|
Annie Oakley Weekend
Bigger & Better than Ever
By Bob Robinson
“This is a Christmas Fern from the Colony of Maryland,” said John
Burkett, showing a framed display he created.
Burkett and his wife, Karen, are historical re-enactors who portray
figures and events from America’s history. The Christmas Fern dealt
with the 18th Century “New Country,” something visitors from the “Old
Country” had never seen. He talked about the people who visited between
the two countries.
“It’s amazing to me how many times people took the boat trip back and
forth,” he said. “It was a 30 to 45-day trip.”
“And hazardous,” added Karen.
Burkett, who, along with Karen, was setting up their booth, commented
that he was a Hodar.
“A what?”
“A Hodar. Don’t know what that is?”
“Nope.”
“Karen is a Daughter of the America Revolution, a DAR. I’m a Husband of
a DAR. A HoDAR.”
The Burketts will have many tales to tell visitors Saturday and Sunday
at the First Annual Gathering at Garst. They will be one of dozens of
exhibitors and entertainers at the two-day event this weekend.
The last weekend in July has always been a big weekend in Darke County.
This year it will be bigger and better than ever!
The weekend kicked off on Wednesday with the Miss Annie Oakley
preliminaries. On Thursday, KitchenAid and other downtown merchants
kicked off three days of sidewalk sales, and Thursday evening Ball
State junior Laura Francis earned the title of Miss Annie Oakley 2011
by hitting her target at 100 feet. Shortly after the shooting contest
was over, the Darke County Civic Theatre presented the first of its
annual melodramas.
Friday morning saw the opening of the Annie Oakley Festival at the
fairgrounds, as preparations were underway for the Gathering at Garst
that kicks off Saturday morning at 10.
Also Saturday morning is the Walk in Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness.
It starts at 9 a.m., followed by the Annie Oakley Parade at 10 a.m. The
weekend will be full of events, displays and celebrations at the Annie
Oakley Festival and the “Gathering.”
No complaints allowed about nothing to do this weekend. There’s
something for everyone.
|
