Festival attendance high this year


Thursday, June 28, 2012
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Festival attendance high this year

By SUE WATSON
Staff Writer

Photos by Sue Watson

Mason Gray enjoys some tasty festival food as he tours the activities with Sherri Bing.

All things worked for the good at the Byhalia Festival, this year put on by the Byhalia Lions Club with assistance of several community volunteer groups and the town.

Bubba Pinkham entertains with the Bubba Feathers Band.

Attendance was high all three nights (June 14-16), according to Terry Rodgers with the festival committee. An estimated crowd of 2,500 attended the carnival and musical entertainment Thursday night, he said. Around 3,500 were in attendance Friday night and 4,200 Saturday night. The J Bar B Rodeo was a crowd pleaser and successful due to a good field for cowboys and cowgirls to work on.

First, there was dry weather and easy access for the entire three days. Second, there were plenty of volunteers helping with parking, gate keeping, electric supply, and security. Third, there were plenty of eager children enjoying the carnival rides and food. Attentive parents or custodians cared lovingly for their children and gave them all the treats they could afford.

“The weather just cooperated this year,” said Charles Crain, a festival organizer. “It was just plus, plus, plus. We had very good crowds.”

Thursday night was one of the best in the history of the festival since thunderstorms didn’t rumble through the area.

“Everything went well,” Rodgers said. “It was one of the easiest ones we’ve had.”

Parking was free this year and the Byhalia FFA Alumni Club and FFA youth pitched in to keep the parking easy and close to the gate. FFA’ers showed their true leadership skills the entire time in managing traffic at the lot, Crain said.

Photos by Sue Watson

Ashley Reed, Sarah Simmons, Jerrie Camp and Savannah Hanks keep cool in the shade while other family members go to the rides. Ally Reed is the baby pictured.

Tyler and Jason Crum wear new hair styles for the festival.

The Byhalia Lions Club, in existence for 66 years, will distribute the proceeds to local projects including the Byhalia FFA, the Boy Scouts, the Byhalia Police Department and to other town projects, Rodgers said.

“All proceeds go back to the community,” he said. “We also thank the landowners, the FFA and the Town of Byhalia.

Ava Rodgers has fun in the water ball, with a push from Sonni McKinney (back).

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