Dateline: October 4, 2001

Cotton Festival's 50th year may not be last  

Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

The news of the death of Hedley’s Cotton Festival has been greatly exaggerated – sort of.

Rumors have been going around Donley County that the festival’s Golden Anniversary next Friday and Saturday, October 12-13, will mark the end of the annual celebration. And while some Hedley folks admit to wanting the festival to die a dignified death, some organizers are not ready to quit.

“We haven’t given up the ship yet,” said Bill Carson, who runs Moffitt Hardware and is a member of the Hedley Lions Club. “You hate to see something like this end.”

The Cotton Festival traditionally was run by the Lions, Carson said, but they turned the sponsorship over to the Hedley Homemakers last year when it became too expensive to operate. This year a community effort is underway to put on the celebration one more time with the cooperation of the Homemakers, the Lions, and the Lioness Club.

The festival, like many other small town celebrations, is facing one overriding problem – decreasing attendance.

“A lot of the people that used to come back used to live here, and they’re all getting older and can’t get out,” Carson said.

Classes from Hedley High School previously used the festival to raise money for senior trips. But with this year’s demise of the HHS senior trip, Carson says some of the interest has been lost in the Cotton Festival.

It’s also difficult to get a carnival to come to a small town; and when they do, all that money leaves town, he said. Building floats for the parade also takes a lot of energy.

Carson calls the queen contest a “big headache” and says if the festival continues, it will probably be without the queen contest.

Nevertheless, organizers are hoping for a big celebration for this year’s 50th anniversary. All former Cotton Queens have been invited back, and as of Tuesday morning Carson said 20 had confirmed they will be coming.

“I think we’re gonna have a good one,” Carson said, “and that’s what it will take to spur interest in it again.”

The schedule for the 50th Cotton Festival begins next Friday night with the Hedley Lioness Club chili and stew supper at the Lioness Building beginning at 5:00 p.m.  Tickets for a handmade quilt to be given away on Saturday will be sold at the supper.

The Hedley football team will play Happy at 7:00 p.m. at the Hedley Football Field.  The Hedley FFA will sponsor Bingo in the Senior Citizens Center on Main Street from 9:00 p.m. to 11:00  p.m. on Friday night.  A black out game will be played for a handmade quilt.

At 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, the Hedley Little League Association will serve breakfast at the Hedley Lions Den.  Baked goods will be sold from 9:00 a.m. to noon at City Hall with all proceeds going to the upkeep of Rowe Cemetery.

The Hedley Fire Department Antique Tractor Show will get underway at 10:00 a.m. with sign-up at City Hall.  The judging will begin at 11:00 a.m.

Also getting started at 10:00 a.m. is the Bingo at the Senior Citizens with the Senior Citizens serving the food.  The HHS Math and Science Team will have activities for the kids on Main Street.  Crafters and vendors will show their wares on Main Street during the day on Saturday.  All crafters and vendors are welcome, and there is no charge.

The Hedley Lions Club will begin serving barbecue at the Lions Den starting at 11:30 a.m.

The Kiddie Parade starts things off in the afternoon.  Sponsored by the HHS National Honor Society, the Kiddie Parade begins on 1:00 on Main Street.

The Grand Parade, sponsored by the Hedley Volunteer Fire Department, begins at 2:00 with line-up beginning at 1:00 at the school.  The 50 years of Queens sponsored by the Hedley Lioness Club will be in the parade.

All former students, teachers, and other personnel from Hedley High School are invited to attend the Hedley Ex-Student Reunion at 3:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Fellowship Hall.  Anyone connected with the Hedley Schools is invited to attend and enjoy the visiting and refreshments.  For more information about the reunion, contact Mary Farris.

The Queen Coronation rounds out the festival on Saturday night beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the gymnasium.  The coronation is sponsored by the Hedley Homemakers Club.  A drawing for bale of cotton, valued at $500, will be drawn for during the coronation.  The announcement of the 50 years of queens will be made at the event.