Festival declared a success

Cold, windy weather last weekend didn’t keep the crowds away from the Graceville Harvest Day Festival, a good sign for the many upcoming local events.
Graceville Mayor Charles Holman said he figures at least 3,000 people turned out for harvest day,  despite the bracing temperatures.
“It was so cold, but people came out to support us,” Holman said. “I say 3,000, but that’s a conservative estimate. I really think we had a lot more than that. It gets bigger and better every year.”
As grand marshal of the parade, Holman rode a convertible with the top down, but said it was a ride well worth the physical discomfort. He led a string of about 150 parade participants.
Holman said downtown businesses and those lining up at the festival grounds at the VF Factory Outlet Stores mall were teeming with customers.
“I went inside, and you couldn’t stir the people with a stick,” Holman said. “It was great. I don’t know what we would have done if it hadn’t been real cold – the place couldn’t have held ‘em.”
Holman said that’s a problem he’d like to have, and hopes next year’s festival will be even bigger.
He especially liked the antique car show, which had about 225 entries this year.
He awarded the Mayor’s Trophy to a black 1954 Cadillac.
“It was longer than Elvis’, Holman said. “Everything on it was original, it was always chauffeur-driven, and kept under roof.”
He said it was a tough choice, though.
“We had one full-restored car from 1905, we had Model Ts, Model As, a Model B. We had a bunch of those ‘gangster cars’ with running boards, from the late 1920s.  The show was just really wonderful. It was put together by Terry Allen, who owns the Badcock store at the ‘Y’ in town. He pulled them out of everywhere.”
Holman also praised City Manager Eugene Adams, volunteer Theresa Bush, whose family owns Bush Paint and Supply store in town, and city clerk Michelle Watkins being key players in the success of the event.
Holman said entertainers like Shane Owens and the Ivey Brothers, to name just a couple, also contributed much to its success. Kids games, a train ride and pony rides, along with food and crafts vendors added their own special touch to the festival as well, Holman said.