| Gleason to celebrate ‘taters’ | | Posted: Wednesday, August 29, 2012 12:01 pm
| “Tater Town” is a busy place as the Gleason Gazelles gear up for the 39th annual Tater Town Special in celebration of the town’s rich heritage centered around sweet potatoes.
Activities for the week start with the Old Fashioned Gospel Singing tonight (Tuesday) at 7 p.m. at the Methodist Church.
Youth night is set for Wednesday at 7:15 and will once again feature Youth Bingo. Adult Bingo is set for Thursday night beginning at 7.
During intermission of Adult Bingo there will be the sixth annual Gazelle Cake Auction, with proceeds to benefit the Gleason Community Benevolence Fund. Ten of Gleason’s best cooks have been asked to prepare their finest to go on the auction block. Guests are asked to come prepared to take home delicious desserts, while helping out a worthwhile cause.
Once again, the Tater Town Special will host an annual BBQ Cook-Off at 5:30 p.m. Friday. There will be a free concert hosted by Hard Drive during the cook-off. Entries for the Sweet Potato Bake-Off must be in the Gazelle cookbooth by 5 p.m. with judging at 5:15.
The 5K Race will start the events on Saturday morning at 7, with registration at 6:30. The Jr. Parade will start at 10 a.m., followed immediately by the Grand Parade. All horses will register at the Gleson Saddle Club prior to the parade.
There will be an Antique Tractor and Truck Show on the school grounds. Live entertainment, arts and crafts, food, and games will begin at 11 on the Gazelle Grounds. The night’s activities include the Bull Blow Out at the Gleason Saddle Club at 7 and a return of the Rotary-sponsored “Great Pretenders.” The Pretenders will have a show on Saturday night beginning at 7. Fan favorites such as “Ray Stevens,” “Elvis,” and “Willie Nelson” will perform. The week’s festivities will conclude Sunday with a Community-Wide Worship Service hosted by the First United Methodist Church and a Grand Marshal Reception honoring Curtis Mayo at the Methodist Church at 2.
The year 2012 marks the 50th year that Mayo has been a part of the Bank of Gleason. He joined the staff of the bank in 1962, became president in 1997 and now holds the position of CEO.
The Gazelles invite everyone to come out and enjoy food and fellowship as Gleason celebrates this event with Mayo and his family.
Tater Town Special Schedule of Events
OLD-FASHIONED
GOSPEL SINGING
The Gleason Gazelles are sponsoring an Old-Fashioned Gospel Singing tonight (Tuesday) at the Gleason Methodist Church. The singing will start at 7 and admission is free. Come and enjoy a night of good old fashion gospel singing, as well as solos and quartets. For more information, call Christi Clark at 415-3511.
YOUTH NIGHT – YOUTH BINGO
On Wednesday night, the Gleason Gazelles will sponsor Youth Bingo. A short devotional will be held at 7:15, with Bingo to follow. You must attend the devotional to play Bingo. Kindergarten through age 17 are invited to play. For more information, call Christi Clark at 415-3511.
ADULT BINGO
The Gleason Gazelles are sponsoring a night of free “Bingo on the Gazelle Grounds.” Come and enjoy the excitement of winning valuable prizes. The fun starts at 7 p.m. Thursday. Free admission. You must be 18 to participate.
BBQ COOK-OFF
Fire up those grills for the last big cookout of the summer and enter the Tater Town Cook-off Friday at the Gazelle Grounds. Categories include Backyard BBQ, Chicken, Ribs, and Pork Shoulder. Gates will open to the public at 5:30 p.m. There will be live entertainment. Adult admission is $5 to enter and eat until it’s gone. For more information or to enter a team, call Tracy Gaylord at 514-6185 or Christi Clark at 414-3511.
SWEET POTATO
BAKE-OFF
The Gleason Gazelles are sponsoring a “sweet potato” bake-off Friday at the Gazelle Grounds. Individuals must submit their prepared dishes by 5 at the cookbooth for judging, which will start at 5:15. Cooks must submit the recipe along with their entry, which must have sweet potatoes as an ingredient. Cash prizes are $100, $50, and $25. For more information, contact Cil Weddington at 514-9007. This event will once again be held in conjunction with the BBQ Cook-off.
5K RACE
The Gleason Gazelles are sponsoring a 5K Race Saturday. Entries will register in front of the Gleason School at 7 a.m. Registration begins at 6:30 a.m. The race is sponsored by the Gleason Clinic. The entry fee is $l0. For more information, call Kerri Burden at 514-7320.
ANTIQUE TRACTOR SHOW
An Antique Tractor & Truck Show will be held on the front lawn of the Gleason School Saturday. Show entries may be driven through the Grand Parade if desired, then parked on the school lawn for show. There are no entry fees. Call Charles Anderson at 695-5753; Zac Montgomery at 234-6491; Dale Flowers at 514-5218; or Marty Morris at 445-4854 for questions concerning the tractor show.
2012 TATER TOWN PARADES
The Gleason Gazelles invite everyone to participate in this year’s parades Saturday, beginning at 10 a.m. Kids are invited to decorate bikes, trikes, 4-wheelers, go-carts, etc., and ride in the Jr. Parade. Registration will be in front of Gleason Lumber Co. at 9 a.m. Registration for the Grand Parade will be in the American Legion Parking lot at 9. Trophies will be awarded in several categories. There is no entry for either parade. All horse entries will register at the Gleason Saddle Club.
ARTS, CRAFTS, & BOOTHS AT THE
GAZELLE GROUNDS
The Gleason Gazelles wish to invite area arts and crafts dealers and local merchants to set up booths at the Tater Town Special. The set up fee is $10. For more information, call Melanie Maddox at 694-9849.
GREAT PRETENDERS IN CONCERT
The Great Pretenders will be in concert Saturday, beginning at 7 p.m. at the Gleason School. Make plans to come out and enjoy crowd favorites, “Ray Stevens,” “Elvis,” and many more. Advanced tickets are $6 and may be purchased at the Bank of Gleason or from any Rotarian or cast member. Tickets purchased at the door will be $8.
RECEPTION HONORING THE 2012 TATER TOWN GRAND
MARSHAL
A reception will be held to honor the 2012 Tater Town Special Grand Marshal, Curtis Mayo. The reception will be held Sunday from 2-4 p.m. at the Gleason Methodist Church. Come and enjoy food and fellowship as community members celebrate Mayo’s 50th year with the Bank of Gleason. Community members are being asked to join with Gleason as it honors Mayo for his accomplishments and contributions to the community. WCP 8.28.12 | | | | |
