Wednesday
Night of Worship
The Madison County Ministerial Association presents a “Night of Worship,” to be held in conjunction with Down Home Days on Wednesday, April 23. The service will feature Pastor Jason Justus, from Madison Church of God as the Guest Speaker. The service will also feature song selections from Fellowship Baptist Church, Evergreen Missionary Baptist Church and Jackson Dickinson. The service will begin at 6:30 p.m., in Four Freedoms Park, with free food provided from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Thursday
Dog Show
The Down Home Days Dog Show will be held on Thursday, April 24, at 6 p.m. at the Four Freedoms Park. The Madison Veterinary Clinic is putting together a “Best Overall” gift basket for the winner and will have ribbons for each winner. The first 25 registered participants will also receive a goodie bag. Don’t forget that there is a “most unusual” category in the dog show. Dogs are asked to be on a leash and up to date with their vaccinations. Registration starts at 5 p.m. and lasts until 6 p.m., when the judging starts.
There will be a BBQ fundraiser for Hunter Hadley starting at 4:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m., and will be next to the Down Home Days Dog Show. Hunter Handley was diagnosed with stage three embryonal carcinoma, a type of testicular cancer, a day before his second child was born. Hunter’s cancer has spread to the left lung. With his chemotherapy treatment started, Hunter will miss around three months of work from his job at Alpha Foundations, in Monticello. Taylor Handley, Hunter’s wife, is a stay-at-home mom who takes care of their two children, Ridge and River. Taylor is hopeful that Hunter will be cancer-free by the summer. To help the family financially handle the expenses of Hunter’s medical bills, the Madison Veterinary Clinic, Channah Galbraith and Timmy Dyke will be holding a BBQ fundraiser for them. A pulled pork sandwich with two sides is $10. A pork loin is $25, with drinks being offered for $1. To order please contact, the Madison Veterinary Clinic at (850) 973-6936, Channah Galbraith at (850) 973-0759 or Timmy Dyke at (850) 464-8107. Cash and checks to “The Handley Benefit Fund” are acceptable forms of payment.
Friday
Street Dance
One of the highlights every year during the Down Home Days festivities is when Pinckney Street becomes a big stage for the annual street performance by the students of Becky’s Dance Step Studio. This year, the performance is scheduled for Friday, April 25, at 6 p.m. The performance will take place on Pinckney Street, in front of the Madison County Courthouse Annex, in downtown Madison. Dancers of all ages will perform selections from their upcoming dance recital, with the theme
Acappella Sing
One of the annual early treats for the Down Home Days celebration is the cappella sing held at the Madison Church of Christ, in Madison. The gospel sing takes place on Friday, April 25, beginning at 7 p.m. The audience is invited to join in as various worship leaders sing a collection of favorite hymns. After the singing, everyone is invited to enjoy light refreshments and catch up with friends in the fellowship hall. The church is located at 199 NE Range Ave.
Saturday
Sentinel Sprint & Fun Run
North Florida College (NFC) and the Madison County Chamber of Commerce will host a Sentinel Sprint 5k & Fun Run starting at 8 a.m., followed by a fun run at 9:15 a.m. The 5k costs $25 for an individual registration. Race check-in and race day registrations will be at the Colin P. Kelly Fitness and Wellness Center on the NFC Campus. The Fun Run costs $15, which includes a t-shirt if you register before Monday, April 14. Entrants will also receive a ticket for additional swag pickup at the NFC tent at Down Home Days. For more information and to register, visit madisondownhomedays.com/5k-funrunregistration. The Colin P. Kelly Fitness Center is located in Building 12 at 325 NW Turner Davis Dr., in Madison.
Parade
Everyone loves a parade, and one of the events locals look forward to each year is the annual Down Home Days Parade. This year, the parade will take place on Saturday, April 26. The parade line up begins at the North Florida College main entrance and the route will continue down Base Street (U.S. Hwy. 90) to downtown Madison. The theme for this year’s parade is “Retreat to Vintage Florida.” The parade is being organized this year by Tri-County Electric Cooperative. The parade will begin promptly at 10 a.m.
Antique and Classic Car Show
Antique and Classic car owners will have the opportunity to display their vehicle at Down Home Days. Registration for the Antique and Classic Car Show starts at 8:30 a.m., on North Range Street, in Madison. The parade line-up will begin at 9 a.m. beside O’Neal’s Restaurant. At 1 p.m., there will be a prize and cash drawing. To register, please visit madisondownhomedays.com/carshow.
Frog Hop Contest
Don’t miss the entertaining 34th Annual Frog Hop Contest, taking place on Saturday, April 26, beginning at 1 p.m. The contest takes place on the eastern side of the Courthouse Lawn. Contestants and their amphibious athletes will compete in three age divisions: the Children’s Division for toddlers through K-4, the Junior Division for kids age five through third grade and the Senior Division for those fourth grade and up. People and frogs are asked to arrive 30 minutes early to register for the contest. There will be prizes in each division, with the first place winners of each division competing in a championship hop-off for the Grand Champion Trophy.
Beer Garden
At the corner of Dade Street and Range Avenue, a special area will be roped off for the Down Home Days Beer Garden, from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. The Down Home Days Beer Garden is in partnership with Forgotten Coast K-9. The price of admission will be $20 for an armband, which will allow unlimited samples of a wide variety of special craft brews. Entry into the Down Home Days Beer Garden is for those 21 years of age and older. Please drink responsibly.