“Rain, rain, go away”

That’s the cry that most Clinton County residents are shouting this week after five straight days of cloudy skies, heavy rains and strong storms have pelted the area with unfavorable weather conditions.

If weather forecasts hold for the remainder of this week, local residents should see that very wish come true with predictions for warm temperatures, sunny skies and fair, fall weather just in time to hear yet another familiar cry that has gone out every third weekend in October for three and a half decades now . . .

“It’s Foothills time”

That’s right! After a year of waiting since the 34th edition of Clinton County’s favorite fall celebration and outdoor gathering came and went, it’s time once again to come together around downtown Albany for a host of events, sights, sounds, tastes and entertainment that is sure to offer something for everyone

Judging from an early look at the schedule for 2014, this 35th edition of the Foothills Festival, with a “beefed up” collection of events in store, will certainly be “bigger and better” than last year.

A trio of early events held last weekend saw the 2014 Foothills Festival get off to yet another favorable start as three large crowds gathered Saturday and Sunday to enjoy the lead-in portion of the schedule – Saturday’s Baby Show (see list of winners, page 2), Sunday’s Gospel Singing and the annual Clinton County Extension Service Second Sunday heath fair, both held at the Clinton County Learning Center.

Of course, still ahead is the main part of the annual lineup of Foothills Festival events, pageants, music, games, music, contests, music, food, music, arts and crafts and of course – did we mention – music.

Thursday, October 16 ~ Miss Foothills Pageants

Now, it’s time for the meat and potato portion of the 2014 Foothills Festival and the fun gets started Thursday night with the annual Foothills Festival night of pageantry – the Foothills Beauty Pageants.

Thursday night’s lineup of pageantry gets underway this year at the Clinton County Learning Center at 6:00 p.m., beginning with the Prince and Princess contest for young couples between the ages of 5-7.

Additional categories will be dedicated to young, beautiful girls from Clinton County as the night of pageantry continues including separate events for Little Miss (5-7), Junior Miss (8-11), Teen Miss (12-14) and finally the Miss Foothills Pageant (15-21).

Admission Thursday is only $3, and additional information can be obtained by contacting Kim Stockton (606-688-0400).

Local merchants in Albany are also urged to get in on the decorating efforts to put the town’s best look forward by entering the annual Window Decorating Contest that will hold with this year’s Foothills Festival theme – Autumn Glory. Business operators wishing to be judged in the contest, or wishing to learn more details, should contact Mary Pennycuff (387-7054).

Friday, October 17 ~ Come early, stay late

With arts and crafts vendors beginning to set up around Albany late Thursday evening, by early Friday morning the downtown area has already taken on the festive theme that every year puts everyone in the mood for a fun filled and food filled weekend.

New for this year’s Foothills Festival schedule is a display that is sure to please the local fishing enthusiasts and might even cause a few newbies to grab a rod and reel and head out to either Lake Cumberland or Dale Hollow – or maybe even that big farm pond across the road.

The Bass Tubs of Oklahoma Aquarium Show will feature a huge display with live game fish and instructional shows put on every two hours – all free of charge, of course.

The tank will be located adjacent to the Foothills Building on the west side of the courthouse square and show begin at 10:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday and continue until the final show both days at about 8:00 p.m.

The Pumpkin Patch area with games and activities for the younger Foothills crowd will once again be located adjacent to First and Farmer’s Bank, and the attractions run from 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. both Friday and Saturday.

The first of several musical events will once again be the traditional concert that features Clinton County’s longest running “favorite” group of entertainers, the Clinton County High School Band.

This year’s presentation, under the direction of Doug Sell, will be set at the stage near the Flea Market area on west Cumberland Street in front of the Albany First Baptist Church.

The local band will also be one of the crowd favorites later that same afternoon when they lead the best little parade in the southern United States through the streets of Albany.

One of a long list of “newbies” to the 2014 Foothills Festival slate of entertainers will follow the C.C.H.S. concert, and although as a group it will be the first appearance, individually, many members of the newly formed C.C.H.S. Alumni Band have performed in that same setting before – some many years before.

Don’t miss these two concerts by local musicians.

A host of contests for the younger Foothills crowd will see registration getting under way at the Foothills Booth beginning at mid day – including sign-ups for the Lego Building Contest, Pumpkin Decorating Contest and the Pumpkin Carving Contest.

Entries in the annual Foothills Poster Contest will be on display in the Clinton County courthouse beginning at 12:00 noon, and a children’s cornhole contest gets underway at 1:00 p.m. at the Pumpkin Patch area.

