DECATUR — The sweltering July heat means that the 58th Annual Decatur Barbecue Festival, planned for Aug. 6, is just around the corner.
Chamber of Commerce members met on Thursday night to make sure the final details of the event are in place. The Barbecue will be held on a Saturday this year for the first time ever. The day will begin with a fun run, and include the traditional children's games, parade, barbecued chicken, hamburgers and hot dogs, beauty pageants, and entertainment by Gerald Edmondson and Marty Stuart. This year will also feature a car show andNoArk Wrestling.
Registration for the Miss Decatur Barbecue Pageant, Tiny Tot Contest and Fun Run is now open. Entry forms for all three events are available at the DecaturState Bank, or online at the bank's website, www. DecaturStateBank.net.
Miss Decatur Barbecue
Girls ages 15 to 19 may compete in the Miss Decatur Barbecue Contest, which will begin at 7 p.m. on the stage in Veterans Park. Contestants will be judged on a five minute interview with judges and appearances on stage during the sport wear and evening wear portion of the pageants.
Participation in the parade is required and contestants will be responsible for getting their own car for the parade, which will begin at 11 a.m.
Entries are due by July 30 and fees are $35. The Decatur Chamber of Commerce will sponsor the pageant winner in the Benton County Fair Pageant Tiny Tot Contest
The Tiny Tot Contest is open to boys and girls,ages 4 to 6. The contest will be held at 7:30 p.m. on the stage in Veterans Park.
Applicants must wear summer clothing for the pageant - no suits or heavy dresses will be allowed because of the hot August weather.
Children are asked to be in the Old City Park by 10:50 a.m., Aug. 6, so they can ride in the parade on the Tiny Tot Float. The parade begins at 11 a.m. Very cool clothing is also suggested for the parade.
The deadline for entries is July 30. There is a $20 entry fee and applications must include a copy of the child's birth certificate and a wallet-sized photo for the newspaper.
Fun Run
The 2K, 5K and 10K Fun Run will be begin at 7 a.m. at the Edmiston Ball Fields.
Registration for the race will begin at 6:30 a.m.Entry forms are available at the Decatur State Bank or online at www.DecaturStateBank.Net. Entry fees are $10 per person for early registration and $15 on the day of the race.
Parade
The Decatur Barbecue Parade will be held a little earlier than usual this year to combat the heat and accommodate the additional events.
Lineup for the parade will begin at 10:30 a.m. in the Old City Park. The parade will begin at 11 a.m. and make its way down Main Street to Veterans Park.
Local clubs, churches, businesses and individuals are encouraged to participate in the parade. For more information, call 752-3912.
The Chamber will meet one more time before the Barbecue, at 5:30 p.m., July 25, at the Gallery Cafe, for a special planning session.
News, Pages 16 on 07/13/2011