Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Forest Festival Is Saturday; Queens Are Crowned

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday Gurdon and Forest Festival, happy birthday to you.

Yes, the 20th Annual Gurdon Forest Festival, scheduled Saturday in downtown, will also be the 120th anniversary of the city being founded.

In honor of this occasion, the Community Development and Entertainment Club will be giving free cake and ice cream to all the patrons at the festival at noon. This will follow the singing of Happy Birthday to the town.

Freddie Horne, festival coordinator, gave an update at the Forest Festival Pageant Saturday, Oct. 21.

The pageant was a little different this year, as a junior miss category was added and on-stage conversing with the contestants removed.

With the theme "Dreams can come True," five young ladies went home with their dreams of the evening fulfilled.

Ashton Currey was the winner in the tiny miss division, as Miana Davis was the first runner up and Brittney Purifoy was the second runner up. Michaelynn Rogers was named most photogenic.

In the little miss category, Regan Renfro earned the crown, with Brittney Dickerson the first runner up. Kayla Caldwell took third, with Keri Watson named photogenic.

Alyssa Watson was the first ever winner in the junior miss division, also being named photogenic. First runner up went to Tori Morehead, with Kristin Craft the second runner up.

Jill Plyler was the overall winner for the princess group, also taking the interview competition. Taylor Pace was first runner up, with Robyn LeMay second runner up. Lynsey McKenzie was named photogenic.

The 2000-2001 Forest Festival Queen is Cassie Lynn. First runner up went to Emily Thomas, with Amy Kuhn the second runner up. April Morgan was tabbed most photogenic, while Melanie Benson won the interview portion.

Horne said there will be plenty on tap for everyone visiting. And, for the first time, the festival will be televised in Nashville, where Horne now works.

The festival, though, will open as it traditionally has with the Rotary Club's pancake breakfast at the Gurdon Senior Adult Center.

This will be followed by a first as the inaugural Eric Griffin 5k run/walk will begin at 8 a.m. for adults.

The annual car show will get underway at 9 a.m., while the parade will kick off at 10 o'clock, through the streets of downtown Gurdon.

Floats and others in the parade will be lining up at the old Gurdon High School parking lot at 9:30 a.m.

The entertainment will get started on the Main Street stage at 10:30, with the Eric Griffin kids run taking place at 11 a.m.

The grand opening will be held at noon, with plenty of politicians expected to be on hand asking for votes and telling those present why they should vote for them.

Along with the politicos, the Forest Festival royalty will be introduced, as will Hoo Hoo officials.

The logging games will take place at 1 p.m., with the CD&E auction set for 4 o'clock.

Once again the Halloween costume contest will be held at 5 p.m. in front of the stage.

The day's fun will continue at 7:30 p.m. with Bruce Webb and Mountain Dew performing for the First State Bank street dance.

The dance will last until 11 p.m., when the annual clean up contest begins. Participants will be provided with all the free trash bags they can fill.