Oolitic Festival Kicks Off Friday

Last updated on Tuesday, June 9, 2015

(OOLITIC) - The Oolitic Festival kicks off Friday.

This year's theme is "Through The Generations."

Leading the festival parade on Saturday at noon will be 88-year-old Jewel Spears who moved to Oolitic when she was 12, but she soon grew to love Oolitic.

Spears can be seen every year sitting in front of her home watching the parade, but this year she will be leading it.

Festival Chairman Glenn Gross says Spears will make the perfect grand marshal.

"She served as the town's clerk-treasurer two terms and is dedicated to this town," Gross added. "Her son Johnny was on the town council and is currently seeking to serve again."

The parade will venture down Hoosier and Main streets, travel south on Hoosier Avenue to 9th Street, east on 9th to Lafayette Avenue, then north on Lafayette back to Hoosier Avenue.

Friday's events will feature Oolitic Idol and the queen contest.

Those seeking the title of Oolitic Idol will perform on Main Street at 6 p.m. in the preliminary round. The queen contest will kick off at 7 p.m. in the Community Center. Miss Indiana USA Gretchen Reece will crown the first Oolitic Festival Queen on Saturday at 9 a.m. Judges will also name a princess and Miss Congeniality.

Judging the competition will be Cindy Matlock, former Persimmon queen in the 1960s, Michele Hardman and Ahan Hewetson.

The queen will received $300 cash, a gold leaf rose from JHoward Jewelers, a $200 certificate to compete in the Miss Teen USA or Indiana USA pageant and many other prizes.

On Saturday the Masonic Lodge kicks off the day with a breakfast at 7 a.m. at its lodge. Other festival activities begin at 10 a.m. including Gotta Go Racers, which are go-karts made from toilet bowls. Celebrations of Southern Indiana will bring its mechanical bull ride, and there will be inflatables for kids.

The festival will conclude at dusk with Circle City Pyrotechnics letting off fireworks at Dollens Elementary/Oolitic Middle School baseball field.

A list of all the activities and see other updates visit Oolitic Festival on Facebook.

Schedule of Events

June 12:

5 p.m. till 7p.m. - Oolitic Idol Preliminaries on Main Street
7 p.m. till 9 p.m.- Interviews and Theme Wear for Pageant in the Community Center

June 13:

Masonic Lodge breakfast begins at 7 a.m. at Patriot Lodge
Kiwanis will hold their fish fry from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Festivities will kick off downtown at 9 a.m. with food and retail vendors on Main Street.
9 a.m. till 10 a.m.- Formal segment of pageant, onstage question and crowning
10 a.m. till Noon Loose Ends will perform at town hall, Miss Indiana USA autographs, 3 on 3 at the outside courts at the Community Center
Noon - the parade kicks off
2 p.m. till 4 p.m. - Last Call performs on Main Street
4 p.m. till 6 p.m. - Oolitic Idol Finals Main Street
7 p.m. till 9 p.m. - County Line Band performs by Dollens Elementary School
at dusk with Circle City Pyrotechnics letting off fireworks at Dollens Elementary/Oolitic Middle School baseball field.

1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com

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