Macon County Hillbilly Days This Week!
Macon County Hillbilly Days returns this week, and promises to be bigger and better than ever before!
The 45th Annual Macon County Hillbilly Days event, sponsored by the Lafayette Lions and Lioness Lions Clubs is set for this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, June 17, 18 & 19, 2021, at Key Park, in Lafayette.
This year there are three new events that promise to be very entertaining, including the 1st Annual Macon County Hillbilly Days Outhouse Race set for Saturday, June 19, at Key Park. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and the race starts at 9. The cost is $20 per team. Please contact the Outhouse Race committee or a Lafayette Lions Club member for more information: Lion Alex Martinez at 615-406-0333, Lion Tashena Martinez at 615-388-2257.
Also new this year is the Hillbilly Day Rocky Top Talent Show for kids 12 or younger, and contestants will have 5 minutes to do their act. There will be a $5 fee to participate in the talent show, which begins at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 19. Prizes are 1st place, $100; 2nd place, $50; and 3rd place, $25. Kids can register the day of the event. If you have any questions contact James Harrison via text at 615-670-5636.
Another new event this year is the 1st Annual Hillbilly Days Cornhole Tournament set for Saturday, June 19, at Key Park, beginning at 10 a.m. $20 per team-early registration and $30 per team day of event. Register online by emailing hillbillydayscornhole@gmail.com.
The Macon County Hillbilly Days opening ceremony will be held at 6:00 p.m. this Thursday, June 17, 2021, followed by the Itty Bitty Hillbillies Beauty Pageant at 6:30 and a cakewalk at 7:00 p.m. Pageant entry forms can be picked up or dropped off at Citizens Bank (main branch) or Whittemore’s Bookkeeping (across from Piggly Wiggly). Girls 0-8 years old and boys 0-4 years old can enter the pageant, and all are encouraged to dress in their finest “Hillbilly” attire. All first place winners in each category will also be invited to participate in the Best Overall Itty Bitty Hillbilly and Most Itty Bitty Hillbilly Costume categories.
Kade Allen & The Hollars will play at 4:30 on Friday afternoon, June 18. Members include Kade Allen, vocals/acoustic guitar; Clay West, lead guitar; Will Talley, bass; and Josh Holbrook, drums. The gospel concert will take place at 6 p.m.
The highly anticipated fish fry will also be sure to draw a crowd starting at 4 p.m. on Friday, June 18. Cost for the fish fry, which will include fish, fries, slaw, white beans, Ms. Ercie’s hush puppies and a drink, will be $10 per adult and $6 for children 12 and under. All different varieties of fried pies will also be available for purchase.
The Cast Iron Cooking Contest is back this year and will kick-off at 1 p.m. in the back pavilion, on Saturday, June 19. The three cooking competition categories include an all-in-one-main course, desserts, and breads. The cost to enter is $5 per category.
Saturday will also be jam-packed with exciting instrumental events for all ages kicking-off at 10 a.m. with a flat top guitar showdown, followed by mandolin, beginner fiddle (under 16), harmonica, banjo, Jr. Fiddle (ages 16-54), Risey Scruggs Memorial Sr. Fiddle Challenge (ages 55 and up) and the 7th Annual Ped Scruggs Memorial Fiddle Challenge – Jr. Fiddle vs. Sr. Fiddle, winners prize-$100.
The Billy and Joanna Roark Community Service Award will be held at 2:30 p.m. and the Mr. and Miss Hillbilly contest will be held around 2:45 p.m. This year’s Mr. Hillbilly is Alex Martinez and Miss Hillbilly is Melissa Evetts – the two will battle it out to see who raised the most money, with the loser receiving a pie in the face.
Singing and dance competitions will begin at 3 p.m., with the Buck Dance competitions (ages 41 & under), followed by the 42 and up Buck Dance performers at 3:15, and at 3:30 the youth talent show will get underway.
Male vocalist performances are set for 4:30 and female vocalist performances will follow at 5:30.
First place winners in the Jr. Fiddle & Risey Scruggs Memorial Sr. Fiddle Challenge will win $150. First place winners in the male vocalist and female vocalist will win $100. First place winners in buck dancing, beginning fiddle and harmonica will win $50. First place winners in the flat top guitar, mandolin, banjo, and kids talent contest will also win a $100. Cash prizes will also be awarded to the second and third place winners. The entry fee for each category is $5.
The Bluegrass Band Competition, better known as “The Big Show” will end the three day event at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, with the first place winner taking home $700, the second place winner awarded $400, and third place receiving $200. A $30 entry fee is required to compete in the bluegrass competition, and first and second place bands are asked to play 30 minutes after the competition is completed.
Those planning to compete in any of the competitions are to be registered at least one hour prior to the scheduled time of the category they are competing in.
This year’s Big Show will be held in memory of James Arnett, who provided sound and equipment for the event for many years.
Other activities for guests to enjoy throughout the event will be a variety of arts and craft booths, games, contests, a waterslide, bouncy houses, a train, water ball and much more.
For the second year, there will be a Hillbilly Jail, where you can pay to have someone put in jail and they must pay to be released!
Those who plan to attend are encouraged to “bring your lawn chairs and enjoy three days of music and fun!!”
“Everybody looks forward to this event each year,” said Monica Gann. “It’s a family-friendly event and it serves a great purpose. We hope to see everyone at this year’s Macon County Hillbilly Days event, which kicks off this Thursday, July 17 – you don’t want to miss it.”
For general information about this year’s Hillbilly Days event, contact Monica Gann at 615-666-5196 or B.J. Blankenship at 615-699-2495. For craft or booth information contact B.J. Blankenship by phone or email: bjblank1322@yahoo.com.
