Starting Thursday, the 63rd annual Hootin an Hollarin Festival will take place on the Gainesville Square. The festival will feature bluegrass, country and gospel music as well as contests of all kinds.
Throughout the weekend, visitors can shop a multitude of craft vendors as well as old-time craft demonstrations taking place around the square. Each evening will end with square dancing from 9 to midnight to traditional tunes played by Ashley Forrest, David Scrivner, Joel Hinds and Nathan McAlister.
The event kicks off Thursday evening at 5 with the National Anthem by Jessica Suit and the mayor’s welcome. The quilt show will run from 5-7. On stage, the 14-year-old Suit and 12-year-old Ainsley Luna will sing some songs together, 11-year-old Finn Wade will perform his songs on the violin, and 14-year-old Wyatt Dodge and 21-year-old Colton Wood will play bluegrass and country music songs. The Baker Family will hit the main stage at 6 followed by the queen pageant at 7:30.
On Friday, a full day of events start at 10 with the quilt show. The Shelter Insurance Kids Corner will be open from 10 to noon Friday and Saturday, and the terrapin races start at 10:30 each morning.
Friday’s main stage activities start at 11 with entertainment from the Layton Hollow Gals followed by Homestead Hollow Performers at noon, Molly Clair and Company at 1, the Lil Cedar Pete and Lil Miss Addie Lee Contest at 2, the princess pageants at 2:45, the Stringed Union Performers at 4, Backyard Bluegrass at 5:30 and the Psychobilly Cadillac Band at 7:30.
Friday’s other activities include gazebo pickin’ on the northwest courthouse lawn throughout the afternoon, free old-fashioned kids’ games from 4 to 5 in the lot off the northwest corner, a free bed race at 5 at the southwest corner of the square by Molly’s Salon, a free outhouse race at 5:30 at the northwest corner of the square by Gainesville City Hall and the Bull Blast at 7 at the Gainesville Saddle Club Arena on Main Street.
Saturday will be the final day of the festival starting with the 5k run/walk at 8:30 by City Hall. The archery and shotgun shoot will start at 9 in the grassy area across U.S. Highway 160.
The main stage activities for Saturday begin with the pet show at 9:30 followed by the costume contest at 11. Performances will start with the Ridgerunner Cloggers at noon, the Marriott Brothers at 1, a magic show after the parade, the calling contests at 4, Scarlet O’Hara at 5 and Chelsey James at 7.
Saturday’s other activities include the car show from 10 to 2 on First Street between the 160 Pit Stop and White Oak Station, the cornhole tournament at 10 in the parking lot off the northwest corner, the pie contest at 11:30 at Shelter Insurance off the southwest corner of the square, more gazebo pickin’ throughout the afternoon, the big parade at 2 from Main Street around the square to Third Street and another round of old-fashioned kids’ games from 4 to 5.
Hootin an Hollerin is free to attend. For more information and a full list of events visit hootinanhollarin.com.
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