41ST MOLASSES FEST STARTS - "A Time To Come Together"

(09/25/2008)

WV MOLASSES FESTIVAL - Sept. 25-27

While the West Virginia Molasses Festival focuses on honoring the long-time tradition of molasses making, the festival is also a Calhoun homecoming event.

The theme for this year's event is "Simply Sweet."

Dawn Burris and Crystal Brenneman, Co-Chairpersons, say "We would like to extend a warm welcome to each of you to our forty-first festival. Many hours of devoted time and effort make the Molasses Festival a big community event - a time to slow down and enjoy life in our county."

Arnoldsburg resident Junior Morris will be the parade marshal for Saturday's event which starts at 1 p.m.

Thursday evening (Sept. 25) is the crowning of the King and Queen of the festival, a fundraiser for the Arnoldsburg PTO, in addition to a pretty baby contest.

A sausage and pancake dinner is slated for Friday afternoon (Sept. 26) starting at 3:30 p.m., followed by Gospel Music at 7:30 p.m. featuring the Bowen Family and the Temple Gates

Saturday's (Sept. 27) highlights include lots of live entertainment on the indoor and outdoor stages, including Jake Krack, the Calhoun Kitchen Band, Cover I Christian Rock Band, Karaoke with Connie Sullivan, Crossfire, and lots of country music.

In addition to the big parade, there is a Rubber Ducky Race and contests for the kids.

See more parade information below.

Throughout the event there are exhibits, crafts, quilts, country store and Lion's Club Bingo.

The new Calhoun County Flag will be introduced during a flag raising ceremony conducted by the Arnoldsburg Eagles 4-H Club.

Something new to this year's event is a Molasses Festival Recipe Cook-Off. For more information and a list of rules see Recipe Cook-Off

Molasses Festival Parade this Saturday:

The 41st Molasses Festival Parade is set to kick off at 1 p.m. Saturday, September 27 at the Arnoldsburg Elementary School in Arnoldsburg. Parade sign-up begins at 10 a.m. and everyone must be registered by 11:30 a.m.

Categories for this year's parade are as follows: Bicycles, 4-Wheelers, Floats, Antique Cars, Antique Tractors, Marching Majorettes, and the horse/mule entries will include: Harnessed Horses-Show, Harnessed Horses-Single-Hitch and Multiple Hitch; Horses-Riding Adult and Horses-Riding Youth; Mules-Hitched and Mules-Riding. There will be a Best-Of-Parade Award.

All horses and mules must present a negative Coggins certificate.

For more information contact Norma Collins at 655-7578.

FLASHBACK 2007 - A TIME TO COME TOGETHER