A community celebration in Vernon during the third weekend of July will feature a barbecue contest, parade, music — and golf carts.
Events that will help mark Jennings County’s bicentennial will include a parade around the Vernon town square on July 21. The parade will feature golf carts decorated to mark periods of the county’s history, said event organizer Kevin Dougherty.
Golf carts should be decorated to look like trains, antique cars, covered wagons or anything that symbolizes historical eras, he said.
“We are also encouraging people to dress in period clothes of different eras of history. We want this to be fun,” Dougherty added about the July 20 to 22 celebration.
A Kansas City Barbeque Society-sanctioned cook-off will take place on the Vernon Town Square. Cooks from Chicago, Tennessee, Kentucky and Indiana are already registered for the competition. Prizes totaling $5,000 will be awarded, and winners will be qualified to enter a national barbecue competition.
“We really want everyone to get involved and have fun,” Dougherty said.
Live music sessions are planned throughout the weekend, as well as a fish fry July 21 and a community pitch-in dinner July 22.
For more information call Dougherty at 812-592-6260 or send an email to dough [email protected].
