Tyler Childers to close Septemberfest Saturday night
By TONY FYFFE
BSN Editor
LOUISA — Louisa is preparing for what organizers say will be the biggest and best Lawrence County Septemberfest in the event’s 33-year history.
The music lineup is the reason organizers are touting this year’s Septemberfest, which will be Friday and Saturday, as an historic event, and they announced Friday that Lawrence County native Tyler Childers will close the festival with a performance on the main stage Saturday night at 9:30.
Childers joins a star-studded music lineup that will include fellow Lawrence County natives Ricky Skaggs, Larry Cordle and Noah Thompson, who will also be the grand marshal of next Saturday’s parade.
The theme for this year’s event is, appropriately, “A U.S. 23 Country Music Highway Homecoming.”
Friday’s concerts begin at 4:30 p.m. with Bobby and Teddi Cyrus, followed by Cordle at 6 p.m,. Thompson at 7:30 p.m. and Skaggs at 9 p.m.
Childers will be preceded Saturday by Luke Trimble at 4:30 p.m.; another Lawrence County native, Adam Chaffins, at 6 p.m.; Martha native Luna and her Mountain Jets at 7:30 p.m.; and local favorite Laid Back Country Picker at 8:15 p.m.
The Friday and Saturday music shows will be held on the main stage in downtown Louisa.
Bluegrass concerts are scheduled for Saturday afternoon at Main Street Park, starting with Lincoln Mash and Heather Alley at 1 p.m., Don Rigsby and the Fly by Knights at 3 p.m. and Authentic Unlimited at 5 p.m.
Music isn’t the only attraction Septemberfest has to offer.
The first festival-related event was the Septemberfest Bicentennial Pageant, held Monday at the Lawrence County Community Center. Winners included:
• Prettiest Baby Girl: Evelyn Smith, 10- month old daughter of Haley and Joshua Smith of Paintsville.
First runner-up : Octavia Irene Blakeman, daughter of Olivia Jackson and Devan Blakeman of Louisa.
Second runner-up: Logan Copley, daughter of Marina and Caleb Copley of Louisa.
• Prettiest Baby Boy: Andy Birchfield, 11-month-old son of Desira and Anthony Birchfield of Louisa.
• Cutest Toddler Girl: Karmen Dalton, 2-year -ld daughter of Karen and J.D. Dalton of Louisa.
First runner-up: Avianna Hitchcock, daughter of Paige Hitchcock of Oil Springs.
Second runner-up: Avalee Whitt, daughter of Halli and Kyler Whitt of Louisa.
• Cutest Toddler Boy: Brantley Horn, 2-year-old son of Alexis and Paul Horn of Louisa.
First runner-up: John Floyd Kirk, son of Desiree and Josh Kirk of Louisa.
Second runner-up: Oliver Dallas Blakeman, son of Olivia Jackson and Devan Blakeman of Louisa.
• Tiny Miss Septemberfest: Winslet Muncy, 3-year-old, daughter of Paige and Chance Muncy of Wayne County, W.Va.
First runner-up: Amelia Dotson, daughter of Katie and Matt Blankenship of Louisa.
Second runner-up: Mila Jo Young, daughter of Patty and Donnie Gilliam of Morgan County and Kelly and Joshua Moore of Louisa.
• Tiny Mr. Septemberfest: Jaxon Dalton, 5-year-old son of Karen and J.D. Dalton of Louisa. He also won Most Photogenic.
First runner-up: Luke Maynard, son of Sydney and Tennis Maynard of Louisa.
• Little Miss Septemberfest: Tenley Johnson, 8-year-old daughter of Lacretia Fields of Louisa and Chris Johnson of Fort Gay, W.Va.
First runner-up: Holland Elliotte Ledson.
Second runner-up: Skyllar Maynard, daughter of Sydney and Tennis Maynard of Louisa.
• Young Miss Septemberfest: Laila Dolen, 11-year-old daughter of Sheena and Derek Potter of Louisa and Lionel Dolen of Dunlow, W.Va.
First runner-up: Claire Ratcliffe, daughter of Lisa Webb and Keary Ratcliffe of Louisa.
Second runner-up: Sidney Danielle Ash, daughter of Brandi and Danny Ash of Louisa.
• Junior Miss Septemberfest: Aubrey Doty, 15-year-old daughter of Pam and Vince Doty of Louisa.
First runner-up: Charley Curnutte, daughter of Christy and Jeff Curnutte of Louisa
Second runner-up: Kara Spillman, daughter of Kristin Spillman and Kevin Glover of Louisa.
• Miss Septemberfest: Lawrence County High School senior Victoria Penix, daughter of Samatha and Victor Penix of Louisa.
Friday is the first full day of activities, beginning with the openings of the information booth at 9 a.m. arts and crafts booths at 10 a.m. and food vendors at 11 a.m.
Carnival rides and games will start at 3 p.m. Friday, and Septemberfest’s opening ceremony will be at 4 p.m.
In addition to food vendors and arts and craft, Saturday’s schedule includes a pancake breakfast by the Masonic Lodge at 7 a.m.; the car show and parade lineup at 9 a.m., with the parade beginning at 11 p.m.; and the Lawrence County Saddle Club Trail Ride at 1 p.m. at the Lawrence County Horse Park. The festival will close following Saturday night’s final concert.