The 52nd Greenup Old Fashion Days is coming up downtown Greenup. Thursday, October 5th, Friday the 6th, and Saturday the 7th. Like always, there will be food and craft vendors, performers, games, contests, and lots of fun on Main Street and the courthouse square.
As a person who grew up in downtown Greenup, I have fond memories of Old Fashion Days. I have always loved Old Fashion Days! The costume contest at Greenup Grade School was a highlight each year. My mom sewed dresses for my sister and me that we proudly wore to school to show off on the stage. A school board member came to judge each class and give the winner a shiny fifty cent piece. I remember winning and being presented the prize by James Stuart, my best friend Lori Ann Stuart’s grandpa. (He was Jesse’s brother.) Every student in the whole school walked in the parade through downtown and back to school. We loved seeing the downtown merchants dressed up in their old fashion costumes – just like us. My Grandma worked at the Mary Stewart Dress Shop and would always be standing on the sidewalk waving at me as we paraded by.
My favorite part was always the big drawing from the courthouse steps where prizes were given out to townsfolk who were gathered around for the excitement. Tickets were drawn from the big spinning hopper up at the second story stoop. Families collected tickets for weeks in advance as they shopped from all of the Greenup merchants. My sister and I sat at the dining room table and wrote our names on hundreds of tickets until one year, I won $50! When my name was called, I had to walk up the steps to claim my prize. Gary Miller helped me up the steps because I was wearing my roller skates. (I was always wearing my roller skates.) It was probably 1978. I’ll never forget that particular Old Fashion Days.
I have shared those stories in this column before, but I like to share them again each year because they are a picture of what the event is to each person in Greenup. Experiences we have with our family and friends in our hometown become the memories that we enjoy as we get older. Time spent with other people, especially those who we care about, is a treasure for life.
The Old Fashion Days chairperson, Mattie Coldiron, is a holder of many memories of Old Fashion Days past. Mattie has been part of each and every event over the 52 years. She is a life-long resident of Greenup and could tell stories for hours of the happenings and the people of our little town. Mattie is the matriarch of Greenup. Everyone knows her and respects her. They know that she is a genuinely caring person who truly loves Greenup. Although she has already seen her 80th birthday (I’ll not specify how long ago that was), she can work circles around the other volunteers. Everyone tries to keep up with Mattie!
It takes a small army of volunteers to make Old Fashion Days happen. The planning that goes into the event is many hours of work and organizing. Letters are sent out to potential sponsors and vendors, plans must be made for vendor placement and lay-out of electricity and water supply, entertainment is scheduled and the technical needs are addressed, partner organizations are coordinated such as the library and civic clubs, city and county contacts are kept up to date on plans, even the train schedule is taken into account. The committee is always looking for more volunteers. Call Mattie at 473-6371 if you want to take part.
A very important partner of Old Fashion Days is the Old Time Tractor Show at the Farm Bureau grounds. The tractor club has a wonderful event of their own that coincides with Old Fashion Days and complements the festivities. I believe that most people come to Greenup and enjoy both events. There is even a shuttle that runs between events to make it easier for people to do both things. It is not a far walk, but it is nice that there is a shuttle…and it is fun! The shuttle is a tractor and wagon.
Go to www.greenupoldfashiondays.com for a full schedule of event, registration forms, and information about performers. Hard copy programs can be found at Stultz Pharmacy, Greenup Library, Greenup Foodland, Greenup Giovanni’s, Greenup Extension Office, the courthouse, and the city building.
Anne Stephens, Extension Agent for Fine Arts in Greenup County can be reached at 606-836-0201 or anne.stephens@uky.edu. Educational programs of Kentucky Cooperative Extension serve all people regardless of economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, or physical or mental disability.
UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY, KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, AND KENTUCKY COUNTIES, COOPERATING.
