Anticipation grows as Farm City Days’ festivities near

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News

September 28, 2011 - 12:00 AM

Organizers of the upcoming and 40th edition of Farm-City Days are looking back to the annual festival’s roots.
Serving as grand marshals for Farm-City Days, which runs Oct. 12-15, are Gary Parker, Leon Catron and Paul Setter. All three were among participants in the inaugural Farm-City Days 40 years ago.
“We’d really like to get other people here who may have been involved with the first Farm-City Days,” said Mike Jewell, one of the organizers.
Perhaps some of the original participants could set up a float for the parade, he suggested.
“It’s not too late,” he said. “We’d love to have them.”
A number of activities will fill the four-day celebration, including the inaugural Little Miss Farm-City Days Pageant, open to girls ages 2-12 and sponsored by All About U Salon.        
Themed “Cowgirl Up,” the pageant will honor the entrants with the best cowgirl costume, as well as special awards for best hair, eyes and smile. Festivalgoers also can vote on the most photogenic at a special booth the evening of Thursday, Oct. 13, during Family Fun Night.
The pageant will take place the morning of Oct. 15, with the winner and runner-up from four age divisions each riding in the Farm-City Days parade.
There is some urgency. The 
filing deadline for the pageant is Saturday. For more information, go to the festival’s website, www.farmcitydays.com.
Lewellen Carnival will once again set up shop along a two-block stretch of Jackson Avenue on the north side of the courthouse square starting Wednesday, Oct. 12.
Wristbands, granting unlimited access to carnival rides are available for $20 in advance at Great Southern Bank, Emprise Bank and the Iola Area Chamber of Commerce. Wristbands at the carnival sell for $25 apiece.

OTHER ACTIVITIES for Family Fun Night on Oct. 13 include several kids games, such as limbo, penny in a haystack search, cakewalk and car bash from 6 to 8 p.m., and a performance by the Reba E. Davis Memorial Drum Circle at 6:30 featuring elementary school students under the direction of Karen Jesseph. Voting for LIttle Miss Farm City Days’ most photogenic contest runs from 6 to 8.
The Wesley United Methodist Church youth group will sell hot dogs throughout the evening.

THE FIDDLERS and Pickers highlight activities on Friday, Oct. 14, with a performance at the bandstand from 6 to 8 p.m.
Other activities include Cruise Night for hot rod owners from 6 to 8 and the Farm-City Days Pub Crawl starting at 7 o’clock.
The Allen County Animal Rescue Facility will sell food for festival-goers during the evening’s events.
The pub crawl will take participants from the Iola Elks Lodge to Sidelines Bar and Grill, El Charro Mexican Restaurant, Denny’s Sports Center, 5 O’Clock Somewhere and wind up at Scooters. At each stop, teams, between six and eight members, will partake in two “minute to win it” timed events. Items also will be auctioned off with proceeds benefiting the Farm-City Days Committee.
“It’s a lot of fun,” said Jana Taylor, Farm-City Days Committee member.
Jewell noted that while several stops are in drinking establishments, many participants will not consume alcohol. None of the competitions feature drinking.
“We were concerned we might be too loud, but businesses have encouraged us to do things like this more often,” Jewell said.
Participants must be at least 21. The entry deadline is Oct. 7, and the competition is limited to 10 teams.

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