The 2026 Clay Golden Delicious Festival is now a part of history, and thoughts will soon turn to next year’s event. The days were hot and muggy, and shade was at a premium – it could have been sold by the square foot. Nevertheless, the festival went off without too many hitches. The flag raising started it all off on Thursday as the new queens went through their usual gamut of photos and dressed in their finest threads, parading in for their coronation. Afterward, music filled the air as Clay’s finest stretched their lungs for those in attendance as songs of love and peace and promises of horizons still to explore were sung.
Heavy smoke from barbecues filled the air as something primal kicks in when smoke and ash combine under chicken and pork, making a person nearly mad with hunger. It’s as if the instinct to hunt dinosaurs is renewed all over again and the hunt was on.
However, for fear of high blood pressure, you hold yourself to only three pieces of chicken, two hotdogs, a blooming onion and a jar of apple butter… on Thursday, at least.
The quilt show displayed some of the best talent in stitchery as the local health clinic blossomed into an array of colors fitting for a castle. Bonnie Davis took top stitching honors with her huge king-size quilt. It was a great time to just settle down, get with friends and neighbors, and enjoy classic festival food and festival entertainment.
Saturday rolled around and it was a wonderful day to have a festival -again hot and muggy with more smoke, music, and a little magic. The parade commenced about 1:30, and the streets were lined with hundreds of people as the sirens began to blow. Candy was flung on the streets like confetti and kids and adults enjoyed the challenge of getting it first. Queens and princesses were dressed in their finest and rode on the finest cars, trucks, and trailers money could buy as they went through, waving to their subjects. The CCHS band provided brass tunes and a thundering drum beat as it wouldn’t be a parade without the music of the drums. Music was enjoyed the rest of the evening as Neil McCoy took the stage.
The end of the festival for 2026 brings in the idea that the leaves are about to change and snow is just around the corner. It was a good festival, a little more succinct than some others, but a good festival nonetheless. The festival 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 folks, Clay County owes you many thanks. So much of our culture is dying, and you take the time to make sure that good times will roll on in Clay County while staying true to what makes us who we are. The opportunity to get together with friends, enjoy the music, and dine on great Appalachian cuisine is always something to look forward to because of the folks behind the scenes. 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.
