Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Festival This Weekend; Tons Of Events, Contests Are Scheduled

It's here! It's here!

The 12th Annual Prescott-Nevada County Chicken and Egg Festival begins Friday, with deadlines for all events Thursday, June 10.

Those who fail to get entered in the event of their choice should plan on bringing a lawn chair and being a spectator.

The festival will be held June 11-12 this year in an effort to beat the heat. In years past, the celebration has been in late July when the mercury hovers near 100 degrees, and the humidity isn't far behind.

The athletic endeavors will begin with the Chicks with Sticks ladies softball tournament, running June 10-12 at Livingston Field. Entry fee for this double elimination tilt will be $100 per team.

There will be a three home run limit, with teams required to use MSP47 softballs.

However, the Fowl Ball men's tourney on Bemis Field is being held a week earlier at June 5-6, and begins Friday..

There is a five home run limit per team for all involved, and it will cost $100 to enter this contest for crews class "D" and below. The tourney is a double-elimination event.

The Coop Hoop 3-on-3 basketball tourney will begin Friday, June 11, at 5 p.m., resuming Saturday at 8 a.m. and concluding when all but one team has been eliminated.

All games will be played to 16 points, with one and two point baskets scored.

Registration will be $30 per team for those 17 and under and $60 for teams 18 and above.

The winning men's team will receive $250 to be divided among the players, while the runners up get $100. The deadline for entering is Wednesday, June 9.

Saturday, June 12, will dawn with the annual Chase the Chicken 5K run/walk through the streets of Prescott. This race will begin at 8 a.m. There is a $12 entry fee for those pre-registering and a $15 cost for signing up the day of the race.

At 9 o'clock, the younger runners will hit the streets for the Chicken Chaser kids run. Entry fee for this event is $5.

The Something Eggstra Tennis tourney will be held on the park courts Thursday through Saturday. Entry fee for single players will be $15, while doubles teams will pay $25.

The Cock of the Walk weightlifting contest will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday.

The athletic action concludes Saturday evening at 6 with the Pee Wee Rodeo, sponsored by the FFA Alumni. The rodeo will be held at the fairgrounds.

The rodeo will be open to wranglers eight and under. The mutton bustin' event will be limited to a field of 30, with a $10 entry fee.

There is no limit to the number of entrants for the calf flag race, goat throwing, chicken scramble and greased pig contests. But, there is a $1 entry fee.

For the barrel racing and horseback flag racing events, any number can enter by paying a $5 entry fee.

Registration for these events will be from 2-4:30 p.m. Saturday, June 12, at the fairgrounds. Proof of official negative coggins will be required on all horses.

These athletic endeavors aren't the only events on tap. The festival kicks off Friday at 5 p.m. with the annual Rotary Chicken-in-the-Rough dinner at the pavilion.

Saturday begins early, at 6:30 a.m., with the annual Kiwanis Omelet Breakfast, also at the pavilion.

And, there will be plenty other food and drink concessions scattered around the park for patrons to visit throughout the day.

Additionally, the Chicken Market, filled with arts and crafts booths, along with novelty and commercial booths, will be available for all to visit.

Following dinner Friday night, the annual variety show will take center stage on the festival stage from 6:30-9:30. Those planning to attend the variety show are urged to bring their own lawn chairs.

At 7 p.m., the winner of the chicken or egg recipe contest will be announced. Those planning to enter a recipe and dish in this contest should contact Candace Carrier at the extension service center at 887-2818.

The recipes must be typed or printed legibly on an 8.5 by 11 inch sheet of paper, and include the name, address and phone number of the contestant.

The poultry recipes must contain at least one pound or three ounces of cooked chicken per serving, while a minimum of three eggs must be used in the egg recipes.

These dishes are to be prepared at home and brought to the First Baptist Church education building between 3-3:30 p.m. Friday, June 11.

Past winners may not submit the same recipe.

There will be two winners in each division. First place will take home $50, while the second place finisher will earn $25.

There will be plenty of events to keep younger visitors busy while mom and dad tour the park.

Contests and games for children will be held all day Saturday at the chickie's pen. These include coloring contests, face painting, necklace stringing, chicken-pick-up-in-a-pond and finding an egg in a haystack.

For older children (of all ages), the egg toss will be held on stage at 10:15 a.m.

Following the egg toss, the Chicken Tricks magic show will hit the spotlight with a family- oriented performance.

The stage will be the scene of the hula-hoop contest at 11:30 a.m., giving those daring enough to try the opportunity to strut their stuff.

At noon, the hula hooping will be replaced by cackling and crowing as contestants vie for bragging rights with their vocal skills.

The Little Mister Rooster and Little Miss Hen beauty pageants will be held at 2 p.m., following the second magic show.

The entry fee for the pageants is $15 per child. There will be four divisions for girls and three for boys.

For boys and girls, the divisions will break down like this birth to 23 months; 24 months to three years; and four and five years old. The extra girls category will be for those aged six and seven.

The pageant wear this year will be sunsuits, bubble suits or short sets, no sun dresses, hats or swimwear will be allowed.

There will be a first and second place winner in each division. The girls will win a trophy, crown and banner, while the boys will take home an embroidered cap, banner and trophy.

For more information about the pageant, call Dot Daniel at 887-2834 or Godwin at 887- 2101.

But, first thing Saturday morning, those visiting the festival should check out the antique cars on display.

This year there are more divisions than ever, with those having hot wheels needing to register by 8 a.m. and pay their $10 entry fee.

The categories break down in this manner: pre-49 street rod; post-48 street rod; custom vehicles; classic vehicles; antique trucks; antique cars; late model trucks; mini trucks; motorcycles; and a slot for the longest distance traveled to get to the show.

Winners will be announced by 11:30 a.m., with the car owners being urged to stay until 4 p.m.

For more informati