By Joey McWilliams
CADDO – “It’s a day of free family fun!”
Vesta Baker, one of the members of the Caddo Community Association, described the Caddo Heritage Day that way.
The annual event is set for Saturday, Oct. 21, with this year’s theme: “Rock the World – Be Happy.”
Some of the highlights on the schedule are:
7:30 a.m. – Ag Booster Club selling breakfast burritos
8:30 a.m. – Parade entries registration begins at the high school
9:00 a.m. – Silent Auction and Quilt Show begin at the Rock Community Building
10:oo a.m. – Parade begins. Parade Marshall: Betty Hyde
11:00 a.m. – All activities start – bounce house, vendors, and more
12:15 p.m. – Dance Unlimited Cloggers perform
1:10 p.m. – Street games begin, including turtle race and longest beard contest
1:50 p.m. – Caddo cheerleaders perform
2:15 p.m. – More live performances, including music by Jason Tally
For the third year, Heritage Day is hosting a Car Show, and Baker said that has brought a new crowd to the event.
2017 Heritage Day shirts can be purchased at Craighead’s while supplies last.
“They were here for the car show and participated in the whole thing,” Baker said. “We’ve been pleased to see it grow.”
Baker moved to Caddo in 2003 and said she has enjoyed participating in Heritage Day each year.
“I’m not a hometown person, but I really enjoy seeing people reconnect with old friends,” Baker said. “And I enjoy families bringing their children and enjoying the same things they enjoyed when they were kids. You’ll hear people that are in their 20’s talk about when they used to do the sack race or whatever. I think young parents enjoy having their children enjoy the same things they did as children.”
Honorees for the 2017 Heritage Day include: Betty Hyde, the Parade Marshall, and Gary and Mary Maurer, the Outstanding Citizens of the Year.
Jennifer Wilcox, secretary for the Caddo Community Association, said there will be many things for kids to do during the day.
“Under the pavilion, there will kids games and bounce houses for the kids,” Wilcox said. “There will be wrist bands so you will pay just a one-time fee for all day.”
The pavilion will be across from the post office.
Wilcox said there will be raffles, baby contests, a Little Miss and Little Mr. contest and participation from Caddo elementary students.
“Some of the students will be singing songs from the 50’s and that’s a really cute time,” Wilcox said. “And the whole elementary has the opportunity to do an art project. We hang those up at the police department hallway and we judge those. The winners get ribbons for first, second and third.
“And Melinda Craighead does a scarecrow contest. A class can win and she does a pizza party for them.”
Baker said the attendance has been increasing over the last three years and summed up the idea for having a Heritage Day.
“I would say the purpose is to celebrate the heritage of Caddo and the joys of small-town life.”
