(Posted Sept. 5, 2017)
South Charleston Heritage Days Schedule of Events
Friday, Sept. 22
9 p.m.—Fireworks after home football game
Saturday, Sept. 23
9 a.m.—Parade
10 a.m.—Festival opens
10-11:30 a.m.—Doug Moore performs
12-1:30 p.m.—Jill + Micah performs
2-3:30 p.m.—Bobby Hamblin and the Lawless performs
4-6 p.m.—The Temps perform
6-6:45 p.m.—Lip Sync Battle
7-9 p.m.—Wyatt McCubbin performs
9 p.m.—Outdoor movie (“Beauty and the Beast”)
10:30 p.m.—Festival closes
Sunday, Sept. 24
10-11:30 a.m.—Church service
10 a.m.—Festival opens
Noon-1 p.m.—Sign up for kiddie tractor pull
1 p.m.—Kiddie tractor pull
12-1:30 p.m.—Dave and Taffy Waugh perform
1-2 p.m.—Springfield Dulcimers perform
2-3 p.m.—White Mountain Grass performs
3:15-4 p.m.—Southeastern band ensembles perform
4 p.m.—Festival closes
By Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor
With extended hours and a fireworks kickoff, South Charleston’s Heritage Days Festival gets bigger with each passing year.
“We’re trying to really grow this festival and make it a fun and memorable event,” said Josh Murray of the South Charleston Heritage Commission, the event’s host.
The fireworks, a new addition to the schedule, will go off the evening of Sept. 22 following South-eastern High School’s home football game against Fair-banks. Fans are invited to stay in the stands to see the display.
The festival proper is slated for Sept. 23-24. Saturday starts with a parade at 9 a.m. followed by festivities from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday’s hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. All of the action takes place in and around the historic DT&I train depot and log house at 147 W. Mound St.
Phil Wisecup, who served as a rear admiral in the United States Navy and worked at the White House during George W. Bush’s tenure, is this year’s parade grand marshal. A float dedicated to veterans will follow Wisecup’s lead car.
“There’s an effort under way to build a veterans memorial in town. We thought this would be a nice tie-in,” Murray said.
Horses, classic cars, and other themed floats also will be part of the parade.
As usual, the weekend’s offerings include a full line-up of live musical entertainment. Soloists, bands and ensembles will perform everything from folk, country and dulcimer music to country, classic rock, and modern rock. Student ensembles from Southeastern High School will serve as the closing acts on Sunday.
A wide array of food options await hungry festival goers. New this year are vendors selling gourmet hotdogs and brats, kettle corn, cinnamon rolls, and goodies on the healthy side of the menu. Back by popular demand are vendors selling barbecue, walking tacos, ice cream, hamburgers, gingerbread and more. The beer garden returns, as well.
On Saturday night, the National Trail Parks and Recreation District will show the new “Beauty & the Beast” on an inflatable movie screen. Movie goers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets.
Among the other activities slated for the weekend are pumpkin hayrides, kiddie train rides, a silent auction, and old-fashioned family games like sack races and tug-o-war. Over 35 vendors will sell jewelry, clothing, primitive art, quilted items and more.This year’s raffle prize is tickets to the Ohio State University vs. Penn State football game slated for Oct. 28 in Columbus. Tickets are $2 each or six for $10 and will be available soon at Charleston Pharmacy. Tickets also will be sold at the festival. The drawing is set for 4 p.m. Sunday.
Proceeds from Heritage Days go toward the upkeep of South Charleston’s historic log house, train depot 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. Contacts include: vendor booths, Suzanne Howsman, (937) 462-8905; volunteers, Barb McNally, (937) 462-8000; parade, Patty Moore, pattymariemoore@gmail.com.
