Pride of Hoyt set for this weekend

Thirty years ago, in the summer of 1986, a town celebration was held in Hoyt to note the southern Jackson County community’s centennial, complete with a parade, a talent show, street dances and a community church service.

Hoyt residents noted the encouraging response to the centennial celebration and decided to hold an annual community celebration to raise funds for a new community building in Hoyt City Park.

And that’s how one of Jackson County’s longest-running community events, Pride of Hoyt Days, was born.

The town festival is marking its 30th annual occurrence this Saturday, with many of the events that have become synonymous with the festival over the years intact, event organizer Nancy Bailey said.

“We thought, let’s keep the community celebration going,” Bailey said. “We had a dance in the park, and we had a dinner with hamburgers, brats, chips and a drink. That’s about all we did for several years, but it really started to grow later on as more people got involved with it… It just developed over those 30 years into what it is now.”

Today, the community-wide celebration features food and craft vendors, a mud volleyball tournament, displays of classic cars and tractors, kids’ games and a garden tractor pull in addition to the parade, the dance, dinners and the community church service on Sunday.

Funds raised during the day’s activities benefit the Pride of Hoyt Days Committee, which Bailey said remains involved with park and community improvement projects. Over the years, she said, the committee has been involved with building new restrooms, installing a gazebo and a flower garden and upgrading electrical services in the park.

“It takes commitment and work, but if you’ve got pride in your community, you’ll want to do those kinds of things,” Bailey said. “I love this community, so I get out there and do all the volunteering that I can.”

The committee’s next big project, she said, is getting a billboard erected along U.S. Highway 75 that advertises the businesses and attractions that Hoyt has to offer.

“We want people to know that there’s something a mile off the road,” Bailey said.

Two longtime Hoyt residents, Bud and Verna Ramage, have been named grand marshals of this year’s Pride of Hoyt parade, which begins at 2 p.m. Saturday. Bailey said the Ramages are well-regarded in the Hoyt community for their support of the town’s activities.

Saturday’s events begin with a breakfast from 7 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in the community building, where Bailey said members of Hoyt United Methodist Church will provide a morning meal for a free-will donation. Several items donated by merchants in Hoyt, Mayetta and Holton will be on display for a silent auction that will go until 5 p.m., she said.

“We’ve got some really terrific items up for auction this year,” she added.

The festival’s craft show will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the 4-H building, it was reported, and any interested area arts and crafts vendors are encouraged to contact Bailey for more information on setting up a booth.

One of the annual event’s most popular sports activities will begin at 8 a.m., Bailey said. The festival’s mud volleyball tournament will begin at that time, and teams are asked to register as soon as possible. To register, contact Kim Clements at (785) 986-6970.

Then, at 8:30 a.m., the first of two fun runs will begin in the park, with participants in sixth grade and older running first, followed by a run for kids in pre-school through fifth grade at 9:30 a.m. Bailey said Melissa Hosier is in charge of the fun runs, and there is no registration fee for the event — just line up at the south entrance of the park, in front of the community building.

Classic cars and trucks and antique tractors are invited to the park for their respective shows, which will begin at 9 a.m. and continue through 4 p.m. — those interested in showing off their classic vehicles are invited to “just show up,” Bailey said. Various food vendors will also start setting up in the park at about 9 a.m.

Activities for kids of all ages are also set to begin at 9 a.m., with a kid’s train, obstacle course, moon bounce and other games. However, Bailey noted that horse-drawn wagon rides, previously advertised as part of the festival, will not be held this year, although plans are being made for a substitute attraction for all ages.

There will also be a horseshoe tournament starting at 10 a.m., and prior registration is required for those interested in participating. For more information or to register, call Mike McClaskey at (785) 986-6341.

A garden tractor pull will once again be held as part of the Pride of Hoyt festival, with weigh-in to begin at noon and pulls to begin at 1 p.m. For more information or to sign up for the pulls, call Keith Hug at (785) 966-2468.

Starting at about 1:30 p.m., participants in the Pride of Hoyt parade will begin lining up in the Royal Valley High School parking lot. The parade will begin at 2 p.m. and proceed north on Highland Avenue to the city park.

Then, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., the festival’s fried chicken dinner will begin in the community building; dinners are $7.50 per plate. Hoyt Baptist Church will also be serving homemade ice cream, Bailey said, and there is no charge for the dessert.

Saturday’s activities will conclude with a dance featuring Nucklehead Jones, a Topeka-based 1980s cover band that Bailey said features Hoyt resident Todd Breckenridge, from 9 p.m. to midnight in the park. Admission is $5 for anyone “kindergarten and up,” she said.

“Everybody raves about them!” Bailey said of the band. “People follow them all over because they’re so good.”

The festival will conclude with a community church service starting at 10 a.m. in the park’s shelter house.

Personal utility vehicles are not allowed off the park’s main road during the event, with exceptions to be made for handicapped persons and event staff. Volunteers are also being sought to help with the day’s event, Hosier said.

For more information, call Bailey at (785) 986-6758. 

The Holton Recorder

109 W. Fourth St.
Holton, KS 66436
Phone: 785-364-3141
 

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