08/29/2023
The theme for the FALL FESTIVAL is to celebrate Holdenville's 125th birthday:
"125 YEARS AND STILL COUNTING"
Look back at the parades of the past. Who is willing to grow our parade this year?
COLLECTION of ARKANSAS DAY PARADES
May 15, 1941: Miss Minella Leewright chosen out of 14 candidates as Queen of Arkansas Day, 1940. She rode with her attendants in a special car in the annual parade and was accorded recognition throughout the celebration on May 11th. An employee in the county clerk's office, she is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Leewright, city former Arkansawyers.
May 24, 1941 Who says Holdenville can't draw a crowd. Arkansas Day parade.
Yell County, Arkansas led the number of citizens, relatives, in Holdenville in the 1941 Arkansas Day Parade in Holdenville.
ARKANSAS DAY Many of Holdenville's pioneers came from various parts of Arkansas. It was quite the celebration. The celebration of Arkansas Day is slated with a county fair and rodeo and many other celebrations.
Local men having a good sense of humor of having to grow a beard or pay a fine or be thrown into a mock jail in front of all their peers and depending upon friends to bail them out in good spirit.
21 roundup clubs were in the Arkansas Day Parade headed up at the Fairgrounds stretching all the way down Main Street to return to Hinckley and back to Fairgrounds. There was sky writing, square dances, bands on every corner, singers, entertainers, comics, contests, and the visitors’ lunch tent at Fairgrounds. Bending races, flag races, potato sack races, and garment races held. A rodeo at the Fairgrounds and a dance at the Pine Palace on Hinckley will be in progress. A reunion tent will be for all to register where in Arkansas they came from and when. Coronation of the Arkansas Day Queen will occur. There will be band concerts, quartets, glee clubs, and all around celebration. Indian stick ball games and archery contests will happen. Sam Turner, Marshall of the city of Holdenville, will head out the parade. 17 marching bands will attend. 25 floats have been entered. These firms will include floats: Grand Theater, Chesnutt Lumber Co., Davis Brownbilt shoes, Holdenville Motors, Maddox Chevorlet, Oklahoma Gas and Electric, Oklahoma Tire and Supply, Dunlap's, Hunt, Hudson Supply store, Riley Cleaners, Henson Maytag Co., Sharpe Dry Goods, J. C. Penny Co., Sanders and Wood, Luper Transportation Company, Ben Franklin, M. and P. Stores, McGuire-Baldwin and Pine Palace Dance and Beer Hall.
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 16, 1951; HOLDENVILLE DAILY NEWS
ARKANSAS DAY ATTRACTS LARGE CROWD. MAYOR HERALDS ANNUAL EVENT AS GREAT SUCCESS.
Holdenville's first autumn Arkansas Day Festival attracted several thousand visitors and brought in the 32nd annual free fair to a successful conclusion. 15,000 Celebrants attended the City's Arkansas Day festivities.
Roped off streets were not setting idle as events of every description filled them.
An Arkansas Day moon was soothing to the crowd as they drifted off to the Community Building on Creek street where many old time fiddlers, other bands. and music could be heard drifting down the streets while happy dancing couples enjoyed the hardwood floors and dancing well into the night. Orderly events of other kind of 50's music could be heard coming from across the court house block where dancing was going on in the streets with Kitty Wells, Ernest Tubb and other Nashville artist were performing from the courthouse lawn. Inside the American Legion, several bands of 50's area entertained the younger crowd.
Throughout the day every thing was a contest: greased pig contests, turtle races, best groomed dog, decorated bicycles, dress up for the parade, and speeches from Gov. Murray who was the head of the parade. We give credit to Bud Holmes for organizing a great parade which was long and colorful. The convertible with the Gov., Senator Ballinger of Holdenville, Rep. Fred Grayson, Mayor Cat Mackey, and Floyd V. Nelson operating as driver.
They were the only clean shaven group in the whole town as there was a fine for citizens who chose not to grow a beard for this celebration, all in fun.
Good support came from all the neighboring towns and communities. They each were embraced as neighbors and friends.
Restaurants, hotels and motels were filled to the brim. Rodeo also added to the fair ground entertainment later on in the week with many contestants entered it was one of the biggest events of the fair.
This was our 11th Arkansas Day's event and planning on more in the future. A good time was had by all. Local residents went all out to make the event a good celebration. Not one event of crime of fights broke out showing that Holdenville can have a good time with their fellow men and women.
Frank "Fiddler" Johnson took first place in the Old Fiddler's contest with Charles Wontganer, taking second back home to Wetumka. He invited Frank to come to Wetumka Sucker's Day celebration to see if he can repeat himself.
Govenor Murray stated that "It is a great honor to be invited here for this celebration in which you were instrumental in the settling of this great state. Holdenville's beginning has shown it's spirit and strength throughout history. Proud to be a part of this celebration."
It all kicked off at 9:30 a.m. with the grand parade which lasted for a full 45 minutes and many bands, horse troups, 45th honor guard, clowns, Lions, Rotary and every club participating, re-acting groups of the Horse Soldiers, Civil War, and other saddle clubs participated. Floats galore all decorated.
The store businesses didn't close but offered lemonade, and people strolled in and out doing some shopping, some browsing of events and eating delicious food from several food vendors.
CITY MEN ORDERED TO GROW A BEARD OR PAY FINES FOR FEE. "You will pay, if you shave." After Monday, August 27, the local men will get a chance to show their stuff when it comes to growing a beard, according to the Arkansas Day committee, which has requested all local males not to shave until after the celebration of Arkansas Day. Everyone who must shave will have to get a permit to do so, or pay a fine, which will cost two dollars for those who are caught without a permit. On Arkansas Day a temporary jail will be set up on Main Street where the offenders will be jailed and their friends will be in charge of their bail out. Fire Chief Bise and his firemen will be in charge of issuing permits and the fining of said offense. "The reason for raising the beards in the first place is to raise attention to the upcoming Arkansas Day celebration. Money raised will go to promote the Celebration from year to year and improve parades, celebration activities for the public."
Sunday May 14, 1950; Holdenville Daily News:
MARY LOU BURNS IS DISQUALIFIED FROM QUEEN RACE FOR ARKANSAS DAY PARADE.
Much to the surprise of very few who didn't know before, “Mary Lou Burns” was disqualified from the Arkansas Day queen's race when it became evident "she" was not eligible. "Mary Lou” was sponsored by the American Legion, finally revealed that she was in reality "Stanley Huser, Jr.!" He--or she--failed to make her--or his scheduled appearance at the Variety show Friday night. It was revealed that Saturday night that "Mary Lou" that he will have to re-enter as "Arkansas King" if he wishes to run again.
