Cobden Peach Festival set this weekend Cobden Lions Club sponsors annual Union County event

A Union County tradition continues this week – the 2009 Cobden Peach Festival is planned Friday and Saturday, Aug. 7-8.

The festival will be held at the Cobden Community Park. Activities begin at 5 p.m. both days.

This year's Peach Festival again is sponsored by the Cobden Lions Club.

Several locations in Cobden are planning extended hours and special activities during the Peach Festival.

The Union County Museum and General Store in downtown Cobden plans to be open Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day.

The museum is featuring a display of World Wars I and II artifacts from local collections.

The new People's Market plans to be in operation Saturday near downtown Cobden.

The anthill gallery and Yellow Moon Cafe in downtown Cobden are sponsoring an art exhibit.

Wine Trail Antiques, just off old U.S. Route 51 near downtown Cobden, plans to be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

The Palace Pizzeria, located near the bridge in downtown Cobden, plans to open early Saturday and will be offering lunch.

An informational flier and map highlighting the Peach Festival activities, along with other places to visit in Cobden, will be available at the participating establishments.

Parade planned Saturday

A parade will be part of the annual Cobden Peach Festival celebration.

The parade is sponsored by the Village of Cobden.

The parade is set for 4:30 p.m. Saturday.

Members of this year's state champion Cobden High School softball team will serve as parade marshals.

The Village of Cobden welcomes participants to be a part of the parade.

Color guards, bands, floats, scout units, children's units, performing units, antique and custom vehicles, tractors, horse units and other entries are invited to take part in the parade.

Parade formation is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. on Locust Street.

Awards will be presented to parade participants. The award winners will be announced on the Peach Festival stage at about 8 p.m. Saturday.

Entry forms for the parade are available at Cobden Village Hall at 112 E. Maple St. or by calling 618-893-2425.

Entries will be accepted until parade formation time. Entries received after Aug. 5 will be slotted in the parade in the order in which they are received.

Peach Festival queen coronation

This year's Cobden Peach Festival queen will be named Saturday night, Aug. 8.

The coronation ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Cobden Community Park.

Pageant activities begin Friday when queen candidates are interviewed by judges.

At about 8 p.m. Friday, the candidates will take part in the swimwear competition on the stage at the festival.

Then, at about 9:30 p.m. Friday, the queen candidates will take part in evening gown competition on the festival stage.

The queen coronation ceremony is planned at about 9:30 p.m. Saturday on the festival stage.

Run/walk event scheduled

A running/walking event has become a popular part of the Cobden Peach Festival schedule in recent years.

The Cobden Runners'/Walkers' Club sponsors the Peach Festival 5K run/walk and 1-mile fun run.

This year's events are set for Saturday morning, Aug. 8.

The 5K run/walk will start at 7:30 a.m. The 1-mile fun run will start immediately after the end of the 5K event (at about 8:30 a.m.).

The starting point will be on Locust Street at the Cobden Community Park.

Registration forms and other information can be obtained by calling 893-2148, or by emailing <a href="mailto:jlsheets3@verizon.net">jlsheets3@verizon.net</a> or <a href="mailto:jennbur@verizon.net">jennbur@verizon.net</a>.

Roundup Gals

The Roundup Gals are scheduled to play and sing traditional bluegrass and country music from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, at the festival.

Raffle prizes

The Cobden Lions Club again will sponsor raffles as part of the Peach Festival.

Raffle tickets are $1 each and will be available at the festival. Prize drawings are planned Saturday night.

This year's raffle prizes include:

A muzzleloader donated by Tim Clover, Cobden Auto Repair.

A 20-foot in-ground flag pole set donated by Rusty's Home Center, Anna.

$100 cash donated by US Bank, Cobden.

Dinner for four from Doug and Nancy Campbell, Palace Pizzeria, Cobden.

The raffle prizes also include $100 savings bonds donated by the following:

Tyler Edmonds, Union County state's attorney. David Livesay, Union County sheriff.

Karen Winzenburger, Cobden village clerk. NAPA/Auto Tires and Parts, Anna.

Lorraine Moreland, Union County circuit clerk. Bobby Toler Jr., Union County clerk.

Greg Thompson, Vogler Ford. Phil Stein, Pleasant Ridge Water.

Bobby Myers, Union County treasurer. The Hofmeisters, Fuzzy's Tavern. Wilbur Marks, Cobden.