Loblolly Days begins Friday

Two events will be making a comeback at Loblolly Days.
The Bryant festival, which begins Friday, will see the return of antique tractor pulls and cow patty bingo, each of which has taken a hiatus of several years. The event will also include a Duck Dynasty contest and themed parade, old favorites, entertainment, games and food at the annual festival, which officially kicks off with the Loblolly Country Queen Contest at 6 p.m. Friday.
The tractor pulls are scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday, and cow patty bingo will be on the final day of the festival at 2 p.m. Sunday.
“It’s really funny to see everyone stand around and giggle,” Loblolly Days coordinator Kathy Davidson said of the unusual version of the game.
There will also be blow-up games for kids and games for all ages at 6:30 p.m. Friday. A 3-on-3 basketball tournament is set for 8 a.m. Saturday at Bryant Community Center, with a euchre tournament to follow at 1 p.m. Redneck Olympics will be at 5 p.m. Saturday, and a corn hole tournament is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday.
The Duck Dynasty best dressed/look-alike contest is for all ages and will be at 11:30 a.m. Saturday. Line-up for the parade will begin at 1 p.m. at Industrial Park North, and the DD-themed parade will begin at 2 p.m.
Queen contestants will throw straw, milk goats, drive nails and perform other activities for 50 percent of their score. The rest of the score will be determined with an interview and cookie baking, and the crowning will take place at 10:30 a.m. Saturday. Crowning of the Loblolly Prince and Princess will also be held at that time.
“And it’s just a lot of fun,” Davidson said. “It ain’t no beauty contest.”
At 9 a.m. Saturday will be a talent show contest, garden tractor pull, baby contest, Jay County Humane Society Adopt-A-Pet and a car, truck and bike show. Other activities on Saturday include a pet parade at 11 a.m., Jay County High School Robotics Club demonstration from noon to 2 p.m., child fingerprinting at 12:30 p.m. and zumba with Dawn Milligan at 6 p.m.
Entertainment will include disc jockey Greg Gillette playing country and classic rock at 7 p.m. Friday, Jay County’s own Owen Howell will sing country music at 2:30 p.m., Karaoke Connection will be at 4:30 p.m. and Boot Hill Band will perform at 7 p.m., all on Saturday on the main stage.
Events on Sunday continue with horse pulls and Fear Factor registration at 1 p.m., to begin at 1:30 p.m., a kids pedal tractor pull at 3 p.m., a public auction at 3:30 p.m. and the Loblolly drawing at 5:30 p.m.
“It’s a good, clean enjoyable weekend. Just come enjoy yourself,” Davidson said.