(Posted Sept. 18, 2023)
By Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor
The South Charleston Heritage Commission is gearing up for Heritage Days. This year’s festival is set for Sept. 30. The fun starts with a parade in the morning and ends with fireworks at dusk. Most of the activities take place in and around the historic train depot and log house at 147 W. Mound St., South Charleston.
Lineup for the parade will take place at 9 a.m. at the veterans memorial, 140 S. Church St. Step-off is at 10. The parade route goes north on South Church Street, left onto Route 42, left onto Route 41, then right onto Mound Street, ending at the train depot.
Last year, the parade featured 59 units. Patty Moore, the parade coordinator, said this year’s parade is shaping up nicely.
“We will have a great tractor lineup, as always. They are a great representation of our agricultural community,” she said. “Dave and Diana Long are bringing back their draft horses, along with antique wagons. That’s always an impressive sight.”
The Southeastern High School marching band is on board. The West Jefferson Ox Roast queens have entered a float. Doug Crabbe from Mount Sterling is bringing his paddy wagon, a crowd favorite. South Charleston American Legion Post 176 is covering honor guard duties this year.
Anyone is welcome to participate in the parade. Entrants are highly encouraged to contact Moore in advance, (937) 462-7174.
The Heritage Days schedule also includes a kiddie pedal pull at 1 p.m. at the train depot and live music starting at 3 p.m. Adults are invited to play poker in the evening in the entertainment tent.
Children’s activities, facepainting, and a bounce house will be up and running all day, as will food vendors. The American Legion will be selling their famous porkchop dinners. Homemade gingerbread will be offered. Several food trucks are in the line-up, too, including Schmidt’s Sausage Truck, Poppy’s Smokehouse BBQ, Lit Litty Food Truck, Miller’s Ice Cream, and Fully Cooked Sushi.
The festival also offers multiple shopping opportunities. The Heritage Commission has collected a wide variety of items for a silent auction that will start after the parade at approximately 10:30 a.m. and run until 5:30 p.m. The items will be on display at the train depot. Among them are holiday decorations, bed and breakfast stays, antiques, small furniture, and gift cards from merchants located in South Charleston, London, and Springfield. Anyone who would like to donate items or gift cards to the auction can contact Barb McNally at (937) 462-8000.
Several vendors are signed up to sell their wares. Among the goods are honey, maple syrup, clothing, custom drinking tumblers, and wooden signs.
Madison Township Fire & EMS is sponsoring the fireworks which will go off at 9:45 p.m. from Church and Woodward streets.
All proceeds from the festival go toward the upkeep of the historic train depot, log house, and the opera house located at South Charleston town hall. For more information and updates, visit the South Charleston Heritage Days Facebook page.
