Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Festival will feature admission fee to help offset cost of Chamber events

A major change has taken place for the 17th Annual Prescott-Nevada County Chamber of Commerce Chicken and Egg Festival. Entry into the park will cost patrons $1 each, with children five and under free.

Mary Godwin, Chamber director, said this was decided at the May 26, Chamber board meeting to help offset the cost of the festival and other events the Chamber puts on throughout the year.

The festival is scheduled for June 4-5 in the Prescott City Park. The park will be filled with athletic events, games, arts and crafts booths and food vendors. It will also offer something for everyone from the time it kicks off at 5 p.m. Friday, June 4, until it shuts down Saturday, June 5.

The festival will start with the Rotary Club's Chicken in the Rough dinner at 5 p.m. at the park pavilion. All of the arts and crafts booths will be open, and the ever popular variety show will take center stage from 5-9 p.m. Those who come to the variety show should bring their own lawn chairs.

First thing Saturday morning will be the Kiwanis Club's Ole Time Country Breakfast. This will be from 7:30-9:30 a.m., also at the pavilion. Taking advantage of the breakfast is a good idea for those planning on running in the Chase the Chicken 5K run-walk and the Chicken Chaser Fun run. The 5K will start at 8 a.m., while the fun run will be at 9 o'clock.

Other athletic events include the Chicks with Sticks Women's Softball Tournament at McRae Field Friday and Saturday; the Fowl Ball Men's Softball Tournament at Bemis Field; a girl's softball tourney at Livingston Field in the park; the Calvin Brown-Tyson Memorial 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament, which starts at 5 p.m. Friday and runs through its conclusion Saturday; Serving Something Eggstra Tennis Tournament Friday and Saturday at the park's courts; and the Ring the Horseshoe Tournament at 10 a.m. Saturday, across the street from the park.

The Chicken or Egg Cooking Contest will be held Saturday, June 5, at 10 a.m., at the Nevada County Extension Office. Along with a $20 cash prize, the winner gets bragging rights on their recipe for a year. Second place in the contest will get $15, with the third place finisher getting $10. This year's contest will be a bit different as it will focus solely on favorite desserts made with eggs.

The youngsters aren't forgotten, as the Chickie's Pen will be set up for them. There will be different contests and games at the pen, which is open Saturday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.

The Artesian Arts League is again sponsoring the Art Show. This year's show will be held at the Depot Museum.

Another artistic endeavor is the Chicken and Egg Poster Contest, sponsored by the Nevada County Farm Bureau Women's Committee. This contest is for children in grades 1-8, with the winners to be announced Friday at 6:30 p.m.

After the balloon liftoff at 9:30 a.m. Saturday will be one of everyone's favorite events  the golden egg hunt. Typically, the egg contains cash for the lucky person who finds is. Clues will be distributed from the festival stage.

Other events at the stage include the Hula Hoop contest, the jump rope contest, the egg toss, Mr. and Ms. Prized Drumstick Contest, the cackling and crowing contest and, something new this year, a cheer chicks competition.

The festival will conclude with the Little Mister Rooster and Little Miss Hen Contest at 3 o'clock Saturday. This is the last official event, though the booths and vendors will be open longer.

Not enough, well, there is a bit more. According to Mary Godwin, executive director of the Chamber, the train ride will be back, and it's one of the most popular things at the festival for children. There will also be pony rides and a mini-carnival both days of the festival.

Those interested in chowing down at the festival will be pleased to learn Vanessa's Snow Balls will be back. Godwin said this is one of the more popular food booths. Flossy's Funnel Cakes will also return to the park.

Other food vendors include: the Rotary Club, Kiwanis Club, Lions Club, Fried What? (featuring such things as fried twinkies, fried pickles, fried green tomatoes and fried oreos), Ward's Chapel with barbecue, Phenea's Goin' Nuts, S&L Desserts (with chocolate dipped strawberries and bananas), the fish shack and kettle corn.

Once the appetite has been quelled, there will be some interesting arts and crafts booths to visit. Some will be informative, such as the South Arkansas Community Development booth, with data on its housing program; and UACCH, with info about its programs.

First Baptist Church's booth will have information about its vacation bible school, while Central Baptist Church will be selling night-glow necklaces. The PTP will be selling Curley Wolf T-shirts, socks and caps, while the Prescott High School cheerleaders will be selling T-shirts and shorts. The Prescott Curley Cub cheerleaders will be selling water. The PHS FFA will be selling chances on a Corvette, which will be on display at the festival.

Generation X's booth will have data on what it is and does. The Family Readiness Group will be selling magnetic ribbons and other military-type paraphernalia.

Other booths will feature games, one will have jellies, while another will have different kinds of birds. Fortunately, there will be a craft booth selling bird cages for those who buy a bird.

There will be vendors with candles, toys, purses, do-rags, beanie babies and inflatable toys.

Dixie Outfitters will have a booth at the park hawking its wares.

And, as a special treat, Jamel the Magician will walk around the park performing magic tricks for the visitors.

Deadlines for the athletic events have arrived and all who plan to participate should get their entry forms in at the Chamber now.