Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SOUTH WHITLEY - The weather may be getting cooler, but South Whitley's gonna heat up this weekend with its annual Fall Festival.
Events vary from a fashion show to mud volleyball to the renown bed race.
The fashion show is part of the pre-festival events on Friday. Sponsored by Fashion Bug of Huntington, the free show begins at 7 p.m. at South Whitley Elementary School.
Other Friday events include a beef and noodle supper at the Veterans of Foreign Wars, an art show and a euchre tourney.
On Saturday, the festival officially kicks off with a pancake and sausage breakfast at the VFW beginning at 6 a.m.
Sporting events, including tennis and a 5K run begin at 7 a.m. and 8 a.m., respectively.
Meanwhile the Fall Festival Cruise 'N Car & Truck Show gets under way at 8 a.m. on State Street (awards will be given out at 3 p.m.).
The South Whitley PTA Carnival runs from 9 a.m. until noon in the town park, where there also will be sidewalk chalk art designs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and "Clowning Around" with the Whitley County Clowns begins at 10 a.m.
The park will also be the site of storytelling from 10 a.m. to noon and 12:30 to 3 p.m., with stories every half hour.
The Lions Club will host a fish, tenderloin and onion ring fry starting at 11 a.m. at the fire station. All proceeds go to the firefighters injured in the Farmer's Exchange fire at Larwill.
Lots of entertainment is available at noon, when the Kent Theatre offers a children's matinee for 25 cents to celebrate 50 years of service; they'll bring back the clowns in the park with the Whitley County Clowns Show; and the Curtain Co. Players perform at the park pavilion (another show is set for 3 p.m.).
Plenty of activities will keep festival-goers busy on Saturday afternoon.
The "Great Egg Toss" takes place in the park at 2 p.m.; the Duck Race on the Eel River takes off from behind the VFW at 2:30 p.m. and a Whitley County Police K-9 demonstration is set for 3 p.m. at the park.
Anyone who doesn't get filled up at the fire station might want to head to the VFW at 3 p.m. for a hog roast before heading to the Fall Festival parade at 5 p.m.
Parade lineup begins at 4 p.m. and departs from Whitko High School. This year's grand marshal is Elizabeth Earnhart.
Prior to the festival parade is the kiddie parade at 4:30 p.m.
After the parades, it's time to strap on the feedbag again at the Young Farmers of Whitley County pork chop supper in the Village Market. It will be served beginning at 5 p.m.
Then, at 6 o'clock, it'll be time for bed - the Bed Race, that is. One of the more unique features of the annual festival, the Bed Race starts at the grand stand on State Street.
Teams (must have five members - four for pushing and one rider) can use their own beds, or one will be provided. All beds must have a minimum of three functional wheels or casters, and the rider must wear a seat belt and helmet. Cash prizes will be awarded in each of three age groups: 15 and under, 16-25 and 26 and over.
There is no entry fee for this contest.
After the race, wind down with a game of bingo at the fire station. Starting at 7 p.m., there will be cash prizes, gift certificates and merchandise for winners. Prizes were donated by area businesses. Cost to play is 25 cents per card.
The last scheduled event is the "Dueling Elvis" show at 8 p.m. at the VFW.
On Sunday, area churches will join together for a community church service at 11 a.m. at the town park gazebo.
After church, the festival gets back into full swing, with - of course - more food. chicken, brats and krauts will be served beginning at 11:30 a.m. at the VFW.
At noon, a "longest basketball shot" contest begins at the town park at $1 per shot. This event runs until 5 p.m.
Also at noon, there will be another 25-cent matinee at Kent Theatre. This show will be an old-time western.
At 12:30 p.m., attendees can choose between the Possum Ranch Puppet Show at the town park gazebo or the Fall Festival '97 mud volleyball, also at the park.
The Lions Club big wheel race rolls down State Street at 1:30 p.m., and the Samaritan Rescue Helicopter will fly in at 2 p.m. by the water tower.
Ron & Sharon Frazier of River City Ministries will offer a freewill donation concert at 2:30 p.m. at the fire station.
At 3 p.m., ther will be a magic show with Dick Homier at the town park gazebo, where, at 4:30 p.m., the "Family Fun Fest" gets under way with games, relays and fun for the entire family.
The festival winds down with the variety show at 6 p.m. at the gazebo.
