'89er Parade expanded to bring weekend fun

By Carol Cole-Frowe

Transcript Staff Writer

Wagons ho.

A non-stop weekend of '89er-style, family-friendly festivities is planned for today, Friday and Saturday.

The '89er Days kick off at 6 p.m. today with the Lions Club '89er Days Weekend Carnival, moved to Cleveland County Fairgrounds at 615 E. Robinson St. It continues throughout the weekend.

Admission to the carnival is $20 per person per session for pay-one-price wristbands.

And Friday, the festivities get bigger.

The '89er Day Wagon Train Round-Up gets underway at the fairgrounds 7 p.m. Friday, with lots of free activities -- including the end of the trail for the '89er Wagon Train Association's 30th Annual Land Run Ride.

"We really wanted to do something on Friday night, and this just blossomed," said Charles Hollingsworth, who is chairing the '89er Days Weekend with Sean Crandall.

The wagons will set up camp for tales of trail rides, a bluegrass jam session and -- if Oklahoma's windy weather will cooperate -- a bonfire and American flag retirement.

Hollingsworth said the flag retirement will go on with or without the fire.

A rodeo roper and cow milking contest are also planned. Four cowboy-styled free "moon-bounces" will be on site for the kids.

Those attending are invited to "bring their guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin or other instrument for the bluegrass open jam session to get warmed up for the '89er Day Bluegrass Festival on Saturday."? "We'll have hay for people to sit on," Hollingsworth said.

There will be concessions at the Lions Club Carnival, with snow cones being served up by the '89er committee.