Despite many months of planning, the Old Settler’s Picnic event is a no-go.

Late last month the planning committee met to discuss the plans for the annual event that has happened every year since 1905.

Uniontown,  with a population of 300 people in western Bourbon County, usually sees a large crowd visit the event each year.

Traditionally, it is a weekend of rodeos, a fishing derby, a community church service, a baby contest, craft and food vendors,  parades, family picnics, and games in the town park.

“We decided we couldn’t go ahead with our plans because of Gov. Kelly’s COVID-19 restrictions,” said Becky Shinn, secretary/treasurer of the planning committee said.

“The committee was unsure what we could and couldn’t do,” she said. “If she declared only 45 people could be in an area, we couldn’t do it.”

Many of the key people were not comfortable coming to the event which is normally held on Labor Day weekend, the first weekend in September, Shinn said.

The grand marshalls of the parade, the car show organizer and in addition, the Uniontown  High School student organizations would not be there.

“The FFA students were not going to be able to do their BBQ dinner, the band wasn’t going to be able to be 6 feet apart in marching, and the Methodist Church wasn’t sure they were going to (supply their chicken dinners),” Shinn said.

“Only one or two food trucks were coming,” she said.

The final decision was because of the lack of these key components for the weekend activities.

The committee is comprised of Shayla and Kyle Knight, Hope Workman, Tammy Davidson, Rhonda DeWitt, Nancy Holt and Shinn.

Rodeo Events Still On

There are still rodeo events this weekend at the Uniontown Rodeo  Stadium, west of town on Hwy. 3.

A team roping event is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 4; a co-ed ranch rodeo at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 5, and the 53rd Annual Old Settlers Youth Rodeo which starts at 6 p.m. on Sunday.