Black Walnut Festival Sat.-Sun.

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CAMDEN — The 28th Annual Black Walnut Festival in Camden will highlight this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 17-18, bringing with it the traditional festival food, fun and shopping experience.

Booths will be open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Many activities are planned for both days, including various musical groups, Valley Exotics Petting Zoo, and chain saw artist Dayle Lewis.

This year’s parade will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, followed by the crowning of the Black Walnut Festival Princess in the festival tent. Saturday will also include the Car and Cycle Show.

Musical entertainment this year includes the Worley Boys, Saturday, 2-5 p.m.; Ciera Flory, Sunday, noon-2 p.m. and Thumbupband, Sunday, 2-5 p.m.

On Sunday, the Kiddie Tractor Pull and Championship Pull will begin at 2 p.m. Raffle drawings for a 50/50 drawing will be held at 5 p.m. on Sunday.

According to festival chair Andrew Groh, there will be no walnut hulling machine at this year’s festival.

“Whether it’s raining, snowing, or the sun is out, it’s one of the best festivals in the fall,” Groh noted.

This year’s parade grand marshal is Lloyd Cross.

Cross, 87, is a WWII veteran who served in the Pacific 8th Army from 1945-1947 in Honshu, Japan. He came to Camden in 1947. He was a Camden fireman and previous fire chief, and a 60-year member of the Masonic Lodge 159. Cross is a member of the Shriners and has collected approximately $137,000 in donations over 29 years for Shrine Hospital. He and his wife Jean built Cross’ Campground in 1971 and operated it for 37 years.

Donations made by the Black Walnut Festival Committee support the Camden Police Department, Camden Fire & Rescue Squad, Camden parks, Camden Beautification Committee, scholarships for Preble Shawnee High School, planters and flowers in town, Christmas decorations and lights in town, town signs, and street flags, according to Groh.

Eddie Mowen Jr.

[email protected]

Reach Eddie at 937-683-4056 or on Twitter @emowen_RH.

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