Festivals planned in Olpe, Americus this weekend
By The Emporia Gazette (Contact)
Originally published 02:23 p.m., October 1, 2007
Updated 02:23 p.m., October 1, 2007
It’s time for St. Joseph’s Fall Festival in Olpe and Americus Days in Americus.
Saturday will be packed with activities in Americus, which is celebrating the 150th anniversary of its founding. A Friday event is tied to history with a 10 a.m. bus tour to historic points throughout North Lyon County. The cost is $5. Loading will be at the City Park. Contact Jan Huston at (620) 443-5214.
Saturday’s events start at 6:30 a.m. with a pancake feed and biscuits and gravy feed at Americus School. Registration will begin at 7:15 a.m. for the 5K run-walk to benefit the Northern Heights High School cross country team. The co-ed softball tournament will start at 8 a.m. at the City Pool diamond.
Other events include a display of photos and memorabila and and an antique quilt show at the Senior Center. There are several other events including a beard contest at 9 a.m.; helicopter contest at 9:30 a.m.; a speaker “Bloody Bill” Anderson at 10 a.m.; parade at 11 a.m.; lunch by the United Presbyterian Church at 11 a.m.; a performance by the Community Theatre of Emporia “The Lyon County Seat Melodrama” at 1 p.m.; a horseshoe pitching tournament at 1 p.m.; Flint Hills Antique Power Association Tractor Pull at 1 p.m.; David Traylor Zoo animal exhibit at 1 p.m.; old fashioned kids games at 2 p.m.; dance workshop at 4 p.m.; farm machinery demo at 4 p.m.; square dancing at 6 p.m. Raffle winners will be announced at 7 p.m. followed by a dance from 8 p.m. to midnight.
The festival will be Sunday at St. Joseph’s Catholic School, 307 Iowa St. Dinner and games begin at 3 p.m. and will end at 6:30 p.m. Bingo follows at 6:45 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall.
Other events at the festival include a raffle featuring a grand prize of a handmade quilt made by The Quilting Corner. More than $1,000 in cash and merchandise prizes are up for grabs with the raffle. Kids games also will be available during the evening.
The food menu will consist of ham, roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, chicken and dressing, sauerkraut, corn, sweet potatoes, gelatin salads, pickles, beets, rolls, homemade pie, cake or cookies, water, tea and coffee. Dinner tickets are available at the door. The cost of the dinner is $8 for adults; $3 for youth 6-10; and $1 for children under 6. Carry-out meals also will be available.