Down Home Days is fast approaching and while new events are being added on and plans still being settled with vendors and entertainment, there is already so much in store for the festival weekend!
Thursday, April 14
5:30 p.m. – Registration for the pet contest at Four Freedoms Park
5:30 p.m. – Chef Timmy Dyke will be present as he cooks up pulled pork meals and sandwiches to benefit the St. Vincent Mission Trip that will take place in June.
6 p.m. – Pet contest takes place
Friday, April 15
5:45 p.m. – 2016 Citizen of the Year Announcement
6 p.m. – Dancers from Becky’s Dance Steps Studio will perform a short recital and there will be a sale on the Madison County Courthouse lawn. The proceeds from the sale will go towards funding dance-related activities.
7 p.m. – There will be an old fashioned hymn sing during the Down Home Days Old Time Gospel Sing at the Madison Church of Christ, located at 199 NE Range Ave. near Four Freedoms Park. All songs will be 100 percent A Capella. Last year, over 200 people attended. The public is invited and refreshments will follow.
7:30 p.m. – The 5th annual Cowboys vs. Community Flag Football Competition will be held at the Madison County High School Boothill Stadium. There will be a $4 entry fee and a half time show featuring a teachers and mothers dance routine.
Saturday, April 16
Throughout the day, arts and crafts, food and information vendors will be lined up in a ‘figure eight’ formation, starting at Four Freedoms park, around the courthouse and throughout downtown Madison. There will be a kid’s zone with bounce houses, a petting zoo, duck pond, toys, games and much more.
5 a.m. – Set up for Down Home Days vendors begins and lasts until 8:30 a.m.
7:30 a.m. – Day-of registration for the Colin P. Kelly Fitness Run. Registration forms are available at the Colin P. Kelly Fitness Center (on NFCC campus) or online at www.nfcc.edu/fitness-run-2016. Early registration fees are $15; late registration fees are $20.
8 a.m. – 5K run/walk starts
8:30 a.m. – Parade line up deadline
9 a.m. – For children up to 16 years of age, the one-mile fun run starts. Registration fees are $6.
For more information about either run, call (850) 973-1639 or email CoodyT@nfcc.edu.
9:30 a.m. - Drop off your desserts at Sunrise Coffee Shop, located at 247 SW Rutledge St. to enter in the Bake Off contest. Applications for the contest can be picked up at the coffee shop and will need to be turned in by Wednesday, April 13.
10 a.m. - The Down Home Days parade will take place, starting near O’Neal’s Country Buffet, traveling east down U.S. Hwy 90, turning south on Range St. and disbursing on SW Dade Ave with the assistance of the Madison Police Department. The Regional Jeep Club (led by Steve and Carol Touchton) will be “stacking” during the parade, which means they will run up on each other’s axles in a heart-stopping performance. City and county vehicles will announce the start of the parade by “shouting out” with their horns. Yogi Bear and his friends are also rumored to be making an appearance during the parade.
11 a.m. – The Classic and Antique Car Show will be displayed at the north end of Four Freedoms Park. The show is sponsored this year by Madison County Community Bank.
11 a.m. - The entertainment for Down Home Days begins with a performance by the award-winning Celebration Singers.
11:30 a.m. – Freestyle Connection holds their first BMX All Age Event show in Four Freedoms Park.
12 p.m. – Madison County SWAT students will hold a presentation at Four Freedoms gazebo
12 p.m. – Down Home Days BBQ Cook-Off judging – Boyz to Kings meals.
12:05 p.m. – Risa Powell Ministries will perform at Four Freedoms Park.
12:30 p.m. – Guitar/Mandolin player, Danny Graves will perform at Four Freedoms Park.
1 p.m. - Freestyle Connection holds their second BMX All Age Event show in Four Freedoms Park.
1 p.m. – 2 p.m. – Dance Party with Merv Mattair. There will be dance music playing from the Four Freedoms Park gazebo stage.
1:30 p.m. – The annual Frog Hop contest takes place at the Madison County Courthouse. There are three divisions; Children’s Division – toddler to K4; Junior Division – K5 to third grade and Senior Division – fourth grade to adult. Follow “I Love Madison County Florida” on Facebook for more details as they are announced. There is no registration. Bring your own frog.
1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. – Sunrise Coffee Shop Bake-Off judging will take place.
2 p.m. – 4 p.m. – Vendors for the Down Home Days festival will begin to leave.