A decade ago, the newly-formed Downtown Poplar Bluff, Inc., brainstormed for an event to draw people to the downtown area and ultimately decided on a festival to celebrate the region’s railroad heritage.
On Sept. 28, the organization will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Iron Horse Festival.
“It’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years,” said Downtown Poplar Bluff, Inc., Executive Director Jerrica Fox. “This was the very first event for Downtown Poplar Bluff, Inc., and it continues to grow.”
Several new, exciting things are on this year’s event bill, Fox said, including a kayak and canoe race and the return of a grape stomp to see who can produce the most juice in a limited amount of time.
This year’s event kicks off at 7:45 a.m. with a kids’ one mile run, followed immediately by a 5K and 10K run and walk. Each race begins and ends on the west side of the Poplar Bluff Municipal Library.
A pancake breakfast will be served beginning at 8 a.m. at the Poplar Bluff Historic Railroad Depot/Amtrak station.
The opening ceremonies will begin at 10 a.m. at the Car Show Stage located near the intersection of South Broadway and Cherry Street.
The kayak and canoe river race also begins at 10 at the Hilliard access north of town, and participants need to have their boats inspected there at 9 a.m. The race ends at the Ray Clinton Park bridge, and awards will be presented at 2 p.m. at the Main Street Stage near the Butler County Courthouse.
Also at 10, a dog show will begin at the dog park area along Second Street and the Frisco Railroad Depot Museum will open to the public.
The popular Kids Zone will move this year to the southwest end of the railroad depot “to make it closer to everything else,” Fox said.
Downtown Poplar Bluff, Inc., has once again partnered with the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center and the Wake Foundation, who will provide entertainment and sponsor the car show.
“The Wake Foundation also added a blood drive this year,” Fox noted.
Organizers of the Butler County Fair also teamed up with the Iron Horse Festival this year, and, Fox said, exhibits will be on display inside the Black River Coliseum throughout the day.
As in the past, a variety of food and merchandise vendors will be set up along Main Street, plus there will be barbecue and fried green tomatoes served at the depot between 11:30 and 2.
“We’ll have the same vendors everyone has come to love,” said Fox.
The grape stomp is set to begin at noon at the Main Street Stage, and the car show will wrap up at 3: 30 p.m.
Throughout the day, local entertainment will be featured on both the Car Show and Main Street stages. Performers include Swamp Whiskey, Robert Ethridge, Bob Lewis Family Band, Tierra, Bralin Duckett and Leeza Edmundson.
The Iron Horse Festival, Fox said, will wrap up at 4 p.m.
Several sponsors, she said, have been with the festival throughout its history and continue to make it possible.
“Without the donations of our sponsors, this event would not be possible at all,” she said.
With cooler fall weather finally in the forecast, Fox hopes residents will come to downtown Poplar Bluff and enjoy everything the festival has to offer.
“We hope everyone will come to this family fun event,” she said. “Bring your kids and your animals and enjoy it.”