The 33rd Annual Friendsville Days will be held on Friday and Saturday, July 26 and 27, at Friendsville Community Park. The hometown will host activities for all ages with admission free for all. Those attending are encouraged to bring a chair and stay all day.
This year’s theme is “Friendsville Elementary: Yesterday’s Memories, Tomorrow’s Promise,” with the focus geared toward past and present teachers and principals and honoring them as grand marshals. Plans are being made to have a “meet-and-greet” tent to be able to share memories with their favorite teachers.
The event kicks off on Friday, with a free, picnic-style meal provided by Friendsville Days Inc. at 6 p.m. at the park. Other vendors will be open selling food, beverages, and novelty items that evening and all day Saturday.
The Friendsville Community Watch will provide free inflatable rides for the youth through teens from 7 to 9 p.m. A Christian puppet show will begin at 7 p.m. at the playground pavilion, and the James Everett Band will provide country and southern rock music from 7 to 10 p.m.
A parade through the streets of Friendsville will kick off Saturday’s events beginning at noon. Opening ceremonies and awarding of parade prizes will be held following the parade at the Friendsville Community Park. The national anthem will be sung by Miss Maryland 2013, Christina Denny, and there will be a 21-gun salute with the raising of the American flag. American Pie will hit the stage at 1:30 p.m. and will be performing top hits of the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s, and is one of Pittsburgh’s favorite oldies band.
A talent show of Garrett County talent will begin at 4 p.m. Sidney Thomas will also perform vocal selections beginning at 5:30 p.m. Two performances of the Christian puppet show will be held at 2 and 5 p.m. at the playground pavilion. Door prizes and raffles will be held throughout the day. The Crazy Cowboys will take the stage from 7 to 10 p.m. performing country music hits, while a dance floor will be provided. Fireworks will top off the evening at 10:15 p.m.
Saturday will also feature a car, truck, and motorcycle show from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Little League parking lot. For more information, persons may contact Pat Riep-Dice at 301-746-4280.
Other events offered that day will include bingo, games and rides for all ages, a three-on-three basketball tournament at 10 a.m., a horse shoe pitching tournament at 2 p.m., a dunking booth, a sand volleyball tourney, puppet shows, and inflatables for all ages. A variety of food products will be available for purchase, including chicken wings, lamb-burgers, pulled pork, and the usual “fair-type” food, including french fries and Ben’s Tai food.
The door prize booth will host numerous items donated from local merchants and the popular Chinese auction will be held once again. There will be two free cash drawings to be drawn at undisclosed times on Saturday before 9 p.m. Youth age 16 years and older are eligible to sign up at the door prize booth and winners must be present to collect their prizes. Only one entry per person is permitted. Other rules apply and will be posted at the door prize booth.
The event will be held rain or shine. For more information on any of these events, please contact Lucretia Sines at 301-746-5933 or the town hall at 301-746-5919.
