When guests danced to "Shake Your Tail Feather" to the Golden Oldies band at last year's Eldon Turkey Festival, organizers decided this year's event theme should embrace the energy that song created among visitors.
On Saturday, the 31st annual Turkey Festival will ask its 12,000-13,000 visitors to "Shake Your Tail Feathers" with a slew of returning and new events in the historic downtown area.
The public is invited to kick off the festivities with the annual Little Mr. and Miss ceremony and reception at 6 p.m. Friday at the Eldon South Elementary stage.
During the past several weeks, contestants ages 3-4 for the Lil' Mr. and Miss Gobbler and ages 5-6 for the Lil' Mr. and Miss Turkey were up for a vote with members of the community paying a penny a vote for their choice to win the titles. Winners were determined by the amount of money they received for votes. Proceeds from collection funds for contestants will be used for the event production and community betterment.
Lil' Mr. and Miss Gobbler and Lil' Mr. and Miss Turkey will ride in the Turkey Festival Parade on Saturday morning, as well as be introduced to event visitors at 11 a.m. on the South Stage in front of SPI and Hayes Furniture. At that same time, Miss Miller County and Miss Miller County Teen will also perform.
Turkey Festival activities kick off Saturday with the annual Turkey Trot and Gobble Wobble 5K.
Following the Turkey Trot, the Eldon Turkey Festival continues with the annual parade. According to Janet Johnson of the Eldon Area Chamber of Commerce, parade entrants are asked to line-up at 8:45 a.m. with judging in a variety of categories starting promptly at 9:30 a.m.
"Participants are asked to bring a non-perishable food item to registration that will be donated to the Eldon Food Pantry. Other than that, there is no charge to enter the parade," Johnson said.
A variety of activities will return this year, including the popular food and craft vendors. Johnson said last year 1,700 pounds of turkey was sold, with one turkey leg equaling a pound.
"They sold out by 2 p.m. last year, which says a lot," she said. "We also have a lot of food vendors that offer other treats such as catfish and the gator wagon, which serves alligator. We are also getting back a lot of homemade craft vendors, offering unique gifts and products. We are pushing the 200-mark for our vendors, which will offer something for everyone attending the Turkey Festival."
Johnson said a lot of new activities and festivities making a strong comeback from years past are included in the 31st annual Turkey Festival. "Elvis Presley" will perform for guests, as well as turkey bowling for kids and adults are some of the highlights. Johnson said brave visitors can test their hand at knocking down regular bowling pins with 8-pound frozen turkeys in an outdoor alley style set-up at Gerbes Supermarket.
Additional new activities include an obstacle course in the bounce house children's area, and the turkey-calling contest at the Eldon Community Center is returning to the festival after a lengthy hiatus.
A craft show, quilt show, emergency responder vehicles and safety demonstrations are also a part of the festival, along with loads of music and entertainment.
With three stages, music begins early in the morning with Sanctified Blues at 9 a.m. at the Gospel Stage. Golden Oldies take that stage at 11 a.m., with The Maces and Allen at noon, The New Life Assembly of God Singers at 1 p.m., The Stone Sisters at 2 p.m., Rex and Misty at 3 p.m. and another performance from Sanctified Blues at 4 p.m.
The Main Stage will have Ken Roberts as Elvis Presley at 11 a.m. and Helen Russell performing from 12:30-2:30 p.m.
Following the introduction of festival and county royalty at 11 a.m. at the South Stage, the Mule Kickers Cloggers will perform at 11:30 a.m., followed by Eldon Gymnastics at 12:15 p.m., Eldon cheerleaders at 1 p.m., Eldon High School choir at 1:30 p.m., Eldon High School Jazz Band at 2 p.m. and another entertainer at 2:30 p.m.
The annual Eldon Turkey Festival is full of reasons for visitors to "shake their tail feathers" and continues to be an increasingly popular Mid-Missouri event.