Last year's Piggott Fourth of July picnic attracted a full stage of candidates and elected officials. Among those joining Clay County Judge Gary Howell and Mayor Gerald Morris on stage were--Governor Mike Beebe, Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor and Congressman Marion Berry among others.(file photo) [Click to enlarge]

The annual Piggott Fourth of July Picnic and celebration promises something for everyone, and this year's activities get underway Thursday evening with the first two pageants. The theme for the annual picnic, which benefits the Piggott Cemetery Association, is "Honor the Military."

At 6:30 p.m. Thursday the Young Junior Miss Piggott Pageant will be held, followed at 7:30 p.m. by the Young Miss Piggott Pageant. Thursday evening also will feature armband night from 6 to 10 p.m. on the midway, and barbecue will be on sale at the log cabin beginning at 4 p.m.

Parade participants will begin to line-up at 8:30 a.m. Friday, July 4, and the annual parade will get underway at 9 a.m. This year's Grand Marshall is John Carlton, a long-time area businessman and owner of Master Marketing in Piggott.

Activities at the picnic grounds will get underway around 10 a.m. with the presentation of the colors, National Anthem, invocation and welcome from Mayor Gerald Morris. The first of the political speakers will be introduced by C.W. Knauts at 10:30.

Speeches and entertainment will be featured until 11:30 a.m. when the first of the pageants of the day will be held. The pageants will continue throughout the afternoon, and in-between there'll be entertainment from Colin Benbrook, Jim Copelin and James Maynard's Band and later from Patrick Patterson, Emma Gookin and Cole Thomas.

Around 6:30 p.m. the Holmes Brothers Band will take to the stage, and they're scheduled to entertain until 8 p.m. when the Miss Piggott Pageant is held. The band also is expected to entertain following the pageant and prior to the fireworks display at 11 p.m.

The final event of the day will be the drawing for a 2008 GMC pickup, which will be held around 11:30 p.m. at the main stage. Advance tickets currently are on sale from cemetery board members, and tickets will be available at the picnic grounds on July 4.

The midway will also be in operation throughout the day and night on Friday, and the kitchen will be open throughout the majority of the day.

A complete line-up of all the various pageants, their times and contact information for the organizers, can be found elsewhere in this issue of The Times.