Friday, March 29, 2024

Bicentennial, parade, fireworks featured at annual Fall Festival

The Johnson County Fall Festival will be held Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Oct. 4-6 at the Vienna City Park.

The 2012 festival will in part celebrate Johnson County’s 200th anniversary. The Johnson County Chamber of Commerce and the City of Vienna will host this year’s event. Many other sponsors are also responsible for the weekend festivities.

As part of the Bicentennial celebration, and grand finale of the festival, the City of Vienna will present a fireworks display near the city park. The exciting show will begin at dusk Saturday.

The weekend events will include carnival rides; games, music and entertainment, great food and local vendors selling locally made products.

A favorite featured-event during the festival will be the Saturday morning Fall Festival Parade. The parade begins at 10 a.m. and will travel through the downtown area, ending at the city park.

Participants in the parade are being sought. To be a part of the parade lineup, please call the Chamber office at 658-2063. Participants are encouraged to feature a Bicentennial theme with their floats.

Several new competitions will be added this year, including a Bicentennial Costume Contest, old-fashioned sack races and a washer tournament.

Other returning proven favorite events will also be on the schedule. The chili cook-off and talent show will be held Thursday evening. Entry forms for the cook-off and talent show can be found elsewhere in this newspaper.

Entry forms for each contest can be found in The Vienna Times or Goreville Gazette. Entry forms should be mailed to the Chamber of Commerce at PO Box 1361, Vienna, Ill. 62995, or they can be turned in at the events.

The Vienna High School FFA will again present their popular antique tractor show on Saturday.

Advanced armbands for the carnival rides are available for $12.00 per session by calling the chamber at 618-658-2063 before October 4. Afterwards, the price is $15.00 each.

Armbands can be purchased at the following locations:

Saturday, Sept. 29 from 2 to 5 p.m., at the Vienna Park Depot;

Monday, Oct. 1 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Goreville’s SouthernTrust Bank;

Wed. and Thurs., Oct. 3 and 4, all day at the Vienna Park Depot.

Schedule of events
Thursday, Oct. 4
5 p.m. – Carnival rides open
6 p.m. – Chili Cook-Off
7 p.m. – Talent Show
10 p.m. – Carnival rides close
Friday, Oct. 5
5 p.m. – Carnival rides open
5 p.m. – Zumba – Demonstrations and public participation.
6 p.m. – Johnson County Cloggers Performance
7 p.m. – Musical entertainment by ‘Breeden, Bradley & Maze’
10 p.m. – Carnival rides close
Saturday, Oct. 6
8 a.m. – Parade line-up corner of College and N 4th Streets
10 a.m. – Bicentennial parade – Traveling around the courthouse square to the city park. Call 658-2063 before 3 p.m. Thursday to get in the line-up.
11 a.m. – Carnival rides open
1 p.m. – Pedal Push Contest
2 p.m. – Bicentennial Costume Contest
3 p.m. – Old Fashion Sack Races
4 p.m. – Washer Tournament
6 p.m. – Musical entertainment by ‘Sounds of Design’
Dusk – Fireworks
11 p.m. – Carnival rides close