Williamsville will celebrate its 34th annual Labor Day Picnic Friday and Saturday.
Nothing represents rural community fun quite as well as the annual picnic, with its family-friendly activities and games, entertainment and food, according to organizers. Proceeds from the picnic, sponsored each year by the Williamsville Lions Club, go to local volunteer fire departments and other worthy causes.
Located at the picnic grounds next to the school on A Highway, the annual picnic will begin at 5 p.m. Friday when BreAnna Conner and Alyssa of Piedmont take the stage, followed by Brandi Shearrer from Williamsville at 5:45 and Bryan Kirkman from Williamsville at 6:15. At 6:45, Morgan Kirkman, also from Williamsville, will entertain attendees, followed at 7:15 by the Heartland Quartet from Ellsinore and Crossroads from Advance at 8:00.
Food will include barbecue or catfish plates and sandwiches, along with hot dogs, hamburgers, fried pies, shaved ice, funnel cakes, fried potatoes and more. Serving starts at 5 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday, with fish plates available 5-8 p.m. on Friday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday and 5-8 p.m. Saturday.
Craft booths, games for children, Bingo and other attractions will entertain visitors throughout the two-day event, with free prize drawings every hour on the hour for those who purchased meal tickets.
Saturday's festivities will begin with a parade featuring the Greenville R-II Marching Bears, the Poplar Bluff Shriners' Motor Club, Smokey Bear, Ranger Willie and Bobber the Water Safety Dog, antique cars, horses, wagons, floats, clowns and much more. Lineup begins at 9:30 a.m. and the parade begins at 10 a.m. Contact Larry Steward at 573-998-2736 to participate.
Entertainment Saturday will begin at 11 a.m., with the Krepp Family from Malden, followed at noon by Kelsey Johnson D'Amico from Patterson, and Brandon Bates from Wappapello at 1 p.m.. At 2 p.m., Little Creek Gospel from Marquand will take the stage, and at 3 p.m. the Country Fire Cloggers from Ellsinore will delight the crowd. Buzzard Run from Nayor will perform at 4, followed by Mckenzie Miller from Piedmont at 5:30 and Richie and Carolyn Dement from Centerville at 6. The Otter Creek Band from Williamsville will perform at 7 and Seed Tick Ridge from Fairdealing will be the final act, starting at 8:15.
Through it all, Galen Hillis of River Radio will provide the sound system, and Will Dougherty Jr. will continue his longtime family tradition as emcee.
The event is family-friendly, and no alcohol or drugs are permitted on the picnic or school premises, organizers said.