WEST LEBANON, Ind. — The Patriot Festival in downtown West Lebanon continues to grow. The fifth annual Patriot Festival will be Friday through Sunday.

This year’s festival will have a new twist — outhouse races.

“We are excited,” said Brenda Bush, one of the members of the Festival Committee. “A place in Michigan (has outhouse races). I saw it on TV. We were wanting to do something different.”

Between six and 12 teams of three-to-five each are expected for the races. The outhouses can be 5-foot high and can be decorated. One person sits inside as the other team members race them down High Street.

Race heats begin at 11 a.m. EDT Sunday, with the championship race at 3 p.m., following the parade.

The festival carries a patriot hometown flavor. Entertainment is featured for kids and adults alike. The Coon Holler Kids and Carol Bentley and the Eagle Creek Band are featured Saturday afternoon, with Southern rock music by Bone Daddy’s on Saturday night.

The grand marshal of the parade and the citizen of year recipients will be named at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, while Little Mister and Miss Patriot will be named at 1p.m.

The Kidz Korral near the library will feature all kinds of games plus a small pet contest and a hula hoop contest.

Firefighters will have their fish fry from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and cornbread and beans will be served from 3 p.m. until they are gone.

All weekend Market Place will feature crafts and other items, while the Food Court will feature a variety of food times.

“We have lots of free stuff,” said Carol Harper, another festival committee member. “We invite families to our town to help us celebrate our freedom and those who have served.”

Bush agrees.

“I think you will like our small-town hospitality,” she said. “Bring your lawn chair if you wish and just sit.”



PATRIOT FESTIVAL

-- FRIDAY

8 a.m. to 5 p.m. EDT: Townwide rummage sales.

4 p.m.: Downtown Market Place and Food Court open.

5 p.m.: Food by Past and Future Committee, fire station.

7 p.m.: Highway 341 Band, fire station.

-- SATURDAY

8 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Townwide rummage sales.

8:30 a.m.: Flag-raising ceremony honoring veterans, fire stations.

9 a.m.: Downtown Market Place, Food Court and Kidz Korral open; cruise-in cars, West Second Street.

9:30 a.m.: Announcing grand marshal and citizens of the year, main stage.

10 a.m.: Small pet contest, Kidz Korral.

10:30 a.m.: Freedom Garden open.

11 a.m.: Hula hoop contest, Kidz Korral.

11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Fire Department Fish Fry, fire station.

11 a.m. to 3 p.m.: The Coon Holler Kids and Carl Bentley and the Eagle Creek Band, Music Alley, behind Pizza King.

1 p.m.: Announcing Little Mr. and Miss Patriot winners, main stage.

2 p.m.: Firemen’s water ball competition, Railroad Street.

3 p.m. until gone: Cornbread and beans, by Music Alley.

4-8 p.m.: Southern rock music by Bone Daddy’s, Music Alley.

-- SUNDAY

8 a.m.: Outhouse pit opens, West Second Street.

9 a.m.: Downtown Market Place and Food Court open.

9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Tractor show, West Second Street.

10 a.m. to noon: Kamp Motor Speedway drivers and cars, West North Street.

11 a.m.: Outhouse race heats, High Street from Second to First street.

Noon: Patriotic bicycle decorating contest, by Pizza King, and power wheel races, West North Street.

2 p.m.: Parade, from Heritage Park north on High Street to the railroad.

3 p.m.: $500 raffle and prize drawings; outhouse championship race.