Centre's annual Fall Festival set for Saturday, Oct. 6

By Dawn Treglown

CENTRE — This Saturday motorists traveling through downtown Centre should be prepared to take a detour as the city celebrates its 31st annual Fall Festival.

Centre City Clerk Mary Lee Tucker said Main Street (Highway 411) will be blocked off from the First Baptist Church to the First United Methodist Church. She said traffic will be re-routed around that section of downtown during the festival, which runs from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

She added that people should find parking spaces along side streets off the main highway. Tucker said city officials are expecting thousands to attend.

“It's a fun, family event,” Tucker said.

Festivities will begin with Robin Wooten serving as the deejay for the music. From 8:30 a.m. until 9:15 a.m., the gospel group Renewed will perform. The band will also be giving away free CD's, Tucker said.

At 9 a.m., a fun run will take place for children ages 2-13.

“Ages 2-5 years old will run an eighth-mile, ages 6-9 will run a quarter-mile and ages 10 through 13 years old will run a half-mile,” Tucker said.

In addition, the Centre Fire Department will have their new firefighting equipment on public display. Entertainment will include an inflatable slide, a climbing wall, a bungee run and a moonwalk.

“We look for new ideas every year,” Tucker said. "We hope everyone will have fun."

From 9:15 a.m. until 9:45 a.m., Dancers at Heart will perform, followed by the Centre Fall Festival Parade at 10 a.m. The square dancing troupe Duos & Solos will perform from 10:15 a.m. until 11 a.m., when dance instructors Tom and Shirley Holder will entertain the crowd. From noon until 1 p.m. the Southern Flyers will perform in concert. Lil' Smidgen the Clown will also be entertaining the crowd throughout the day.

The Centre Fall Festival Parade will feature the Cherokee County High School Band, along with horses, buggies, antique cars and antique tractors.

In a new twist this year, Centre Elementary School, Centre Middle School, Cherokee County High School and Cherokee County Career and Technology Center will designate students as honorary city officials to ride in the parade.

Cherokee Elementary School elected an honorary fire chief and five firefighters. Austin Smith is the fire chief; honorary firefighters are Tyler Lewis, Baylee Morris, Kristen Moon, Allie Rogers and Edward Frier.

Cherokee Middle School elected an honorary police chief and five police the officers. Austin Hartline is the designated police chief, with Richard Barton, Kylie Graham, Eric Burgess, Heather Hubbard and Tanner Young acting as police officer for the day.

Cherokee County High School elected honorary city officials, including Mayor Virginia Ann Jordan, City Clerk Seth Wilson, Judge Jesse Jordan and City Attorney Will Bailey. The honorary city council members are Amanda Rogers, Kristin Clevenger, Emily Brandt, Paul Sewell, Jake Smith, Jessie Kisor and Angel Carter.

Cherokee County Career and Technology Center elected a street supervisor, a sanitation supervisor and a parks and recreation director. They are Kendra Lowe, Kayla McGatha and April Moon, respectively. All the students will receive “City of Centre Government Day” T-shirts to commemorate their participation.

“These students will serve as the officials of the day,” Tucker said. “We're always looking for something new to do for October Fest.”

Along with city official involvement, each of the schools will also compete for the best vehicle or float in the parade. The winning school will receive a $100 prize.

For more information about this year's Fall Festival, call Tucker at Centre City Hall at 927-5222.