by Allen Hamrick photos by Allen Hamrick & Holly Nine
The 2016 Clay Golden Delicious Festival is now a part of history to be remembered.
It all started with some awesome festival weather on Thursday and Friday. Thursday night, people got to watch as the new queens went through their coronation. Afterward, music filled the air as Clay’s finest singers went head to head in the karaoke contest. Smoke from barbecues filled the air and made a person’s stomach swell just from the awesome smell of pulled pork sandwiches and chicken, just a few of the delectable selections. If your taste buds weren’t satisfied, you better get your tongue tested.
The quilt show displayed some of the best talent in stitchery. Friday started off with fine dining held in the Lion’s Club as breakfast was served; it was a great time to get reacquainted with friends, enjoy a cup of coffee and chase it with flap jacks. Later, pies and cakes filled the tables as judging began in earnest – each pie hand made with a touch of love and the baker’s special ingredients.
One of Clay’s living legends, Bill Triplett, took the stage along with his band ,which included his son Randy and wife Loretta, and soothed the hearts of bluegrass lovers with the grass songs of old with the utmost class and style. It was a great time to just settle down, get with friends and neighbors and enjoy classic festival food and festival entertainment.
Then came Saturday. It was a wonderful day to have a festival. A few clouds threatened late in the day, but all was well. People came from all over and filled the streets, and music once again filled the air.The parade commenced about noon and the streets were lined with hundreds of people as the sirens began to blow. Candy was flung on streets like confetti and kids and adults enjoyed the challenge of getting it first. Queens and princesses, dressed in their finest, rode on the finest carriages money could buy and went through waving to the subjects.
Both the CCHS and CCMS bands marched in the parade. The CCHS band performed “Amazing Grace” in front of the court house to the enjoyment of many listeners. It wouldn’t be a parade without the music of the drums.
Once the parade was over, it was time for one of the best and most unheralded races a race lover could enjoy. Yep, you guessed it, the annual duck race. Hundreds of rubber ducks fought their way through the rapids of Buffalo Creek with the tenacity of bears after salmon. It was a war on the water as many of the ducks were left behind battling current conditions and getting caught up in the entanglements of Buffalo Creek. There was a winner, and it crossed the finish line at least 20 duck lengths ahead of the next opponent. It was an awesome race, and next year the banks should be full of duck race fans.
Music was enjoyed the rest of the evening and the festival ended with showers of sparks and reports as the night sky filled with fireworks to the enjoyment of many.
The end of the festival brings in the idea that snow is just around the corner. It has been a good festival, and it absolutely could not go on if not for those behind the scenes getting it ready, setting it up and tearing it down long after the people have gone. To those people, Clay County owes you many thanks because so much of our culture is dying and you selflessly take the time to make sure that good times will roll on in Clay County and that the opportunity to get together with friends, enjoy music, and eat great food will be something to look forward to.
There are so many names that can be said from Dawn Whitley and all the way down the list. It isn’t much coming from me, but Clay County is indeed fortunate to have people who are dedicated to preserving our heritage so that we can let our hair down once in a while, keep our sanity and not go mad.
