HOPE — Organizers of the 52nd annual Hope Heritage Days are bringing back as many of the crowd favorites as possible this weekend.
That includes 17 food booths operated by nonprofit groups that depend on sales for a good portion of their annual income, Heritage of Hope CEO Michael Dean said.
For those who love to shop, as well as eat, there will be about 85 merchandise vendors in and around the Hope Town Square, Dean said.
The three-day annual festival that attracts as many as 30,000 visitors gets underway at 5 p.m. Friday.
Heritage Days also features old-time games, demonstrations, a petting zoo and the annual Sunday parade. Nearly all the events make visitors feel as though they have stepped back several decades in time, organizers said.
Two musical acts, both from the Seymour area, will perform Friday at the town square bandstand. Bobby Clark, whose repertoire includes a mix of rock, classic rock and folk rock, will provide the live music from 6 to 7:30 p.m. After an hour break, the Soul Express will take center stage with the blend of Motown, funk and pop cover tunes from 8:30 to 10 p.m.
While festival-goers rock out in the town square, Columbus radio station WYGS will present a more spiritual music experience. The traditional gospel sing, which will feature The Diplomats and Summit Trace, is expected to bring more than 300 people to the Hauser Jr.-Sr. High gymnasium from 7 until 9 p.m. on Friday.
Many car enthusiasts will likely be enthralled by a new interactive exhibit established in a 53-foot, double-expandable semi-trailer. Dean describes Indiana Auto History on Wheels as a traveling museum that touches on the history of more than 100 Indiana automakers and manufacturers, such as Cord, Duesenberg and Studebaker.
Booths open at 8 a.m. Saturday. On the north side of the town square, the Yellow Trail Pioneer Village will be in operation in the Jackson Street vacant lot beginning at 9 a.m.
A new attraction will be feature a Classic Car Show that will be filled with unique vehicles owned by a number of Studebaker clubs, Dean said. A descendant of the family, Jeff Studebaker, will be there with his own car made by his family’s company, Dean said.
Exhibitors include an American Motors club, which purchased Studebaker’s General Products Division in 1970, as well as a club for those who own Studebaker Avantis, which were built only in 1962 and 1963.
The 10 a.m. car show will be held in the parking lot of the First Baptist Church of Hope, 455 Jackson St. This event comes almost a year after auto-parts distributor Studebaker International moved its offices to Hope.
A big crowd-pleaser from the past — Dr. Hope’s Medicine Show — begins at 12:30 p.m. on the north side of the square. Hope actor and director Pete Law is portraying the Depression-era snake oil salesman this year.
Other characters featured in the satirical presentation include Dr. Hope’s conspirator, who claims to get cured by the medicine. But many Hope residents wait to see who will play Little Eva, the scantily-clad belly dancer. The character gets more hoots than wolf-calls due to the fact that a man is always cast in the role.
A rock and roll cover band from Batesville called Five Lights will kick off Saturday’s musical entertainment at 5:30 p.m. on the main stage along Jackson Street. At 7 p.m., Hope native Danny Lee Anderson will perform a variety of music at the bandstand that include acoustic, classic rock, country and Americana.
But the biggest draw on Saturday night is expected to be the 8 p.m. performance by a tribute band for the group Journey.
Formed in 1993, the tribute band calls itself “Escape” — the name of Journey’s 1981 album that featured “Who’s Cryin’ Now”, “Don’t Stop Believin’” and “Open Arms”. However, the Cleveland, Ohio tribute group spells their name as “E5C4P3.”
When the tribute band finishes up at 9:30 p.m., a fireworks show will be visible west of the town square if weather permits.
Booths will again open at 9 a.m. Sunday and the Yellow Trail Pioneer Village will be in operation from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
A bluegrass performance by Jon Wise and Steve Mills will get underway at noon at the bandstand.
Special presentations will be made at 1:30 p.m. while a flyover of military aircraft will take place at 2:15 p.m. above the town square. While the parade begins at 2:30 p.m., trophy presentations to parade entries won’t be made until 5 p.m. at the bandstand.
The final musical act will be a blend of rock, country and Americana music by Madison performer Rusty Bladen. His performance at the bandstand begins at 3:30 p.m.
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Friday
5 p.m. to 10 p.m. – Booths Open
7 p.m. to 9 p.m. – WYGS Gospel Sing at the Hauser Jr.-Sr. High School Gym
6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. – Bobby Clark (Bandstand)
8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. – Soul Express (Bandstand)
Saturday
8 a.m. to 10 p.m. – Booths Open
8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. – Baking Contest drop off at Willow Leaves, 326 Jackson St.
9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. – Heritage Classic Cross Country Meet (Jackson St.)
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Yellow Trail Pioneer Village (Jackson St. Lot)
10 a.m. – Horseshoe Tournament $5 per person (Behind Town Hall)
10 a.m. – Studebaker & Classic Car Show (First Baptist Church of Hope, 455 Jackson St.)
11 a.m. – Baking Contest Awards (Bandstand)
11:30 a.m. – Heritage Classic Awards Presentation (Bandstand)
12:00 p.m. & 1:30 p.m. – UTOPIA Wildlife Rehabilitators (Bandstand)
12:30 p.m. – Dr. Hope Medicine Show (Jackson St.)
12:30 p.m. – Kiddie Pedal Tractor Pull Signup (Jackson St.)
2 p.m. – Kiddie Pedal Tractor Pull Heats (Jackson St.)
5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. – Five Lights (Main Stage Jackson St.)
7 p.m. to 8 p.m. – Danny Lee Anderson (Bandstand)
8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. – E5C4P3 (Escape) Journey Tribute (Main Stage Jackson St.)
9:30 p.m. – Fireworks
Sunday
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Booths Open
9 a.m. – Worship Service (Bandstand)
11 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Yellow Trail Pioneer Village (Jackson St. Lot)
Noon to 1:30 p.m. – John Wise (Bandstand)
1:30 to 2:15 p.m. Special Presentation (Reviewing Stand)
2:15 p.m. – Fly Over
2:30 p.m. – Hope Heritage Days Annual Parade
3:30 to 5 p.m. – Rusty Blade (Bandstand)
5 p.m. – 2018 Parade Trophy Presentation (Bandstand)
5 p.m. – Closing Prayer (Bandstand)
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