Festival of the Hills – the annual celebration of Appalachian life – is only three days away.

Thursday, September 06, 2001

Festival of the Hills – the annual celebration of Appalachian life – is only three days away.

This year’s festival will begin Saturday at 9:45 a.m. at Ohio University Southern Campus with the opening ceremony.

Ironton Mayor Bob Cleary will make remarks and singer Emily Fitzpatrick will perform the National Anthem.

The festival continues until 3 p.m. Saturday, then starts up again Sunday at 11 a.m., with an old-fashioned Appalachian church service courtesy of Dave Lucas and musician Ray Wilson and others.

The festival will end Sunday at 4:30 p.m.

Along the way, visitors can see an impressive array of exhibits and musical acts, some of the best in its 15-year history, festival chair Dott Mayne said.

New crafts and exhibits this year include porcelain painting by Mildred Kubilis, art work by cartoonist John Kubilis, soap making, a quilt show with live demonstrations and a history exhibit with postage stamps featuring African Americans.

Activities for children will include free pony rides and a program, "Making Science Fun for Children" by Dr. Robert Culp as "Mr. Wizard," animal balloons by Peppy the clown, portrayed by Dwight Smith and story-telling Saturday by Cheryl Blankenship, Briggs Lawrence County Public Library children’s librarian.

Some of exhibits of historical interest are the traditional craft fair, apple butter making, Civil War memorabilia provided by Judge Frank McCown’s collection, the festival’s Conestoga wagon and trolley rides. In addition, there will be a camp site, Indian artifacts and an Indian dance by Boy Scout Troop 105 of Ironton.

 

Saturday

– 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Kids Day.

– 10 a.m., Mr. Wizard, on stage outside.

– 11 a.m., Walk Around Show outside.

– 11:30 a.m., Emily Fitzpatrick, on stage outside.

– Noon, Storytelling, Cheryl Blankenship from Briggs Library, patio outside.

– 12:30 p.m., Bobby Maynard, on stage outside.

– 1:30 p.m., Mr. Wizard, on stage outside.

– 2 p.m., Emily Fitzpatrick, outside on stage.

– 3 p.m. Bobby Maynard, on stage outside.

 

Sunday, Sept. 9

– 11 a.m., Church Service, Dave Lucas and Ray Wilson, Baptist church singers Crossing Jordan, on stage outside.

– Noon, Advance IV quartet, on stage outside.

– 12:30 p.m., Emily Fitzpatrick, on stage outside.

– 1 p.m., Wiley Dew, on stage outside.

– 1:45 p.m., Emily Fitzpatrick, on state outside.

– 2:30 p.m., Crossing Jordan, Baptist gospel quartet on stage outside.

– 3 p.m., Porter Creek Cloggers, outside.

 

Free Pony Rides

– Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Sunday, 1-3:30 p.m., for children 12 and under.

 

Trolley Rides

– $1, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, and 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday.