Published: October 09, 2008 08:50 am            

The fun starts Friday evening

In less than 48 hours, the 29th annual Pioneer Day festival will officially begin, with a talent show at 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 10, at Veterans Memorial Park, across from Lafayette State Bank at the intersection of SR 27 and CR 300. The park will open to the public at 3 p.m.

Pioneer Day, sponsored by the Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce and the Mayo Woman’s Club and held every year since 1979, draws thousands of visitors to Mayo. It also brings additional revenue to businesses in town such as Mayo Café, Mayo Thriftway, Two Sister’s Barbecue, The Dustcatcher, Family Dollar and Subway, just to mention a few.

At 10 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 11, the parade will begin. As the parade makes its way down Main Street towards the park, visitors will see a variety of floats, antique automobiles and farm equipment, Little Miss Pioneer Day winners, the 2008 Lafayette County Granny and Pappy, the R. O. Ranch caravan, and other participants.

After the parade, visitors will enjoy browsing more than 100 vendors displaying their foods, arts and crafts, and plants at the park, according to John Hurst, who assists Jim and Cheryl Hollis at the Chamber of Commerce.

“Pioneer Days will host a variety of vendors from handmade crafts, clothing, handbags, and much more with a variety of food from elephant ears, funnel cakes, seafood, barbecue and much, much more,” Hurst said.

There will also be a variety of entertainment at the gazebo, including special groups and local talent.

Across the street in the lobby of Lafayette State Bank, the Mayo Woman’s Club will be displaying a variety of local artistic talent. While there, visitors will be invited to cast their vote in different categories featuring artwork from various age groups.

Be sure to stop by the Mayo Free Press booth to say hello, renew your subscription or purchase a new one. Drinks and snacks will be available, and all the money raised will be donated to Newspapers In Education. In addition, a balloon contest will give you a chance to win discounts on subscriptions.

We also want to know how we’re doing. Give us your suggestions on how to better serve you and we’ll give you a free one-month subscription to the Free Press, along with other goodies.

For additional information about this event, contact the Chamber of Commerce at 386-294-2705.

Be sure to see the special Pioneer Day section inside.

        

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