Fulton’s Railroad Heritage Days begin Sept. 17 and run through Sept. 19, downtown.
Festivities begin Sept. 17 with food vendors setting up at 9 a.m., as well as the Senior Citizens Rook Tournament at the Senior Citizens Center. At 5 p.m., the House of Prayer bean supper will begin at 5 p.m. at the Pontotoc Community Center. Fee is $4.
The Greased Pig Contest will take place at 6 p.m. in the grass lot behind the Post Office. At 7 p.m., The Joylanders will perform Gospel music at Pontotoc Park.
On Sept. 18, Parkway Regional Hospital’s Health Fair will take place from 8 a.m.-12 noon at the Pontotoc Community Center. Exhibitors will include Parkway Regional with cholesterol tests, blood pressures, oxygen saturation, physical therapy, audiology, nutrition, healthy eating, and women’s wellness; Regional Home Care with blood sugar tests; and Park Terrace with assisted living.
Refreshments will be provided by Parkway Regional Hospital. Parkway, Jim Martin and Associates will give items away, and have drawings for prizes. A $50 gift card will be awarded by Evans Total Care. For more information, contact Jennifer Conner at 472-8170.
Food vendors will set up downtown at 9 a.m. Sept. 18. A Children’s Bump-n-Jump Carnival will be available for children from 4-8 p.m., and the Fulton Idol Contest will begin at 5 p.m. at Pontotoc Park.
From 10 a.m.-4 p.m., the Twin Cities Railroad Museum will be open at South Fulton City Hall.
The Chessmen will perform at 7:30 p.m. at Pontotoc. Car Show registration begins at 7 a.m., Sept. 19, downtown. Food vendors will set up at 9 a.m., and the Pistol Shoot and Turkey Shoot will be at 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the South Fulton firing range.
The car show begins at 10 a.m. downtown. Judging begins at 10:30. Cars and trucks, stock production categories are up to 1939; 1940-49; 1950-59; 1960-69; 1970-79; and 1980-89. Custom wheels and tires are allowed. No custom paint allowed. Engine motor stock must show four or fewer modifications.
Cars and trucks modified categories are up to 1931; 1932-39; 1940-49; 1950-59; 1960-69; 1970-79; and 1980-89. One trophy will be awarded per class.
Corvettes categories are 1953-67; 1968-82; 1984-96; and 1997-present. Stock or custom motorcycles may be entered. Awards for all categories will be given at 3:30 p.m. Entry fee is $20 the day of the show. Car show winners will be announced at 4 p.m.
The Magic Show also begins at 10 a.m. at Pontotoc. At 11:30 a.m. Sept. 19, the Extreme Green Show will be held downtown, at Pontotoc Park.
Buckle Down will be in concert from 3-6 p.m. at Pontotoc. A “Banana Trains” program will start at 3 p.m. at the Twin Cities Railroad Museum in South Fulton. Railroad historian and author Cliff Downey will discuss the history of banana shipments through Fulton in the mid-1900s, as well as the railroad history of Fulton and South Fulton.
Downey has published five books and more than one dozen articles, mostly about railroads. A sixth book, “Kentucky and the Illinois Central Railroad,” is due in late 2009 or early 2010.
The PowerPoint program Sept. 19 will feature rare photographs, including those taken during the 1964 International Banana Festival, attended by Miss America Vonda Van Dyke. Several other photos date to the late 1800s.
The Railroad Museum is located inside the South Fulton City Hall, next to the fire station. Admission is free, and donations are accepted. For more information, e-mail rryardmaster@att.net or Cliff Downy at downeycj@charter.net, or call 731-588-1455.
The Bump-n-Jump Carnival will be available to children from 4-8 p.m., at Pontotoc Park, and a Magic Show will take place at 5 p.m.
The grand parade will start at 6 p.m., and the Extreme Green Show will be at 7 p.m., followed by the Fulton Idol winner performance at 7:30.
Festival headliner Lorrie Morgan will take the stage at 8 p.m.
A big screen television, Ipods, GPS systems and more prizes will be given away throughout the evening Sept. 18-19. Winners must be present to win.
For more information, contact the Fulton Tourism Office at 472-9000.
