DAYTON– The 16th annual Dayton Ole Tyme Days Festival will be held April 18-20, in downtown Dayton.
The downtown streets will be blocked off all weekend to make room for kids of all ages to have a great time. The festival begins on Friday evening with the Carnival at 6 p.m. and a special performance by the Texas Revolution Band at 8 p.m.
Saturdays events include the Photo Contest, Youth Bake-Off Contest, BBQCookoff, Junior Chili Cookoff, Car Show and Antique Tractor Show.
Saturdays entertainment schedule for the main stage includes: 10 a.m. – Star Twirlers; 10:30 a.m. – Star Cheer & Gymnastics; 11 a.m. – Bake-Off Awards & Auction; 12 p.m. – Shanas Dance Place; 12:30 p.m. – Invincible Eagle Band; 1 p.m. – Rhinestone Gospel Chicks; 1:30 p.m. – Jr. Chili Cookoff Awards; 2 p.m. – Friends of The Gospel; 3 p.m. – Hayley & CD Williams; 3:30 p.m. – Benjamin Brighteyes Band; 5 p.m. – Southern Side Steppers; 5:30 p.m. – Marty Deshazo; 6 p.m. – Street Dance Set Up; 8p.m. – Texas Revolution Band.
Festival Admission is free! Come to Dayton for the weekend and enjoy the great food, live music, arts & crafts in every street. For more details on all the events, visit our web site at www.oletymedays.com.
The photo contest is sponsored by Lee College. Entry divisions are Landscapes & Scenery, Animals or People. 1st Prize is a free continuing education class (valued up to $100). 2nd & 3rd prizes will each be a gift basket. For more information on entries, visit: www.oletymedays.com. Prizes will be awarded at 1:30 p.m. on the Main Stage.
Bake-off entry turn in is between 9-11 a.m. Saturday at Kountry Kitchen on Main Street. Categories are cakes (no ice box cakes), cookies (24 cookies to qualify) or Pies (no ice box pies). All items will be auctioned off with proceeds benefitting the scholarship fund.
The BBQ Cookoff runs from Friday evening through Sunday afternoon. Categories include Brisket, Pork Ribs, Chicken, Beans, Cooks Choice Main Entry, Cooks Choice Dessert, Beef Fajitas, the Omelet-Off and the Margarita Contest. These cooks take their cooking very seriously and the results are delicious!
The Jr. Chili Cookoff has two divisions: Juniors 5-12 years of age and Seniors 13-18 years of age. The teams not only cook, but the also get very creative in decorating their cookoff area. Taster Choice tickets are available for the Junior Chili Cookoff and well worth the price of $1 each or 6 for $5.
The Car Show will be held at Prosperity Bank. Divisions include: Antique, Street Rod, Modern Classic, Modified Classic, Muscle Car, Custom Truck, Custom Open and Youngest Entry (youngest person entering a vehicle in the car show).
The Antique Tractor Show will be held at The American Rice Growers lot at the corner of FM 1960 and Hwy. 321. Registration ends at 10:30 a.m. Saturday. Trophies will be awarded for Peoples Choice and Originality. Certificates will be awarded in the Slowest Tractor Race.
The Ole Tyme Days Festival is held annually to promote Dayton, Texas and to raise money for local youth scholarships. The festival has grown tremendously over the past sixteen years.
All proceeds benefit the Dayton Ole Tyme Days Youth Scholarship Fund. In 2007, the group was able to award $28,500 in scholarships.