It is just two weeks until the Greene Countrie Towne Festival and the Greenfield Rotary Club is calling on the community to help with the festival auction that funds numerous projects in Greenfield.
Specifically, the Rotary Club needs items donated for the auction.
“It’s really the main fundraiser we have for the club and for all the things we do in the community, like for the hospital, library, band boosters, historical society, maintenance and upkeep on the Recreation Center, and more,” said Chuck Miller, a Greenfield Rotary member and co-chairman of this year’s auction with Steve Pearce. “It’s not really a money maker for us, it’s just us trying to do something for the community.”
The festival will be held July 14-16 (it actually kicks off on July 13 with the queen pageant) and the auction will be held from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, July 15. Donated items can be dropped off during regular business hours at The Letter Shop, located at 247 Jefferson St., any time during regular business hours up until around noon the day of the auction.
“What we’re really looking for is stuff people have around the house that is new or in nice condition,” Miller said. “Things like framed prints, power tools, mowers, chippers, bikes, coolers, gift cards, sports tickets, sports equipment and things like that are what have sold well in the past.”
Ten original prints of Greenfield scenes by local artist Tammy Wells are another auction attraction.
According to the Rotary Club, the auction and donations by community members and businesses have allowed the club to undertake the following projects:
• Purchasing and maintaining the Ralph Phillips Recreation and Civic Center which houses the Highland County Community Action Greenfield Head Start program on the first floor. The second floor is used for various community activities and can be rented for things like wedding receptions, birthday and graduation parties, and more.
• Organizing the festival that’s held on the third weekend of every July promoting community involvement through various activities over the weekend.
• The Needy Kids Program that provides food, clothing, and toys to more than 400 children in the community for the holidays and throughout the year.
• Purchasing and distributing dictionaries to every third grader and thesauruses to every fifth grader in the Greenfield Exempted Village School District each year.
• Running the Greenfield part of the telethon for the Highland County Society for Children and Adults.
• The Rotary 4-Way Test Speech Contest which the Rotary Club provides a scholarship to the winner of yearly.
The Rotary Club has set a goal of raising $30,000 through the auction this year, which would be more than it has raised in recent years.
After Thursday’s queen pageant, opening ceremonies for the festival take place at 4:30 p.m. Friday.
The featured entertainment this year will be the Absolute Journey Tribute on the main stage at 9 p.m. Saturday. Other musical entertainment includes Taking Back Summer at 8 p.m. and Shane Runion, a 2015 CMA Emerging Artist, at 10:30 p.m., both on Friday. On Saturday at 5 p.m., 7 Mile Bluegrass will play on the main stage.
Some of the other festival attractions include a queens’ parade; grand parade; car and truck show; antique tractor show; craft show; 5K run; a midway full of food, games and vendors; and rides for kids of all ages.
The rides and some games will be provided by Miracle Amusements, and family-owned operation that has been in business since 1992.
Ride ticket prices will be as follows:
• Throughout the festival tickets are $1 and rides take multiple tickets.
• Friday, July 14, 5-11 p.m. – wristband $12 (good for all rides the entire evening).
• Saturday, July 15, noon to 5 p.m. – wristband $12 (good for all rides during time period).
• Saturday, July 15, 5-11 p.m. – wristband $12 (good for all rides during time period).
• Sunday, July 16, noon to 5 p.m. – wristband $12 (good for all rides during time period).
• Presale wristband tickets good for one wristband for any one time period are available for $10. To purchase a presale ride ticket contact Andrew Surritt at 740-572-6737.
Watch The Times-Gazette for more festival information as it approaches.
Reach Jeff Gilliland at 937-402-2522 or [email protected].
