It's picnic time in Piggott

The weather forecast is excellent and a full day of activities is in store for visitors to the 82nd annual Piggott Fourth of July Picnic.

The picnic, which benefits the upkeep of the Piggott Cemetery, will be held Saturday, July 4, and with the event falling on a weekend, organizers expect a big crowd.

Activities at the picnic grounds are scheduled to get underway Friday, July 3, with armband night on the midway. The first of the pageants also will be held beginning at 6:30 that evening as Young Junior Miss Piggott is crowned, followed by the Young Miss Piggott pageant at 7:30.

A complete schedule of pageants may be found elsewhere in this issue. Friday evening also will feature a hot dog eating contest at 6 p.m. at Independence Park, followed by the first games of an adult baseball tournament that will wrap up Saturday.

Saturday will kick off at 9 a.m. with the annual parade. For 2009 the Grand Marshall is cemetery board president Royce Williams, who will have the honor of leading the annual parade from its staging area at the First Baptist Church to the picnic grounds. Also taking part will be Gov. Mike Beebe, Senator Blanche Lincoln, Congressman Marion Berry and other state and local officials and dignitaries.

Along with a variety of political speeches and pageants, there will be a number of entertainers, with Cathy Norred serving as the emcee.

Around 11:15 a.m. Patrick Patterson and The Band will perform on the main stage, and at 1:30 p.m. Britney Mann will be featured. Also performing will be Kristen Scott, who, along with Colin, Drew and Dylan are scheduled to perform around 2 p.m.

At 4 p.m. Emma Gookin will be the featured entertainer, followed by another appearance by Patrick Patterson and The Band at 5. From 6 p.m. until the Miss Piggott pageant at 8 p.m., entertainment will be provided by the Colburn Brothers Band.

The annual fireworks display will be held at 10 p.m. this year, a bit earlier than usual, and the drawing for three individual $5,000 prizes will be held afterward.

The midway also will be in operation throughout the day Saturday. The kitchen will be open and barbecue will be available in the log cabin.

Those interested in being included on the mailing list for books of tickets may call 598-3357 for more information.