The 52nd annual Golden Delicious Festival will return to Clay County, West Virginia, from Sept. 18–21, offering three days of family-friendly fun, local traditions, and community spirit.
Thanks to generous sponsors, admission to the festival is free for all visitors. The celebration will feature a full schedule of activities, including the festival’s signature parade with floats and marching bands. Parade participants must submit an application in advance.
Festivalgoers can enjoy live music, local vendors, baking contests, clogging competitions, and the popular Apple Dash 5K. Additional highlights include the annual skillet-flinging contest and three beauty pageants open to participants of all ages. A car show will be held on Saturday, Sept. 20, on Church Street. Registration starts at 8 a.m. that day, with awards at 12:30 p.m. and a parade at 1:30 p.m. (Must be registered by 11 a.m. to be judged.)
Organizers invite residents and visitors alike to experience the wide range of events that have made the Golden Delicious Festival a cherished tradition in Clay County for more than five decades.
This year, there will be live music performances on Friday evening from Marissa Ramsey at 5 p.m., Logan Truman at 6 p.m., Grace Campbell at 7 p.m., and Almost Journey (a Journey tribute band) starting at 8 p.m. On Saturday, catch Brodey Proctor at 5 p.m., Marissa Truman at 6 p.m., then Josh Pantry at 7 p.m., and the final performance of the Festival will be a live show by Aaron Tippin at 8 p.m.
With a wide smile and engaging Southern drawl, Aaron Tippin proclaims he’s the “luckiest hillbilly that has ever lived,” and there’s no arguing it. After all he’s been struck by lightning twice and lived to tell, piloted planes with engine failure and even somewhat more miraculously, he’s survived more than three decades in the music business and is still going strong. Along the way, he’s earned six gold albums and one platinum. He’s released more than 30 singles, including such hits as “You’ve Got to Stand for Something,” “My Blue Angel,” “I Wouldn’t Have it Any Other Way,” “Kiss This,” “Workin’ Man’s Ph. D,” “There Ain’t Nothing Wrong with the Radio” and “Where the Stars and Stripes and the Eagle Fly,” which was not only a country hit, but top 20 on Billboard’s all genre Hot 100 chart. Of course, luck often plays a role in achieving success in the entertainment industry, but the real driving forces behind Tippin’s achievements are a dedicated work ethic and undeniable talent.
Visit facebook.com/claycountygoldendeliciousfestival for more details, or their website at www.claygoldendeliciousfestival.org.
The full schedule of events for the Festival is as follows:
Thursday, Sept. 18:
6 pm- Opening Ceremonies with Queen’s Coronation
6 pm- Amusement rides open
7 pm- First Responder’s Parade
8 pm- Open Mic Night with Tracy Wayne
Friday, Sept. 19:
9 am- Flag raising/National Anthem
9 am- Business decorating registration (Information table)
10 am- Big Otter Elementary Choir
10:30 am- Clay Elementary Choir
11 am- Clay Middle School Choir
11 am-6 pm- Quilt Show (Clay County Health Department)
12 pm- Apple Belle Ceremony (Courthouse square)
12:30 pm- Apple Belle Reception (Clay Senior Services building)
3 pm- Business decorating winner announced
5 pm- Music by Marissa Ramsey
5-11 pm- Amusement rides open
6 pm- Music by Logan Truman
7 pm- Music by Grace Campbell
8 pm- Music by Almost Journey (A Journey tribute band)
Saturday, Sept. 20:
8 am- Car Show Registration (behind old courthouse)
8 am- Bake Show Registration (Auxiliary gym)
9 am- Flag Raising/National Anthem
9 am- Pet Pageant registration (information table)
9:30 am- Pet Pageant
10 am- Bike Show (DHHR lot)
11am-4 pm- Quilt Show (Health Department)
1-4 pm- Amusement Rides Open
1:30 pm- Grand Feature Parade
2:30 pm- Skillet Flinging Contest Registration (Annex building)
2:30 pm- Cornhole Competition registration (old courthouse)
2:30 pm- Baked Goods auction (courthouse square)
3 pm- Not So Newlywed Game
3 pm- Skillet Flinging Contest
3 pm- Cornhole Competition (old courthouse)
4 pm- Athletic Hall of Fame Induction (CCHS)
5 pm- Music by Brodey Proctor
5-11 pm- Amusement Rides open
5 pm- CCHS Alumni Gathering (CCHS)
6 pm- Music by Marissa Truman
7 pm- Music by Josh Pantry
8 pm- Music by Aaron Tippin
