From our October 12, 2000, edition.

49th Cotton Festival to be held Oct. 13-14 

By Cheryl Johnson, Clarendon Enterprise

The community of Hedley is gearing up for its 49th Annual Cotton Festival October 13 and 14.

The Hedley Lioness Club will kick things off by hosting a chili supper on Friday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Lioness Club building.  Prices for the meal are $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for kids age twelve and under.  The meal includes a bowl of chili, cornbread or crackers, iced tea, and your choice of homemade cobbler or cake.

The Lioness Club will also be selling chances on a beautiful hand quilted quilt.  You can purchase those from any club member at the chili supper.  The drawing will be on Saturday afternoon at 5:00 p.m.

The Hedley Owl football game will also be held on Friday in Happy against the Cowboys.  Game time is 7:30 p.m.

The Junior Class starts the activities on Saturday with a Kick-Off Breakfast, 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the Senior Citizens Building.  The class will also hold a mesquite barbecue meal from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Senior Citizens Building.  They will sell homemade pies by the slice or whole during the meal.

Sign up for the Hedley Volunteer Fire Department Antique Tractor Show will be held from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the City Hall.  Judging will be held at 11:30 a.m.

The kids can enjoy quarter activities at the face painting, popcorn, tattoo, beanbag throw, and castle jumper booths from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.

KEFH Radio in Clarendon will provide “oldies” music from the grand stand starting at 10 a.m. and continuing throughout the day.

The arts and crafts booths will open at 10 a.m. and continue throughout the day on the east side of Main Street. 

The Senior Class will begin Bingo for 50 cents per card in the Lions Den from 10 a.m. until midnight along with a full concession stand with hamburgers, cheeseburgers, chips, nachos, Frito pie, homemade ice cream, soft drinks, and candy.  Special $5 bingo games for a Moore Knife ($65 value) made by the Moore Brothers of Matador and donated by Moffitt Hardware of Hedley will be held at 9 p.m. and a game for a quilt handcrafted by Mrs. O’Rear of Wellington will be held at 10 p.m.

The Sophomore and Freshman Classes will open the cakewalk, Kiddie Air Jumper, jail, and dunking board at 10 a.m. and will continue throughout the day.  The Sophomores will be selling caps, buttons, shirts, and War and Peace fish bowls.

The annual Kiddie Parade begins at 10:30 a.m.  Participants must be fifth grade and younger to participate.

The Grand Parade featuring Queen Holli White, Princess Katterinna Johnson, and queen and princess contestants will begin at 2:00 p.m.  Line up for the parade begins at 1 p.m. at the Hedley school parking lot.  Winners of the parade will be immediately announced and awards will be handed out.

The Queen Coronation will begin at 7 p.m. in the Hedley gym.  This year’s queen candidates are Breanne Chase, LaRae Shaw, LaCenda Funderburg, and Sealey Stevens.  The princess candidates are Alex Sharp, Brittney Netterville, Kirsten Moore, and Justine Moore.  The drawing for the bale of cotton will also be held during the coronation.

A dance hosted by the Hedley Volunteer Fire Department will be held at the Fire Hall from 9 p.m. at 1 a.m.