Greenup County Connection Old Fashion Days Wrap Up

Greenup County Connection

Old Fashion Days Wrap Up

By: Anne Stephens

For The Ashland Beacon

The 58th year of Greenup Old Fashion Days has come to a close in downtown Greenup. Last week, downtown Greenup was filled with the smell of Lion’s Club hamburgers and kettle corn while the sounds of conversations at the vendor booths and music from the stage filled the air. Like always, there were hometown families and out-of-town visitors in attendance for the activities that bring a special kind of bustle to Main Street and the courthouse square.

We overcame a rough start with a malfunction of the stage when it was being set-up. The motor stopped and would not work – even after much effort and a new part. Long story short: Day one’s performances at the main stage area took place on a rug that was placed directly on Main Street. Simply Sound made it work and we didn’t miss anything. The repair was executed, and the stage was returned and set up on Thursday night. Friday started on schedule, and we watched downtown fill up with people who enjoyed the live music, vendors, contests, and community fun.

I believe it is one of the best overall Greenup Old Fashion Days I have seen in a long time. I heard people say that the crowd was the biggest they had seen in years. Vendors were all happy and the special events went well. Water Wars between the fire departments, costume contest, pageant, bike race, canoe/kayak race, parade, kid zone activities, live music, and yummy food were all top notch. Thank you to the sponsors, volunteers, and participants who took part. I am so very proud of Greenup!  

As a person who grew up in downtown Greenup, I have fond memories of Old Fashion Days. I have always loved Old Fashion Days! The costume contest at Greenup Grade School was a highlight each year. My mom sewed dresses for my sister and me that we proudly wore to school to show off on the stage. A school board member came to judge each class and give the winner a shiny fifty cent piece. I remember winning and being presented the prize by James Stuart, my best friend Lori Ann Stuart’s grandpa. (He was Jesse’s brother.) Every student in the whole school walked in the parade through downtown and back to school. We loved seeing the downtown merchants dressed up in their old fashion costumes – just like us. My Grandma worked at the Mary Stewart Dress Shop and would always be standing on the sidewalk waving at me as we paraded by.

My favorite part was always the big drawing from the courthouse steps where prizes were given out to townsfolk who were gathered around for the excitement. Tickets were drawn from the big spinning hopper up at the second story stoop.  Families collected tickets for weeks in advance as they shopped from all the Greenup merchants. My sister and I sat at the dining room table and wrote our names on hundreds of tickets until one year, I won $50! When my name was called, I had to walk up the steps to claim my prize.  Gary Miller helped me up the steps because I was wearing my roller skates. (I was always wearing my roller skates.) It was probably 1978. I’ll never forget that particular Old Fashion Days.

I have shared those stories before, but I like to share them again each year because they are a picture of what the event is to each person in Greenup. Experiences we have with our family and friends in our hometown become the memories that we enjoy as we get older. Time spent with other people, especially those who we care about, is a treasure for life.

It takes a small army of volunteers to make Old Fashion Days happen. The planning that goes into the event is many hours of work and organizing. Letters are sent out to potential sponsors and vendors, plans must be made for vendor placement and lay-out of electricity and water supply, entertainment is scheduled, and the technical needs are addressed, partner organizations are coordinated such as the library and civic clubs, city and county contacts are kept up to date on plans, even the train schedule is taken into account. The committee is always looking for more volunteers. Call me at 606.922.1596 or Bambi Reed at 606.923.9101 if you want to take part in 2025.

Each year, you can go to www.greenupoldfashiondays.com for a full schedule of event, registration forms, and information about performers. Also, the Facebook page is very active and shares videos, pictures, and updated information daily. This year, I truly believe that the event was terrific! There are always things that we can do to make it better and the only way we can do that is to add to our team of volunteers. The Old Fashion Days Committee is very small compared to the magnitude of the event. We would LOVE to have more community people get involved.

For more information, contact Anne Stephens, Agent for Community Arts and Development in Greenup County. 606.836.0201 anne.stephens@uky.edu 35 Wurtland Avenue, Wurtland, KY 41144 The Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment is an Equal Opportunity Organization with respect to education and employment and authorization to provide research, education information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function without regard to economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information, age, veteran status, physical or mental disability or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.  UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY, KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, AND KENTUCKY COUNTIES, COOPERATING