Pope County Deer Festival November 19-22

The 48th Annual Pope County Deer Festival celebration is underway and guaranteed to provide a good time for the whole family.

Held in historic Golconda, Nov. 19-22, the county fair- like celebration is well known for its barbecue, which is prepared by the Crim brothers. Hungry guests can start filling up at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 20. Great food from a variety of vendors, handmade arts and crafts, wildlife displays and a flea market atmosphere are just some of the unique offerings that have made the Deer Festival such a popular. yearly event.

This year’s festivities will start off with a community church service on Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. with various local churches participating. A community choir will be formed under the direction of Allen Brickhaus, with the goal of having as many churches in the county as possible represented in the choir. The choir will rehearse Monday, Nov. 10 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Gospel Mission Tabernacle, located just west of Golconda on Ill. 146. Another practice will be held Monday, Nov. 17 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Anyone who enjoys singing is invited to attend.

For information about the choir, contact Gospel Mission Tabernacle Tim Green at 618- 6834338.

On Thursday, Nov. 20 the festival will continue with the Junior Mr. and Miss Deer Queen Pageant in the main tent at 6:30 p.m. The ever-popular Deer Queen Contest, which is always a well-attended event, will be held Friday, Nov. 21 at 7 p.m., with contestants from Pope County High School vying for the coveted, crown and title of Deer Queen.

On Saturday folks from all around will enjoy the popular street parade, which starts at approximately 2 p.m. Prior to the parade there will be musical entertainment on Main Street at the review stand until parade time. The Golconda Rotary Club sponsors the Pope County Deer Festival and the event is the club’s major fund-raiser of the year.

For more information about Pope County or the annual Deer Festival, call the chamber of commerce at 618- 683-9702; 618-68-3-8803 or 618-683-6351. While the Rotary Club of Golconda has sponsored the Pope County Deer Festival for the last forty-eight years, the success is due to people from all over Pope County pitching in to make it happen. Also, we want to extend our thanks to the Golconda Job Corps and the Department of Corrections for their invaluable help.

We do have one individual Rotarian that is really identifiable with the Pope County Deer Festival He is Herman Adkerson who has been the General Chairman of the Pope County Deer Festival for more than forty years.

MORE INFORMATION

History of the Golconda Rotary Club

History of the Pope County Deer Festival