Old Fashioned Trading Days kicks off Thursday

Williamsburg’s 39^th Annual Old Fashioned Trading Days, which will take place Thursday-Saturday (Sept. 8-10), appears to be fully back from the pandemic with every single vendor spot reserved.

Williamsburg Tourism Director Alvin Sharpe said there is quite a bit of things to do, including some new stuff like an art class by Kathy Lay and a soap making demonstration that the Soap Barn’s Becky Warner Thursday afternoon.

“We are trying to do some things that involve other people, especially kids and so forth,” Sharpe said. “We have real good entertainment this year, especially if you like country rock. We have Black Kettle Swamp, Paint Creek, Savanah Faith, County Wide, The Zac Hart Band, Chad Rogers and Low Down South. This isn’t including the gospel music and the bluegrass. It is a pretty good schedule. We tried to do a lot more to get more people involved.”

As usual, stage one, which is located near Bill Woods Park, will largely feature gospel and bluegrass music. Stage two, which is located on Main Street, will primarily feature country and rock music.

Food concessions, crafts and other booths will set up on Wednesday.

Thursday festivities

Events won’t kick off Thursday until 3 p.m. when Kathy Lay presents a free art class on stage two followed by Becky Warner at 4 p.m. with a soap making demonstration.

Black Kettle Swamp will perform at 6 p.m. followed by Paint Creek at 8 p.m. on stage two.

Gospel music will start on stage one at 5 p.m. with Straight Creek followed by Immanuel Baptist Church, Higher Ground Singers and Kelly Crabb & Bowling Sisters.

Friday festivities

Friday festivities will start with garden show and canning registration from 9 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Judging will follow at 11 a.m. and entries can be picked up between 3:30 – 4 p.m.

Starting at 10 a.m. Friday, stage one will place host to performances from a variety of school groups.

Whitley Central Intermediate fifth graders will perform at 10 a.m., followed by the University of the Cumberlands Band at 10:30 a.m. At 11 a.m. the Williamsburg High School Choir will perform followed by the Williamsburg High School Band at 11:30 a.m.

Outlaw Revolution Doug Thompson will perform at noon and Bobby Hamblin & The Lawless take the stage at 1:30 p.m. on stage one.

Entertainment on stage one will resume starting at 4 p.m. with bluegrass music featuring Gene Siler & Brushy Mountain, The Daltons, Virgil Bowlin, Sunset Canyon Band and Tidal Wave.

Randy Roberts will perform a magic show on stage two at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Ron Lightly will perform a ventriloquist show at 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.

This will be the first time that either artist has performed on one of the main stages during Trading Days, Sharpe said.

Savanah Faith will perform on stage two at 7 p.m. and County Wide will perform at 8 p.m.

Saturday festivities

Saturday festivities will kick off with the car show that will take place from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the parking lot of the Whitley County Judicial Center.

Registration will start at 10 a.m. for the Sid Strunk Memorial Corn Toss Tournament with play beginning at 11 a.m.

Starting at 10 a.m. on stage two, there will be a beauty pageant for contestants ages 0-18.

On stage one starting at 11 a.m. the Dance Centre will perform, followed by Leanne Hoffman at 11:45 a.m., Troublesome Times at 1 p.m. and 3 Years Apart at 2 p.m.

A gospel singing on stage one in Bill Woods Park will start at 4 p.m. with His Heart, followed by The Believers, Jonathan Wilburn, The Whisnants and The Primitives.

The evening’s entertainment will start on stage two with the Zac Hart Band at 5 p.m., followed by Chad Rogers at 7 p.m. and conclude with Low Down South at 8 p.m.

For more information call (606) 549-0530 or 1-800-552-0530.