(Posted Aug. 30, 2018)
South Charleston Heritage Days Schedule of Events
Friday, Sept. 21
8-10 p.m.–The Temps
10:15 p.m.–Fireworks
Saturday, Sept. 22
10 a.m.–Parade
1:30 p.m.–Dave & Taffy Waugh
3:30 p.m.–Doug Moore
5:30 p.m.–Ty Cooper
7-9 p.m.–Wyatt McCubbin
Sunday, Sept. 23
10 a.m.–Community church service
12 p.m.–Kiddie tractor pull sign-up
1-3 p.m.–Kiddie tractor pull
1 p.m.–Springfield Dulcimers
2 p.m.–White Mountain Grass
By Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor
A children’s area, more food trucks, a concert on Friday night, and a 50/50 raffle are all new features of this year’s Heritage Days Festival in South Charleston.
The annual shindig, set for Sept. 21-23, offers up a tasty and entertaining way to enjoy good old-fashioned socializing.
“It’s a fun time to just come and hang out, build memories and bring families together,” said Josh Murray, vice president of the South Charleston Heritage Commission, the event sponsor.
The weekend starts with live music by The Temps, a Springfield-based band fronted by South Charleston vocalist Joe Bair. The group hits the stage from 8 to 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 21 on the festival grounds, located at 147 W. Mound St., near the historic DT&I train depot and log house.
“They’re the perfect band to kick off the festival. They play classics from the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s. They have a lot of energy and change costumes several times through the show,” Murray said.
Following the concert, fireworks sponsored by the Madison Township Emergency Medical Services will go off at 10:15 at 140 S. Church St.
“They’re some of the best fireworks I’ve seen. Last year was our first year for them, and I think people were impressed,” Murray said.
A parade starts off the festivities at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 22. All types of parade entries are welcome; more than 40 entrants are already signed up. Festival organizers will honor veterans with a special float. They’ve also named resident Kim Owens as this year’s grand marshal. Owens serves on the Southeastern Local school board, is an active member of South Charleston United Methodist Church, and lends her time and talents to several events and organizations.
“Kim is one of those ladies who does anything and everything for our community,” Murray said.
After the parade, the rest of the weekend’s activities take place at 147 W. Mound St. Hours on Saturday run from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Hours on Sunday, Sept. 23 run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
In the new children’s area, kids can make a scarecrow, climb hay bales, blow bubbles and more, all for free. Most activities are geared toward children ages 5 and younger.
Kids of all ages can try their hand, for a small fee, at old-fashioned games like the cane ring toss, milk can softball toss and football toss.
Tickets for the new 50/50 raffle are $1 each or $10 for an arm’s length of tickets and can be purchased at the festival.
A full line-up of live music awaits festival visitors. Soloists, ensembles, and bands will entertain with tunes from genres including folk, country, classic rock, and modern rock.
And, of course, there’s the food. The Heritage Commission’s famous bean soup is on the menu, along with specialty hotdogs, Texas tenderloin, burgers, barbecue, fries, ice cream, shaved ice and so much more dished out from an expanded number of food trucks. A beer tent will run throughout the weekend.
Other festival features are a community church service, kiddie pedal pull, kiddie train rides, horse rides, and a silent auction. Additionally, more than 40 goods vendors will be on site, with room for more.
Proceeds from Heritage Days go toward the upkeep of South Charleston’s historic train depot, log house and opera house. The Heritage Commission’s long range goals include securing a building to serve as a museum and helping to fund revitalization projects.
For more about the festival, check out “South Charleston Heritage Days” on Facebook.
Festival contacts include: vendor booths, Kim Breeze, scheritagedays@gmail.com; volunteers, Barb McNally, (937) 462-8000; and parade, Patty Moore, pattymariemoore@gmail.com.
