AVARD - This tiny Woods County community will mark its 99th birthday with the Third annual Lake Avard Folk Festival Saturday and Sunday.
Events are scheduled throughout the weekend.
It starts early at 8 a.m. on Saturday with the Dutch Oven Cookoff getting under way.
At 9 a.m. a trap shoot is scheduled at Avard Lake directed by Woods County Game Warden Terry Swallow.
Horse drawn buggy rides re planned all day and a quilt show at the First Christian Churdh begins at 10 a.m.
Also starting at 10 a.m. are an antique teractor show and craft and home show.
Tandy Keene, park naturalist at Alabaster Caverns, will be at the festival demonstrating the differences between horse vs. mule. Other demonstrations include rope making, basket weaving and blacksmithing.
At 11 a.m., Judy Ferguson will perfrom as Belle Start. She will also perform at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Judging in the Dutch Oven Cookoff starts at noon and cookers will provide the noon meal as well. Dessert wll be homemade ice cream provided by the Relay for Life.
Afternoon events begin with taking entries for the old fashioned food fair at 1 p.m. followed by a horseshow pitching contest at 2 p.m. Judging for the food fair is 3 p.m.
At 4 p.m., awards will be presented for the dutch oven cookoff, food fair, tractor show and horseshoe pitchers.
A stage for open karaoke will be up from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and a free catfish and calf fry dinner is at 6 p.m.
Live entertainment starts at 7 p.m. wilth Clint Osmus and at 8 p.m. with Van Marsalis and his band from Stillwater.
Sunday begins with a Cowboy Church at 10 a.m. Sonny Daub of Cherokee will give the service. The service is planned for outside, but could move into the church in case of bad weather.
A trail ride starts at 11:30 a.m. and lunch will be provided on the trail. Visitors not going on the trail ride will have lunch at noon in Avard. A Longhorn Cattle Drive is also planned.
Organizers said primitive camping is available with RV sites across from Duck Hall.
For additional details contact Donna Schmidt at 580-435-2324 or visit www.avardfolkfestival.com.
All events are free.
Organizers are having a drawing during the festival for a $500 gift card from Bass Pro Shop. Tickets are $1 each or $10 for $12 and all proceeds go toward improvements to the park in Avard.
Note: If you go, Avard is located north and a little east of Waynoka. You can get there by going north out of Waynoka on State Highway 14 and turn at the Avard sign.
