The 114th Old Settler Picnic is the annual Uniontown festival in the park, located in western Bourbon County.
The city sees a large increase in population during the festivities, whose highlight for many is the parade.
The baby parade is at 9 a.m. at the gazebo in the town’s central park, the children’s parade starts with registration at 9:50 a.m. and the main parade is at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 2
In addition, there are family activities in the days leading up to the picnic day.
- Vendors will arrive at the shaded city park around 7 a.m. and a food truck will be available to purchase breakfast. There are electrical sites available for $25, $15 for no electricity and there is no charge for non-profit organizations. No weapons allowed to be sold. No alchohol allowed at any event of the whole weekend.
To register for a spot in the park, call Hope Workman, 224-8196
- New this year is a baby parade, instead of a baby contest, which begins at 9 a.m. at the gazebo in the park.
“Instead of a contest, parents and grandparents can introduce the new babies to the public,” Becky Shinn, one of the organizers, said.
Teresa Martin is the contact for both the baby parade and the children’s parade and can be reached at 224-8388.
- Also at 9 a.m., the parade entries will begin the line-up at the parking lot west of the football field. Ashley Travis (contact: 224-6671) and the Uniontown High School Cheerleaders will help with this task.
- A new event, the Dale Jackson Memorial Car Show, will be organized and lined-up at 9:30 a.m. at the Uniontown High School parking lot adjacent to and on the west side of the school.
“Since Dale passed away, Sara Roufs (a committee member) wanted to honor his memory,” Shinn said. “And visited with the daughters, and they agreed to it.” To show off your car contact Roufs at 756-4513.
- The children’s parade will begin organizing at 9:50 a.m. on the cement slab at the northeast corner of the town square.
At 10:15 a.m. the children’s parade begins with the scouts leading in the flag salute. Cindy Goebel is the scoutmaster.
- At 10:30 a.m. the parade will start with the National Anthem sung by Dave Wehry.
Horses, always a feature in the parade, will organize at the arena west of Uniontown on Hwy. 3 and be the last entries in the parade.
The theme of the parade this year is “Learning From The Best at UHS.” Grand marshals will be Alicia Jackson and Alan Shinn, two long-time educators at the school. Briggs Auto, Fort Scott, will supply the grand marshal vehicle.
There will be prizes for best church float, themed float, school float, All Terrain Vehicle (MUST BE CLEANED AND DECORATED), antique car and tractor.
- Food will be for sale from the following: chicken dinner from the Methodist Church, smoked pork dinner from the UHS FFA, soft drinks from the school cheerleaders, pie sale from the Baptist Church and ice cream from the Marmaton Community Church, The Knight family’s Sunshine Shack food truck with tacos and hamburgers, Laura Ripper’s Lazy RJ Concessions with corn dogs and chicken fried steak and Hiram Raby/Austin Honaker’s Red Beard BBQ with nachos and burnt ends, snow cones from the Girard Volleyball team.
- Following the parade will be games for all ages.
Throughout the event, there will be a cash drawing, and tickets can be purchased for a $1 from Ruritan Members under the canopy on the east side of the park.
“You have to be present to win for the $25 drawing,” Shinn said. “But not for the last drawing for $100, $75 and $50.”
Old Settler’s has other fun activities during the weekend leading up to Labor Day:
- Friday event at 7 p.m. there will be a team roping competition at the rodeo arena west of town off Hwy 3. Wayne Hall is the contact at 363-4206.
- Saturday at 9 a.m. there is a kids fishing derby at the city pond at Uniontown High School (contact Marty Dewitt at 224-7438. A slow-pitch tournament scheduled will not happen due to not enough teams signing up. In the evening, a co-ed ranch rodeo at the arena.
- Sunday morning there will be coffee and donuts at 10 a.m. followed by a community church service at the city park. Please bring lawn chairs. New this year: Sunday at 5 p.m. there will be a family game evening at the city park featuring corn hole and other games. At 6 p.m. will be the Old Settlers Youth Rodeo, with registration from 4 to 5:30 p.m.
Click below for the poster of the day’s events: