red, White & Blue Festival.
After switching to inflatables last year for the first time, organizers were able to contact Steel Horse Midway Attractions to set up amusement rides on the school grounds during this year’s festival, set for June 7, 8 and 9. As a bonus, the company will offer Family Fun Night discount bracelets the night of June 6.
A baby contest, a pork burger eating contest, a glow run and walk, 1800s-era reenactment scenarios, face painters, a balloon artist, volleyball and basketball tournaments, a parade and a fireworks show are among the highlights of this year’s event.
“For the 43rd time, the Crothersville community will gather on the second weekend in June for its annual festival to salute our veterans and Old Glory,” festival director Sherry Bridges said. “The festival committee is excited to be planning the 43rd festival tagged as ‘Indiana’s most patriotic festival.'”
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On June 7, there will be a baby contest with registration starting at 2:30 p.m. in the school gymnasium and judging at 4 p.m. The results will be announced at 6 p.m. along with the Little Mr. & Miss Red, White & Blue and prince and princess contests before the opening ceremonies. That will be followed by a new event, open mic, at 7 p.m. where people can sign up and perform a song onstage.
The night of June 8, a bluegrass group will perform onstage at 7:45 p.m., a 1-mile kids mini run for ages 6 to 12 starts at 8 p.m. and a 5K glow run and walk is at 9 p.m.
The final day of the festival begins at 7:30 a.m. with Crothersville FFA serving breakfast. Registration starts at 8 a.m. in the school gymnasium for the coed volleyball and three-on-three basketball tournaments.
At 11 a.m., Crothersville FFA will conduct a pork burger eating contest. There will be two age groups — children and adults — with a cash prize for the winner of each.
The parade will step off at 1:30 p.m. June 9. Participants will line up along East and Bard streets and then travel along Bard Street, Armstrong Street (U.S. 31), Moore Street and Preston Street. Awards will be presented.
Arts in the ‘Ville will be at Hamacher Hall on June 9, and history displays will be available for viewing at the facility, 211 E. Howard St.
The festival will conclude with a fireworks show by Zambelli Fireworks at 10 p.m. at Bard Street Park behind the school. Radio 96.3 WJAA will broadcast live starting at 9 p.m. and later do the countdown for the show.
During the three days of the festival, a variety of food booths and vendors will be set up around the school grounds, and acts will perform live onstage.
Applications are still being accepted for craft, flea market and business information vendor spaces. Booths are 10-by-15 feet, but additional space can be purchased. All booths are required to fly an American flag.
The festival committee meets at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Crothersville Library, 120 W. Main St., to finalize the rest of the festival’s events. The public is invited to attend.
“We encourage everybody to come,” Bridges said of the meeting. “It is your festival, so you’ve got a say in it.”
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The 43rd annual Crothersville Red, White & Blue Festival is set for June 7, 8 and 9.
The festival committee plans to meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Crothersville Library, 120 W. Main St., to finalize the festival’s events. The public is invited to attend.
To request a booth at this year’s festival, call Sherry Bridges at 812-569-0407.
For information about the parade, call Marion Gill at 812-216-8146.
Other information may be found online at crothersvillerwb.com and facebook.com/crothersvillerwb.
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