‘Old Glory’ celebration to kick off Pioneer Festival in Greene County
ROGERSVILLE – The seventh annual Pioneer Festival, Greene County’s first big summer event, will be held today through Sunday in Rogersville, which is located on Route 21, about 10 minutes west of Waynesburg near Interstate 79. This year’s theme “Old Glory” will mark the start of the festival at 11 a.m. Saturday with a flag celebration. A color guard, 21-gun salute, three live patriotic songs and taps are part of this tribute to the nation.
Three parachutists from the Beaver Valley Sky Divers, a sky diving group which was established in the 1970s in Freedom, Butler County, will plunge 3,600 feet as spectators watch. In keeping with the theme, the festival will feature a selection of country doctors, natural resources, Civil War re-enactors and genealogy for history buffs.
Andy Martello, an entertainer who was trained at the Barnum and Bailey Clown College, will present a captivating show of juggling, comedy and crowd interaction. Martello will perform Saturday and Sunday throughout the day.
Another new talent featured this year is Vicky Town, a storyteller, who will be presented by the Greene County Council on the Arts and the Pennsylvania Humanities Council.
She will focus on elementary-age children, but her show will appeal to people of all ages. Town will tell riddles and humorous stories during several shows on Saturday and Sunday.
The festival will also feature music and dance. DeAnna Dawn Denning, a 17-year-old singer from Apollo, will be the main attraction at 8 p.m. Saturday.
She has performed at the Grand Ole Opry and has shared billing with country stars Shania Twain, Loretta Lynn, Dwight Yokum and others.
Other acts will include Dana Alexander from York, who will perform with Lisa and Dan Hockensmith and the Line Dancers.
The Boot Hill Band and Veronica Kiger will accompany the Line Dancers and will play a set of crowd favorites.
The schedule for the two-day event is as follows:
Friday
– 7 to 9 p.m., Pioneer line dancing with Dan and Lisa Hockensmith and Dana Alexander.
Saturday
– 8:30 a.m., Horseshoe registration for singles. The cost is $2 per person.
– 9 a.m., Horseshoe singles tournament.
– 10 a.m., Pioneer basketball tournament. High school competition will start all day.
– 11 a.m., Flag ceremony entitled Old Glory” featuring the color guard. The ceremony will feature music, songs and a 21-gun salute.
– 11:30 a.m., Flag Fly-In, Parachuting paratroopers will raise the flag. Beaver Valley Sky Divers Club will participate.
– 11:30 a.m., Horseshoe competition begins for most ringers and 10 throws. The cost is $1 per person.
– Noon, Circus acts with Andy Martello; Pioneer pickle contest at the Buffalo Burger Booth; historical displays and genealogy in the school gym entrance.
– 12:30 p.m., Greased pole; Sweet Lou & Windy Ridge Camp; children’s games; horseshoe registration for doubles. The cost for registration is $5 per team.
– 1 p.m., Line dancing with Dana Alexander and Lisa and Dan Hockensmith; horseshoe doubles tournament starts; Pioneer Ping-Pong tournament begins in the upstairs gym lobby. Junior and adults trophies will be awarded.
– 1:30 p.m., Karaoke starts, contests and fun on stage; blacksmith and other continuous arts/crafts demonstrations at booths.
– 2 p.m., Circus acts and Andy Martello.
– 2:15 p.m., Re-enactors featuring the Civil War First West Virginia Light Artillery – Battery B.
– 2:30 p.m., Basketball, open competition with junior and shootout trophies on the courts.
– 4 p.m., Circus acts with Andy Martello.
– 4:15 p.m., World War II re-enactors, field camp.
– 4:30 p.m., Boot Hill Band, Dan and Lisa Hockensmith will renew vows.
– 5 p.m., Horseshoes, open competition and exhibition.
– 6:15 p.m., Ping-Pong championships for junior and adults. Trophies will be awarded in the upstairs Gym Lobby.
– 6:30 p.m., Circus acts with Andy Martello.
– 7 p.m., Greene County Council on the Arts and the Pennsylvania Humanities Council will present storyteller Vicky Town.
– 8 p.m., DeAnna Dawn Denning, Grand Ole Opry performer.
– 9:30 p.m., Circus acts with Andy Martello.
– Dusk, fireworks.
Sunday
– 9 a.m., Frontier service with the Rev. Phil Campbell and Sandy Reeves singing.
– 9:45 a.m., History exhibits open in the school.
– 10 a.m., Circus acts with Andy Martello; basketball high school finals on the courts; re-enactors throughout the day at their encampments.
– 11 a.m., Children’s games; Ping-Pong tournament opens; circus acts with Andy Martello.
– 11:15 a.m., Line dancing with Veronica, Dana Alexander and Dan & Lisa Hockensmith.
– Noon, Circus acts with Andy Martello; blacksmith and other arts and crafts demonstrations.
– 12:15 p.m., Storyteller Vicky Town.
– 1 p.m., Circus acts with Andy Martello; Hargus Creek Bluegrass Gospel Band.
– 2 p.m., Country Pickers.
– 4 p.m., Festival ends.