The phrase, “hot time in the ole town” certainly applied to Fort Gibson this past weekend, as the first Corn Festival got started on Friday evening and continued throughout Saturday.

The new event was kicked off with a parade, sponsored by the Fort Gibson Chamber of Commerce, starting at the Fajita Rita/Courtyard Bistro parking lot (Spencer’s Corner), and continuing through town, left at the corner of Lee and Poplar, and ending at the Church of Christ parking lot.

It was hot — over 100 degrees, as the parade participants started lining up at around 5:30, in preparation for the 6:30 start. We had 24 entries, with many of the entries having multiple vehicles, riders, or horses in the parade.

Heading the parade was Grand Marshal Dick Sheffield … Dick had earlier asked if he could wear a swimming suit in the parade to keep cool. I told him that was fine, but he apparently changed his mind. Following the grand marshal, were the Corn Festival Pageant winners, including Miss Fort Gibson, Libby Schofield, and Junior Miss Fort Gibson, Chelsey Rodgers. Also participating were runners-up, Savana Snyder and Nicole Waltman.

Entries were also supplied by the BACA Motorcycle Club (Bikers Against Child Abuse), several tractors and trailers from the Dick Sheffield’s farming operation, autos and trucks from the Cruisin’ Angels Car Club, Red Rooster and Country Boy Auto Sales, the Cooper Family “Nibblets,” Masonic Lodge, Shriners, and many individual entries and celebrity riders, including State Rep. George Faught, Sen. Kenneth Corn and Sen. Earl Garrison.

It was a fun start to the Corn Festival event, and couldn’t have happened without the help of Kathy Perkins and Jerry Cooper, and their help in getting all the entries lined up, identified and kept in order. Again, it was over 100 degrees as all this was taking place. I also want to thank the two judges, who had the difficult task of picking a couple winners from the entries … Tonia Cooper and Paula Foster. In the end, they picked the float entry from Harp’s Food Stores, driven by Jack Armstrong, as the winning business entry, and the float from Fort Gibson Christian Church as the winning non-profit entry. Each of them will be awarded a special plaque for their efforts.

I’d also like to thank the Fort Gibson Police Department for their help in stopping traffic and leading the parade, as well as the Fort Gibson Fire Department, for bringing up the rear … behind the horses. Also, James Mosteller and his crew, for their help with the bleachers and street barricades, and Kathy Perkins, for helping me with the parade announcing chores. As best as I could tell, spectators were lined up, or sitting in front of their homes and businesses, all along the parade route. Although it was hot, it was a fun event for everyone involved.

Following the parade, people started to gather at the high school stadium for some local entertainment, corn shucking contests and a spectacular fireworks show. I didn’t get the names of all the corn shucking winners, but I know Brad Clinkenbeard was the “adult winner”… with his wife fanning him as he worked up a sweat in the heated competition. Don Foster was taking pictures, and I’m sure all the winners will be in the paper. At about 9:15 p.m., the fireworks started. This is the same fireworks show that the chamber usually puts on for the 4th of July, but we were asked to have it a week earlier, as part of the Corn Festival. I’m sure some will miss the special atmosphere the always comes with a fireworks show on Independence Day, but I think those that attended the display Friday evening will agree it was a spectacular show.

Again, it was hot, but most of the west bleachers were in the shade, until dark, and a small breeze seemed to cool everyone just enough. Special thanks to Imperial Fireworks Co. of Coweta for their great fireworks display. They are always well prepared and do a great job of making our show a huge success. Also, special thanks to the Town of Fort Gibson and Fort Gibson State Bank, for their financial sponsorship of the fireworks show.

Following Friday evening’s festivities, Saturday’s event got started well before the 10 a.m. official start time, with food and merchandise vendors, games and all sort of activities lined all up and down Lee and Poplar streets. Carrigan Bradley got things started off with the singing of the national anthem, and she and the Oklahoma Kids did several other numbers. Again, it was a hot day … over 100 degrees by afternoon, but everyone seemed to be enjoying the festivities, entertainment, corn, shoot ‘em ups and great variety of food available.

Kathy and I had to leave for Oklahoma City early in the afternoon, so didn’t get to experience the street dance, that happened at the end of the day’s festivities, but I’m sure the town will be able to report on all of the happenings. It was a great start to what promises to be an important annual event for our community.

And finally, I’d like to report on this week’s “Neighborhood Pride” winner. It is the home of Chuck and Kyli London, 125 Pine St. Like all of our winners, their home shows that special, extra-effort, that makes it stand out. Kyli said her husband would be very happy to have been picked, but I could tell, she was just as proud. She didn’t tell me which one of them is the driving force behind the well-kept flower beds and groomed lawn … but I have a pretty good idea it is a joint effort.

Again, congratulations to the Londons.