By Staff
By MIKE VOSS, Contributing Editor
Funnel cakes, the Craig Woolard band and (hopefully) plenty of sunshine on tap for June 8-9 means one thing — it’s time for Washington’s Summer festival.
The festival, making its 24th consecutive appearance along Stewart Parkway, is one of Washington’s signature festival. The Washington-Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce organizes and manages the event.
Although the festivity retains many of its features each year, this year’s festival has its difference from previous events.
Bill Ebison, the Singing Meter Man, is bringing his Superschool! troupe to the Summer Festival. Ebison has assembled a group of musicians and performers who turn ordinary, inanimate items found in classrooms into things with something to say and sing. With characters such as Cheeree the Cafeteria Lady and Dawite the Dancing Desk, “Superschool!” is a fully staged presentation that targets children in the prekindergarten through third-grade levels.
Also joining the festival lineup for the first time is Paul Black, whose Will Sing 4 A Cure show is part of the children’s programs. Black will perform twice on the PCS Phosphate Hometown Stage, first from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and again from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.
The Ronald MacDonald Show returns to the festival this year, taking over the main stage at 11 a.m. Saturday.
This year’s festival also features a change involving vendors.
Items sold by vendors this year will have a “less-commercial aspect,” Crumpler said last week.
About 114 vendors are expected.
The festival’s food menu will feature some changes, too.
Lindsey and Leslie Cahoon, owners of Carolina Catch, a crab business, operate Carolina Catch Too, from which they sell seafood.
Carolina Catch Too will sell softshell-crab sandwiches, crab-cake sandwiches, shrimp-cake sandwiches and fish-fillet sandwiches, she noted. Hot dogs and french fries are included on the menu, too.
Carolina Catch Too is proving to be fun venture, Cahoon said.
Festival favorites such as funnel cakes, kettle corn, ice cream, international foods and fried ice cream will be available. The festival also may have a vendor who offers fried pickles.
A boat-maker from Harker’s Island will display several boats
During the two-day street fair, festival-goers will be “reminded to stroll through our downtown shops,” Crumpler said.
North Tower performs at the main stage from 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday. The Craig Woolard Band, featuring Washington native Craig Woolard, takes over the main stage from 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday.
Amusement rides will be located at the east end of Stewart Parkway.
A Red Cross first-aid station will be located at the west end of Stewart Parkway near the dock attendants’ office.
Summer Festival T-shirts are on sale at the chamber’s office on Stewart Parkway. T-shirt sales move to the chamber’s booth at the corner of Stewart Parkway and Respess Street during the festival. T-shirt prices depend on the style and size of the T-shirts. The highest price for any T-shirt is $15, which buys an adult’s 2XL T-shirt.
The Not 2 Hot 2 Trot road race, a 5-kilometer run, is set for 8 a.m. Saturday. The race begins at the North Carolina Estuarium. Proceeds from the race (3.1 miles) go to help local senior centers pay for health and wellness activities for senior citizens.
For more information (including a schedule) about the Summer Festival, see Friday’s edition of the Daily News, which will include a flier about the festival. For more information about the 5-K race, call (252) 946-8043 or visit www.mecaaa.org.