Sheldon picnic begins today

Polish up your pitchin' shoes, grease your pullin' tractors and practice your dance moves; it's time for the 105th Sheldon Old Settler's Picnic. The annual festivities will begin in the city park with the opening ceremony at 6 o'clock tonight on the bandstand when the American Legion Post175 presents the flag and The Coleman Boys sing "The Star Spangled Banner."

This year's picnic promises to offer plenty to do and fun for the whole family. The Southern Fun Carnival armband night begins at 6. Armbands will be sold in advance at the Sheldon City Hall, Post Office or Sheldon Heritage Bank for $15 and $20 at the carnival. Last year's royalty and this year's hopefuls will be on hand Thursday evening and introduced 6:30-7 p.m.

Friday evening will see lots of competition between Pets on Parade at 6 p.m. and a talent show and fiddle contest starting at 7:30. The two-day softball tournament also begins at 3 p.m. on Friday and runs through Saturday. The first of three tractor pulls (lawn tractors) will be held on Friday evening at 7.

Saturday boasts a full day's activities with horseshoe pitching at 9 a.m., a baby show at 10 a.m., more softball action at 11 and a pedal tractor pull at 12:30 p.m. The afternoon hours will be filled with the music of The Coleman Boys at 3 p.m. and the sights and sounds of the parade beginning its march down Main Street at 6:30.

The royalty coronation and prizes will be awarded immediately after the parade at the bandstand, and the antique and classic tractor pull is right after the parade. There will be some other award presentations and a watermelon auction between 7:45 and 8.

There will be music and dancing all three nights of the picnic, beginning with Don Kelley and Friends on the bandstand, 7-9 p.m., Thursday. On Friday, there will be a street dance with the Marci Mitchell Band from 9-midnight; and on Saturday, Rick Cook and Seminole will play for your listening and dancing pleasure from 9-12:30. There will also be a fireworks display Saturday night at 10:30.

There will also be food and games and arts and crafts.

There are races and drawings scheduled, too. For more information, contact Darlene Sheridan at (417) 884-2445.