69th Annual Mitchell Persimmon Festival In Full Swing

Last updated on Monday, September 21, 2015

(MITCHELL) - The 69th Annual Mitchell Persimmon Festival is in full swing.

At 8 p.m. tonight, this year's festival Queen will be crowned on the Main Stage downtown. Twelve young women are competing for the title.

The Mitchell Persimmon Festival theme is "Celebrating with the Sound of Music" and will feature a week of events including a lot of music.

Today vendors and the carnival rides start. There will be two food tents open during the day. And the rides starts at 5 p.m.

There will be a parade at 2 p.m. Saturday with awards at 4:25 p.m. This year's grand marshal is Retired Mitchell Community Schools music teacher Ellis Fisher.

Fisher, who retired in May 2014, taught music education for more than 40 years, with 39 of those at Mitchell Community Schools teaching general music to children in grades kindergarten through eighth grade.

"Ellis has inspired so many kids," said Teresa Reynolds, general chairwoman of the 2015 Persimmon Festival. "When I asked people in this community about who they thought of when they thought of music, he was the constant answer I received. It was always Mr. Fisher."

Fisher says he was motivated to pursue music by his own music teachers.

"I was impressed with their love of teaching and sharing music with others," he says. "In my music classes, it was always rewarding to put on music programs and share the music they had learned with the school and their parents."

Schedule Of Events:

Monday

4:30 p.m. Lasagna Dinner. Seventh Street Food Tent -Sponsored by Mitchell Church of the Nazarene.
5 p.m. Carnival and rides begin on Main Street.
6 p.m. Commercial Tent Open on Sixth Street
6 p.m. Mini, Little and Junior Miss Crowning. Crowning will take place on the Main Stage.
8 p.m. Persimmon Festival Queen Crowning. Crowning will take place on the Main Stage.

Tuesday, September 22

4:30 p.m. Pork Dinner. Seventh Street Food Tent - Sponsored by Marion Township Volunteer Fire Department.
5 p.m. Carnival resumes on Main Street. The unlimited, three-night armbands can be purchased beginning tonight, and used through Thursday night. The cost is $25 per armband.
6 p.m. Commercial Tent Open on 6th Street
6 p.m. Mitchell Varsity Singers perform on the Main Street Stage.
6:20 p.m. Mitchell Junior High Dance Team perform on Main Street Stage.
6:40 p.m. Mitchell Dance Team perform on Main Street Stage.
7 p.m. WUME Lip Sync on Main Street Stage. Register for the program beginning at 5 p.m. Categories based on ages. Prizes awarded to winners. Sponsored by WUME in Paoli.

Wednesday, September 23

11:30 a.m. Italian Lunch and Dinner. Main Food Tent - Sponsored by St. Mary's Catholic Church.
6 p.m. Commercial Tent Open on 6th Street
6 p.m. Music by "Soul Searchers" performing on Main Street Stage
7-9 p.m. Red Roots perform on Main Street Stage.

Thursday, September 24

1 p.m. American Red Cross Blood Drive held on Main Street, Church of Christ until 6 p.m.
4:30 p.m. Ham, Bean & Cornbread Main Food Tent - Sponsored by the Basketball Booster Club.
5 p.m. Carnival resumes on Main Street.
6 p.m. Commercial Tent Open on 6th Street
6:30 p.m Building Nations perform on the Main Street Stage
8 p.m. Wray Brothers perform on Main Street Stage

Friday, September 25

4:30 p.m. Steak dinner Main Food Tent - Sponsored by the Lawrence County Cattleman's Association
5 p.m. Carnival rides continue on Main Street.
6 p.m. Commercial Tent Open Tent on 6th Street
7 p.m. Endless Summer performs on Main Street Stage.

Saturday, September 26

6 -10 a.m. Pancake Breakfast at Masonic Lodge, 9th and Brook Streets - Sponsored by the Masonic Lodge.
7:30 a.m. Persimmon 5K, One Mile Fun Run, Persimmon 5K Walk. Mitchell High School lobby for registration.
9 a.m. Tri-County Antique Tractor and Equipment Association. Behind Hoosier Uplands, between 5th and Sixth streets in downtown Mitchell.
9 a.m. Antique and Classic Car Show. Behind Hoosier Uplands.
9:30 a.m. Motorcycle Show in Mitchell Motors parking lot at Teke Burton Drive and Main Street at the Four Points.
10 a.m. Baby Contest. $5 per contestant, Burris Elementary Gym
11 a.m. Chicken Barbecue Dinner at Main Food Tent - Sponsored by the Mitchell Lions Club.
12:30 p.m. Baby Contest Winners Announced Main Tent on 6th Street
1 p.m. Pre-Parade Introductions on Main Street Stage. Attend the posting of the colors and the patriotic ceremony which opens the annual parade. Introduction of the rand marshal, mayor and other dignitaries. JoAnna Kai Cobb will sing the National Anthem.
2 p.m. Grand Parade - Rain or Shine.
4:15 p.m. Persimmon Festival Awards on Main Street Stage. The awards will include those for the Persimmon Pudding and Novelty Dessert Contest.
4:30 p.m. Persimmon Idol Finals Main Street Stage.
5:30 p.m. Karli Edging preforming Main Street Stage
7 p.m. Blind Rebel performs on the Main Street Stage.

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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