By Allen Hamrick
The 50th Clay Golden Delicious Festival is in the books and will be remembered for quite a while. It all started with some awesome festival weather on Thursday and Friday. Those who came out enjoyed some of the finest local talent this valley has heard at open mic night, as well as some of the best in fine dining along Main Street. 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 to name a few of the delectable selections. If your taste buds weren’t satisfied, you better get your tongue tested. It was a great time to get reacquainted with friends and enjoy a cup of coffee.
Friday rolled around and choirs from all the elementary schools as well as the middle school choir and band stretched their lungs for the crowd’s pleasure singing patriotic songs and some they wrote themselves. Our youth is the future of this county, and from what we saw Friday, our future looks bright. When the stage cleared of the last choir, it was time to celebrate the new Apple Belle. Mintie Fulks was named this year’s Golden Delicious Belle as family and friends gathered to celebrate a well deserved award given to a lady whose list of accomplishments went on and on and continues to get longer. She hasn’t just simply lived her life in the hills as many do, she has lived it in service to others using her many, many skills. She accepted the title like a true queen and will hold the title with the utmost class and style.
Afterwards, it was time to crank up the speakers and enjoy some fine entertainment. Groups like Whiskey and Wine, the very talented John Pantry, and the very entertaining Hair Supply rocked Friday’s crowd to some of the 80’s greats.
Then came Saturday and some of the most curvaceous bodies rolled into town as the car show got underway at the board office parking lot. It was a wonderful day to have a festival – skillets were flying, pets were being crowned and a corn hole competition got underway. People came from all over and filled the streets and music once again filled the air. The parade commenced about one o’clock, 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 were dressed in their finest, rode on the finest carriages money could buy and went through waving to the attendees. One of the last Rosie the Riveters from WWII graced us with her presence. The CCHS band marched in the parade and 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. T.J. Hill wowed the festival crowd with his magic act, and music was enjoyed the rest of the evening with Lindsay Schoolcraft taking the stage ahead of the final act of the evening, Sarah Evans. 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.
This year’s festival was a good one, 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 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. 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.