As the day turns to evening, and jackets, sweaters and gloves begin to come out, the streets begin to get crowded as the annual Foothills Festival Parade is set to move through Albany.

A 3:00 p.m. lineup at the Westview Shopping Center will prepare the entries for the 5:00 p.m. start for the collection of floats, clowns, cars and trucks and horses and mules that will make their way through Albany.

Likely, this year’s parade will feature a candidate or two as well, so grab a good spot and enjoy the spectacle that has earned the reputation of being one of the best parades ever produced in the entire region.

With the setting sun bringing darkness, the fun is far from over Friday, with a lineup of live musical entertainment that will all lead up to the grand finale of the night – the 9:00 p.m. fireworks show that is easily viewed from the Albany square area.

Entertainers on tap for Friday will include the sounds of local DJ Terry Murphy (Foothills Building) beginning at 3:00 p.m. and leading up to Foothills Parade time, with post-parade entertainers including Crossfire beginning at 6:00 p.m. on the Flea Market Stage and Borrowed Blue on the main stage (near the law offices of David Choate), at7:30 p.m.

Saturday

A fast start and a long day filled with fun

As has been the case for most of the Foothills Festival history, the day gets off to an early start on Saturday at the Mountain View Recreational Park, with the running of the Foothills Festival 5K Run.

A 7:00 a.m. registration will see runners stretching for the 8:00 a.m. start that takes a large group of runners through the streets leading to the downtown finish line across from Dyer Drug on the west side of the courthouse square.

Events returning from Friday’s lineup will include the Bass Tub Aquarium Show (10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.), contest registrations (10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon), Arts and Crafts displays around the courthouse square and the children’s events at the Pumpkin Patch area (10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.)

Local hot rod and collector car enthusiasts will be found showing off and admiring the lineup of vehicles that is expected to be on hand at the Foothills Car, Truck, Motorcycle and Tractor show at Peoples Bank and Trust parking lot.

Car show registration begins at 9:00 a.m. with actual show hours being from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.

While not totally new to the Foothills lineup, an attraction that has been absent for awhile is making a return this year, and according to Foothills Festival Committee President robin Duvall, was just added this week, is the return of helicopter rides.

Based at the Welcome Center lot just north of Albany in U.S. 127, Tennessee Vertical Flight will be offering helicopter rides over the Foothills Festival area for $35 per person. The rides will begin at 11:00 a.m. and continue until 2:00 p.m.

The adults can get in on the cornhole competition with a tournament beginning at 12:00 noon at the Albany Police Department parking lot.

The first musical presentation of the day will bring the vocal trio Runaway Home to the Flea Market area stage at 12:30 p.m.

Later Saturday, two of the area’s favorite contests get underway with the annual Parent Child Look-A-Like Contest at 2:00 p.m. on the main stage, followed by the ever popular, street filling, crowd pleasing annual Foothills Festival Lip Sync Contest at 3:00 p.m.

Remember, you never know who – or what for that matter – might show up on stage with local performers bringing their favorite entertainers and songs to the Lip Sync event.

Surprises – and laughs – are always a plenty during this event that has long been the one contest that produces the largest audience of the weekend.

The day turns to night following the end of the Lip Sync Contest, but the fun is far from over as entertainment continues for several more hours with two more musical groups set to take the stage to close out the 2014 Foothills Festival, and yet another grand finale fireworks show.

Brother Rains will provide entertainment near the Food Court and flea market stage beginning at 5:00 p.m. and Road Crew will close out the night with the final concert at 6:30 p.m. on the main stage.

The final event of the night, another crowd pleasing professional fireworks show, will once again bring the closing curtain down on the 2014 Foothills Festival.

It’s Albany and Clinton County’s fall celebration, and everyone is invited to come out and enjoy what is supposed to be fantastic autumn weather and one of the best Foothills lineups of events and attractions ever staged.

Just remember these simple rules . . .

Come early, stay late. Wear comfortable shoes and warm clothing, and bring your appetite get ready to enjoy the offerings of this celebration as all of Albany and Clinton County comes together along with those from near and far who accept our annual invitation to . . .

Come See It Our Way!

Among the early events on the 2014 Foothills Festival schedule were two held Sunday at the Clinton County Learning Center.

Above left, three staff members from the Lake Cumberland Head Start help a young visitor to the Clinton County Extension Service Second Sunday Health Fair with his hula-hoop skills. The Lake Cumberland Head Start was on hand as a part of it’s 50th Anniversary celebration.

At left, one of the local gospel groups performed at Sunday’s Gospel Singing.