Holton Jamboree - summer fun for everyone
Wanda English Burnett
Editor

Looking for summer fun close to home? There are several festivals taking place across the county this summer that you can take advantage of. You can save on the gas crunch, hear great music, enjoy games for the kids and much more right in your own back yard.

The Holton Jamboree was a popular festival several years ago and is back. A committee has been working for several months to make it better than ever. The event will take place June 16 and 17 at the Holton Community Park with fun for the entire family.

Friday night kick off will begin at 5:00 p.m. with the National Anthem. The Sun Bonnet Sue and Straw Hat Sam Contest will be at 7:00 p.m. Four and five year-olds are eligible for the contest with forms available at R&J Market in Holton, sponsor of the contest. Winners of the contest will ride in the parade on Saturday morning in a covered wagon. Girls entering the contest are encouraged to wear long dresses with bonnets and the boys can wear straw hats and jeans. For more information contact Gretchen Moore at 812-621-1242.

The evening will continue with a variety of vendor booths open, magic show and a night of music young people are sure to enjoy. The line up includes popular local bands such as Endless Rumor, The Promise Reason and the headline band for the evening - High Voltage.

Saturday will begin early with a donut eating contest at 9:00 a.m.
Excitement is mounting as calls have been coming in for entries in the parade. This is the first time the Jamboree has offered a parade and it has been well received. It will begin at the Holton United Methodist Church at 10:00 a.m. Anyone interested in the parade can begin registering that morning at 9:00 a.m. at the church. You can call Bob Furst for more information about the parade at 689-6039.
Some of the streets in Holton will be closed for a short period of time on Saturday morning. They include: portions of Versailles Street, South and North Marion streets, Shelby, Faulkner, Washington, and Downey streets.

The afternoon will begin with games for the kiddies from 1-3 p.m. including a sack race, bubble gum contest, Mommy call, and much more. There will be a Cornhole Tournament at 1:00 p.m. The winner will receive cash and a cornhole set made and donated by Roy Barrett.

Area graduates will be honored at 4:30 p.m., followed by a special salute to our troops. Prizes will be awarded for the oldest, youngest, the person who came the farthest and the longest married.

That evening will kick off with the headline band, Stacey Lynn & the Wild Cards at 5:30 p.m. followed by Heart Strings, Barn Stormin’ Blue Grass, Common Ground. DJ Service will be provided throughout the event by Laramy Murphy of Greensburg.

If you’re interested in setting up a booth call Henrietta Lay at 689-0189, or for general information call Billey Moore, president at 689-4420 (leave message).

According to organizers of the event, businesses and individuals in the community have been supportive and without their help it wouldn’t be possible. There are a variety of quality prizes that will be given out with an hourly raffle.

A beautiful quilt has been put together by hometown ladies, Peggy Furst and Sharon Reese. This quilt, in the colors of Holton Warhorses - red and white- boasts a number of old pictures of the Holton area that have been transferred onto quilt blocks. This one-of-a-kind masterpiece will be raffled off with one lucky person taking it home for a keepsake. Tickets for the quilt can be obtained from any committee member - Bob and Peggy Furst, Ronnie Palmer, Billey Moore, Wilma Myers, Rhonda Tunny, Sandy Rice, Wanda Burnett, Alice McEvoy, Melissa Grigsby, Ena Barrett, Krissy Downey, Tom and Vicki Wilson or at the Jamboree.

WANDA ENGLISH BURNETT PHOTO Bailey Hon, 5, looks on as her grandma Peggy Furst works on the quilt that will be raffled at the Holton Jamboree. The quilt has old pictures of Holton and the surrounding area that have been transferred onto quilt blocks. It is in the Holton Warhorse colors - red and white and will be displayed at the Jamboree June 16 and 17.