Crothersville will turn red, white and blue this week.
After the 2020 edition was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 46th annual Crothersville Red, White and Blue Festival will kick off Thursday and run through Saturday.
From a patriotic salute during the opening ceremony to a fireworks show as the closer, there are plenty of activities scheduled to entertain all ages.
The festival started in 1976 as a local observance of the nation’s bicentennial, and it has continued every year — except 2020.
“Throughout the years, we have remained a patriotic-themed festival honoring veterans and our flag,” festival director Erica Gorbett said.
The festival begins at 5 p.m. Thursday with a salute to veterans, followed by the crowning of the festival prince and princess at 5:30 p.m.
Entertainment on the stage includes Fishers of Men at 6:30 p.m. and Mary’s Dad’s Band at 8 p.m.
Thursday also will be bracelet night at the carnival, which is being operated by Bluegrass Rides. An all-you-can-ride bracelet can be purchased for $13 at The Peoples Bank in Crothersville through Wednesday. No bracelets will be sold Thursday.
Friday’s activities also start at 5 p.m. The Country Kickers will perform in front of the festival stage, followed by Steve Deweese at 6 p.m., Dallas Cole Band at 7 p.m., Mixed Media at 8 p.m. and On the House at 9 p.m.
Also at 7 p.m., a new festival attraction, tethered hot air balloon rides with Midwest Balloon Rides, will be offered in the Bard Street Park area. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for ages 3 to 12. In the event of windy weather, the rides will be delayed until Saturday.
Saturday starts with breakfast at Hamacher Hall at 7:30 a.m., a kids 1-mile run at 8 a.m. and a 5K run/walk at 9 a.m. Registration for the latter two events begins at 7:30 a.m. at the flagpole in front of the school, and the cost is $20.
Also at 9 a.m. will be the Crothersville-Vernon Township Volunteer Fire Department’s waterball fight and registration for the car show with all makes and models welcome. To register a waterball team of five people, email [email protected] or visit the department’s Facebook page. The car show entry fee is $10, and it starts at 10 a.m.
Next are a pedal tractor pull at 11 a.m., a Wild West show and shootout featuring Annie Oakley at 11:30 a.m. and Stars and Stripes Cloggers at 12:30 p.m. before the parade steps off at 1:30 p.m. The route will go from Bard Street Park to U.S. 31 to Moore Street to Preston Street.
The 2019-20 Crothersville High School boys basketball team, including players and cheerleaders, will be in the parade before being recognized for winning the school’s first boys basketball sectional title. A presentation of trophies and jerseys will take place at the festival stage at 2 p.m.
Other events Saturday include a Wild West re-enactment at 3 p.m., a pet and bike parade for kids and judging for the baby contest at 4 p.m. and baby contest winners announced at 4:30 p.m. Age categories are birth to 6 months, 7 to 12 months, 1 to 2 years and 3 to 4 years for boys and girls. The entry fee is $5.
Stage entertainment Saturday includes Colt Wienhorst at 5 p.m., Double XL at 6 p.m., Jackson Snelling at 7 p.m., Dusty Road Band at 8 p.m. and Brian Fink and Mudslide at 9 p.m.
The festival will close with a bang, as a fireworks display is at 10 p.m.
All three days of the festival, there will be several food and craft vendors and a tractor show. There also will be fish and tenderloin sandwiches, Crothersville FFA pork burgers and drinks sold at the Crothersville-Vernon Township Volunteer Fire Department from 5 to 10 p.m. Thursday, 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday.
On Friday and Saturday, the RWB Hoopfest Youth Basketball Tournament will take place in the school gymnasium.
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46th annual Crothersville Red, White and Blue Festival
Thursday
5 p.m.: Opening ceremony with a salute to veterans
5 p.m.: Food and craft vendors open
5:30 p.m.: Prince and princess contest
6:30 p.m.: Fishers of Men at 6:30 p.m.
8 p.m.: Mary’s Dad’s Band
Friday
5 p.m.: Food and craft vendors open
5 p.m.: Country Kickers
6 p.m.: Steve Deweese
7 p.m.: Dallas Cole Band
7 p.m.: Tethered hot air balloon rides
8 p.m.: Mixed Media
9 p.m.: On the House
Saturday
7:30 a.m.: Kids Mini Run and 5K walk/run registration
7:30 a.m.: Breakfast at Hamacher Hall
8 a.m.: Kids Mini Run
9 a.m.: Food and craft vendors open
9 a.m.: 5K run/walk
9 a.m.: Crothersville-Vernon Township Volunteer Fire Department’s waterball fight
9 a.m.: Car show registration
10 a.m.: Car show
11 a.m.: Pedal tractor pull
11:30 a.m.: Wild West show and shootout featuring Annie Oakley
12:30 p.m.: Stars and Stripes Cloggers
1:30 p.m.: Parade
2 p.m.: 2019-20 Crothersville High School boys basketball team trophy and jersey presentation
3 p.m.: Wild West re-enactment
4 p.m.: Pet and bike parade for kids
4 p.m.: Baby contest judging
4:30 p.m.: Baby contest winners announced
5 p.m.: Colt Wienhorst
6 p.m.: Double XL
7 p.m.: Jackson Snelling
8 p.m.: Dusty Road Band
9 p.m.: Brian Fink and Mudslide
10 p.m.: Fireworks display
All three days of the festival, there will be a carnival, several food and craft vendors and a tractor show. On Friday and Saturday, the RWB Hoopfest Youth Basketball Tournament will take place in the school gymnasium.
For festival questions or event information, contact Erica Gorbett at 812-569-4019 or email [email protected] or visit crothersvillerwb.com or facebook.com/crothersvillerwb.
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