Trenton native Dr. John Holcomb has been chosen to serve as grand marshal of this year’s Missouri Day Festival Parade, sponsored by the Trenton Rotary Club.
Dr. Holcomb is a long-time volunteer who has been involved with many community activities over the years. He will lead the 2018 parade, which is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 20, and will also be recognized during the festival’s opening ceremonies at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 18 at the First Baptist Church.
The theme for this year’s parade is “Hometown Heritage.” Entries for the parade are currently being accepted and can be made on the Trenton Area Chamber of Commerce website – www.trentonmochamber.com – by clicking on “Missouri Day Festival,” then going to the tab, “parade information,” where a form can be completed. While there is no cost to have an entry (political entries will have a $25 charge), donations will be accepted to help pay for the monetary prizes to be awarded to the parade winners.
Entries are also being accepted for the yard/porch decorating and window/entryway decorating contests being held in conjunction with the festival. Cash prizes will be awarded for the top two entries in both residential and business categories for the yard/porch decorating ($50 for first place, $25 for second place) while three cash prizes will be awarded in both the residential and business categories for the window/entryway decorating ($75 for first place, $50 for second place and $25 for third place).
The deadline to enter both contests is Wednesday, Oct. 17. To enter the yard/porch decorating, persons can contact Sue Huffstutter at 358-2553 or the chamber office at 359-4324. To enter the window/entryway decorating, persons can contact Joy Wright at 324-960-3708.
A pumpkin decorating contest is also being planned for the festival, with first- and second-place monetary prizes ($40 for first place, $20 for second place) being awarded in the categories of business/organization, adult individual and youth 12-and-under. Pumpkins should be left at the Rock Barn courtyard between 3 and 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 18 for judging. They will remain on display in the festival area throughout the weekend.
Winners of the decorating contests along with the winners of the school coloring/drawing competition will be announced during Thursday’s opening ceremonies.
A new event is also being added to this year’s festival, with a baby show planned on Friday night, Oct. 19 in the livestock pavillion on the festival grounds. The Green Hills Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) is organizing the event, which is open to children age five years of age and under. The four- and five-year group will compete for the title of Little Mr. and Miss Missouri Day, with the winners riding in the Missouri Day Parade on Saturday morning.
Registration will be at 5:30 p.m. and the show will be at 6 p.m. There is a $3 registration fee. For more information, persons can call 660-654-1696 or 660-339-2532.
Additional information regarding activities at this year’s Missouri Day Festival will be included in Friday’s Republican-Times as well as in a special section included in the Green Hills Weekly on Oct. 17.