Pikeville plans for Independence Day
By Sam Atkins
Published in News on June 23, 2004 1:59 PM
PIKEVILLE -- Fun games, music and fireworks will all be a part of the town's seventh-annual Independence Day Festival on July 2 and 3.
This is the first year the Pikeville Lions Club will be the host, said Commissioner Edith McClenny, event chairman.
The event starts with a 5K run at 7 p.m. on Friday, July 2. It will begin at the old school building. Around 16 people have entered and there is room for more runners. Applications are available in the Town Hall and the fee is $15, which includes a free T-shirt. There will be a $20 fee for those who sign up at the last minute.
Following the run, the Charles B. Aycock Jazz Band will play from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. People are encouraged to bring chairs.
There is a full schedule of events on Saturday, July 3, beginning with a yard sale at 7 a.m. The opening ceremonies will be from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and during that time will be the crowning of Miss and Mr. Independence Day and the award for Pikeville's Distinguished Man or Woman.
Miss Independence is Kelsey Fleming and Mr. Independence is Brian Glover. The town's Distinguished Man is Buck Thompson and the Distinguished Woman is Dora Vail. Miss Fleming will be singing and last year's winner of Miss Independence will be doing a clogging act.
The rest of the schedule for July 3 is as follows:
*10 a.m. to 3 p.m. - Children's games including a water slide
*11 a.m. to 2 p.m. - Lawn Mower Tractor Pull
*11 a.m. to 2 p.m. - Car Show, which is something new this year
*11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. - Horse Shoe Competition with four sets of pits open to the public
*2:45 p.m. to 3 p.m. - Fun Loving Steppers
*3 p.m. to 4 p.m. - Variety Show
*4 p.m. to 7 p.m. - DJ Luke Vail
*7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. - Gospel singing with Sanctified, Servant's Heart and other groups
*9:30 p.m. - Fireworks
There will be a first place trophy for each class and ribbons for the rest of the places in the tractor pull. First prize in the horseshoe pitching contest will be a plaque and prize money. Second place will also receive prize money.
There is still room for more vendors. Anyone interested should pick up an application at Town Hall. Representatives of nonprofit organizations are encouraged to attend to promote their organizations.
The Cotton Museum will be open and will have military displays. Mayor Herb Sieger will be the emcee for the event.