The city of Olive Hill, and the historic downtown railroad depot, will be a festive destination Saturday (October 24, 2020) as the fourth “It’s Fall Y’all” celebration gets underway – “rain or shine!”
“We wouldn’t do it if we didn’t feel we could do it safely,” Olive Hill Chamber of Commerce President Lisa Messer Conley said recently as a team of volunteers spruced up around the old depot building.
Public health precautions will be in place, Conley said, including requirements for vendors to wear masks while serving customers; all food items will be sold in individual packaging with no self-service; and 70 percent alcohol hand sanitizer at convenient stations.
Otherwise, “It’s Fall Y’all” will resume for the fourth year will nearly all traditional activities intact.
“We did eliminate the plank board races due to the fact you have four people so close,” Conley noted.
Chamber volunteers weren’t the only people pitching in to prepare Olive Hill for guests, she added.
“It’s been the city workers and the street department and private businesses working to improve things. Kudos to the city I guess you could say! James Do-It-Best (Hardware) sent an employee out to clean up along Scott Street and it looks really good!”
This year’s “It’s Fall Y’all Vendor & Craft Fair” also marks a notable anniversary for local residents and merchants.
“It’s 10 years of overcoming two 500-year floods,” she said, citing the pair of 2010 flood events which essentially wiped out the downtown area.
Visitors will find lots to do, as well as interesting and unusual items offered by vendors and plenty to eat, along with opportunities to watch or participate in unusual competitions including bed races, pumpkin bowling, pumpkin croquet and other fall-themed games.
The Olive Hill Historical Society will provide a dramatic presentation, as well as an exhibit of local “before and after” photos documenting the floods and subsequent renovations.
Live music will add energy to the street scene, with performances scheduled by Sasha Colette (11 a.m.), Shelby Lore Trio (11:45 a.m.) New Highway Traditional Gospel Bluegrass (1:15 p.m.), and TLC Worship at 2:30. Treasured Flag and Worship Team has also been added to the fair schedule.
Early attractions also include “All Cast” cooking by veteran trail chef Jesse Oney on behalf of Olive Hill Trail Town, who will use cast iron cookware and open wood fires to prepare and serve a variety of goodies including beans, fried cornbread, and apple and peach cobblers.
Food vendors will offer an array of entrees and treats including chili, hot dogs, barbecue, soup beans, kettle corn and more.
For more information including the day’s schedule, visit
https://www.facebook.com/events/2762632830683216
Story & Photos by TIM PRESTON
Carter County Post