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Annual Small Town America festival celebration begins Saturday

8/14/2009

Festival Fun:
By Tom Marshall
Senior Advocate writer
The Small Town America Weekend festival, which begins Saturday, promises to be action-packed with arts and crafts, a talent showcase, live music and the annual Fly-In Breakfast at the airport among other things.
The weekend kicks off at 8:30 a.m. Saturday with the 5-K Run/Walk beginning at Silver Creek Estates next to Old Silo Golf Course. You can register at 498-8728.
Classic car buffs can look forward to the seventh annual Gateway Special Olympics Car, Truck, Tractor and Motorcycle Show scheduled for 9 a.m.-5 p.m. in the city parking lots along Locust Street downtown. There will also be a silent auction and T-shirts will be given away to early registrants. To register call 498-9874.
An arts and crafts festival will also take place downtown from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. There will be live music by the group Decades of Music.
Gateway Children’s Services will host a cornhole tournament near the courthouse at 11 a.m. You can register by calling 498-9892.
The Small Town America Talent Showcase will be held on the courthouse lawn from noon to 4 p.m. Prizes will be awarded and there will also be a special performance by Nashville recording artist Trey Hawkins.
Food vendors will be on site and wagon rides will be offered between events.
Saturday’s events will be followed up Sunday by the annual Fly-In Breakfast at the Mt. Sterling-Montgomery County Regional Airport. The breakfast begins at 7 a.m. Cost is $6.
Free hot air balloon rides will be offered from 8 a.m.-10 a.m. with airplane rides available for a fee from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Antique/classic planes and Aviation Museum of Lexington displays will be on the grounds from 9 a.m.-noon. A medical helicopter display will run from 2-3 p.m.
A military parachute jump is scheduled for 1 p.m. and the candy drop for kids at 4:30 p.m. Concessions, including hot dogs, hamburgers and drinks, will be available after breakfast.
Small Town America Weekend resulted from a song “Small Town America” written by songwriter and Mt. Sterling native Jeff Vice about growing up here. The song pays tribute to the community, small town life and the Mt. Sterling High School football Trojans.
This is the third year for the event.