The Lake Whitney Chamber of Commerce is preparing to host its 49th installment of Whitney’s Pioneer Days festival Saturday, October 5. Visitors and residents will gather in downtown Whitney to enjoy carnival rides, shopping, food vendors, live entertainment and the afternoon’s parade.
The fun starts early with the carnival opening from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, October 3. It will reopen from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday. Wristbands will be available for $25 per person.
Vendors will be set up at 8 a.m. Saturday, and Mayor Janice Sanders will welcome the crowd at 9 a.m. prior to entertainment beginning at the intersection of Washington Avenue and North Brazos Street.
Musicians and dancers will perform throughout the day leading up to the Pioneer Days parade. The processional will begin at 2:30 p.m. from the Whitney Intermediate School/Administration Building parking lot. Parade entrants will begin lining up at that location at 1 p.m.
The parade will travel through downtown streets and include VIP vehicles, dancers, musicians, first responders, floats designed by local organizations and businesses, clowns, horses and much more.
Spectators are asked to stay close to sidewalks and out of streets for safety.
Vendors are expected to remain open downtown until 6 p.m., and additional free entertainment is planned in the evening.
Touch of Grey will perform from 4 to 5:15 p.m., followed by the James Hollingsworth Band from 5:45 to 7 p.m. The popular local band Ghosts of Hill County will wrap things up downtown with a performance from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
See the day’s schedule on page 8. For more information, contact the Lake Whitney Chamber of Commerce at 254-625-2387 or visit in person at 101 East Jefferson Avenue.
The Lakelander 