Crowds fill downtown Poplar Bluff Saturday for the Iron Horse and Veteran Fall festivals

The aroma of popcorn and funnel cakes wafted through the air Saturday as large crowds filled the streets of downtown Poplar Bluff for the 10th annual Iron Horse Festival.

For the second year, the festival was held in conjunction with the Veteran Fall Festival, sponsored by the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center and the Wake Foundation.

The festival kicked off with an opening ceremony, featuring the Poplar Bluff Senior High JROTC posting the colors, the Poplar Bluff youth football Jayhawks leading the Pledge of Allegiance and Kara King singing the national anthem.

Throughout the day, car and dog shows were held and bands performed on two stages. There also were numerous food choices and other vendors to shop lining Main Street.

For the children, there was a “kids zone” with bounce houses, and The Home Depot also had a kids workshop, where youngsters could build such things as pencil and candy boxes.

“I’m making it for my friend because she has a birthday party today,” 9-year-old Daisy Worley of Poplar Bluff said of the heart candy box she was painting with the help from her grandfather, Sammy Worley of Corning, Ark.

Across the parking lot, Matt Smith was showing Tim Garris of Poplar Bluff photographs of the 1967 Chevelle convertible his dad built for a “buddy,” J.D. Lawson.

On the same parking lot several Army green tents stood sheltering the VA staff who were providing free flu shots to veterans.

As he sat underneath the gazebo on the courthouse lawn, Frank Ezell of Wappapello said, he was going to take advantage of the free flu shot.

While Ezell was attending for the festival for second time, Molly Hall said, she attends every year.

“We love it,” Hall said of her and Ezell. “It’s bigger this year than last year.”

Hall said she attends because she likes to be around people and enjoyed seeing all the those who brought their dogs Saturday.

“We got a good bratwurst,” Hall added.

Ira Rainwater, 6, of Poplar Bluff hammers a nail into his pencil box as Chris Harlan (left) holds the nail straight. Looking on is Liam Garrett, 7.DAR/Michelle Friedrich

Karen Cox of Mountain Home, Ark., also raved about the food.

“It’s a lot bigger than last year,” said Cox, who requested off from work in July so she could attend this year’s festival. “There’s twice as much food, and I’ve sampled a lot of it.

“How do you chose between little doughnuts and funnel cakes? That’s the decision of the day.”

Cox said she and Lori King of Poplar Bluff were having a good time.

“I love it,” King said. “I come every year.”

Last year, King said, she bought all her Christmas presents at the festival. This year, she said, she bought for herself.

As Cox stood near the Main Street stage, she said, she wished there had been more live entertainment throughout the day.

Cox said Robert Ethridge, who sang a capella, gave her goose bumps.

“He was awesome,” Cox said.

Among the vendors lining Main Street was Country Crafts from the Heart of Doniphan.

“This is my first time, and it’s great,” said Karen Cobb. “I’ve sold half of a truck load already. I’ll definitely be back next year.”

Cobb, who was replenishing her merchandise, said she was told by another vendor she should consider attending.

Just up Main Street from Cobb’s booth was Sandy Kildow’s Me & Grace booth.

“It’s going really good,” said Kildow of Essex. “The people have been looking and buying, and it’s nice weather.”

At her booth, Kildow said, she had such items as quilts, children’s aprons, bag holders, pillows, casserole and bowl covers.

“I work all year round trying to get stuff” ready for the fall festivals, Kildow said. “ … I used to do it and work. How I did it, I’ll never know.”

Kildow said she has been attending the Iron Horse Festival for quite a while.

“It’s always been good for me,” Kildow said. “The people for the most part are friendly. That’s a plus.”

Mitchell’s Greenhouse at Neelyville also was a returning vendor, according to Tonya Dennis, daughter of the owners.

“This is our third year here,” said Dennis as she stood among a large selection of mums. “I think it keeps better and better.

“It’s a lot of fun. Everyone seems to be having a good time. It’s nice to see smiles on people’s faces.”

Among the greenhouse’s returning customers were Connie and Randy Swinger of Poplar Bluff.

“I bought them last year, and I’m buying them again this year,” Connie Swinger said.

Also purchasing mums last year and returning for the festival this year was Courtney Crocker of Ellington.

“We noticed there is a lot more this year,” said Crocker as she sat finishing a Philly cheese-steak sandwich. “There’s several good foods.”

Crocker said “our hometown” is holding the Reynolds County Fair this week, but “we’ve not gone yet,” opting to come to Poplar Bluff instead.

“There are a lot more options and things to see” here, said Crocker, who wished one of the food vendors had sold shish Kabobs.

As Steven Digges sat next to his wife’s snow cone trailer on Main Street holding their granddaughter, he said, this year’s festival “looks pretty good, looks pretty big this year.”

Digges said he and his family were having a good time.

“We walked to the car show this morning; it was interesting,” he said.

Coming to the festival, according to Terri Montgomery of Poplar Bluff, gives her family something to do, and her son volunteers as the VA and was helping with Saturday’s car show.

“There’s a lot more here; it’s a lot bigger,” said Montgomery as she sat near the courthouse enjoying a frozen lemonade. “It’s gotten bigger every year.”

“It’s a good way to get the community out and have something to do,” Montgomery said.