Founder’s Day underway at LG

Melissa McClendon
Staff Reporter

May 10, 2008 12:29 pm

— Founder’s Day is just days away and the carnival has already arrived in Locust Grove. Lewellen Amusements has set up the carnival on the west side, home side, of the Locust Grove football field.
The carnival opened Thursday and will run through Saturday. Friday is pay-one-price wristband night from 6 to 10 p.m. and Saturday the carnival will open at 9 a.m.
The Locust Grove Round-Up club will also host the annual Founder’s Day Rodeo Friday and Saturday night at the rodeo grounds west of Locust Grove on Scenic 412.
On Saturday morning, the annual Cruisers Car Show will open at 8 a.m., on the east side of the Locust Grove football field. Organizer Wayne Cole said he expects to see around 150 vehicles on display at the show. Cole said door prizes and goodie bags will be given away as well as trophies to the top vehicles in the car classes. There will be music, food and fun for the family.
Cole hopes the high gas prices will not keep spectators and car enthusiasts away. He said he is expecting to see cars from as far as Eureka Springs, Ark., and Fort Smith, Ark.
With both the carnival and car show located at the football field, the rest of the Founder’s Day activities will be located downtown. Many booths will be set up along main street and games for kids are planned throughout the morning.
At 9 a.m., a bloomer race will begin at Locust Grove Home Center. The annual dog show will begin at 9:30 a.m., in front of the Locust Grove Animal Clinic. Last year the dog show was held in the afternoon but a change was made to keep the animals cool.
“I’m real excited about the dog show,” said Locust Grove Area Chamber of Commerce President, Leslie Mack.
The annual turtle race will be held at 10 a.m., at the carnival and a skillet toss will follow at 10:30 a.m., at Tracie’s Beauty Shop. A hay scramble will begin at 11 a.m. at Pirates Git-n-Split and a sack race will wrap up the games at noon at Harp’s.
The Founder’s Day parade will begin lining up at 1 p.m. beside the school superintendent's office. The parade will begin at 2 p.m. Mack said she would like to remind those bringing all-terrain vehicles or motorcycles that are not street legal, that the vehicle must be trailered before and after the parade.
The police department is also setting up a large booth Saturday to allow citizens to check out their three new police vehicles. The sheriff’s office will also have a booth set up to meet and greet visitors.
“We’re really looking forward to everyone coming out and having a good time,” said Mack.
Booth space is still available by contacting Vicky Herr at the Flower Station, 479-8282. Booth space is $20 per booth.