WILGUS – Sweet smells filled the air Saturday morning at the official kickoff for the annual Old Fashioned Sorghum Festival.

Saturday, September 23, 2000

WILGUS – Sweet smells filled the air Saturday morning at the official kickoff for the annual Old Fashioned Sorghum Festival.

The festival is held each September and features many old-fashioned tools, foods and entertainment for all ages, said Judy Balmer, one of several who help organize the event.

"This is our 16th year of the festival," Mrs. Balmer said. "In addition to the sorghum making, we have something for everyone."

She said festival-goers who missed Saturday’s events will still get a chance today to enjoy the many activities available.

"We will have live country music entertainment," Mrs. Balmer said. "We have a wide variety of old-fashioned foods, cakes, pies and candies."

Other attractions featured at the festival include candles and homemade crafts, she said.

"We also have a beautiful display of quilts and a large display of antique farm equipment," Mrs. Balmer said. "There are lots of pumpkins, gourds and fall decorating accessories available. We also have several old-fashioned tool shops."

The festival attracts many flea market type items, she said.

"We also have a petting zoo for the children to enjoy," she said.

As today’s festivities near their end, the festival will feature an auction, which includes a colt and several large pumpkins.

The heart of the festival is with the Lawrence County Draft Horse Association.

"The horse club wanted to start a fall family-oriented festival when this all started," she said. "Today, it’s that and more. This festival literally attracts over 5,000 people between the two days."

Charlie Nelson of Decatur, said the festival is a great time for fellowship.

"This is a really great opportunity to see people I haven’t seen for years and to see everyone out enjoying themselves," Nelson said.

Festival participant William Myers of Aid said the festival continues to grow each year.

"I started bringing my antique farm equipment here a few years after the festival began and each year the festival keeps getting bigger and bigger," Myers said.

He said his display of equipment came from years of collecting.

"I’ve got plows I used when I was a boy," he said. "I just like the old time way of doing things."