Handy Fest this week in Henderson, Kentucky

HENDERSON, Ky. – It’s the week earlier than Father’s Day, and you realize what which means in Henderson: the W.C. Useful Blues & Barbecue Pageant returns to Audubon Mill Park downtown beside the river.

Now in its thirty first yr, the free Useful Fest will characteristic acquainted crowd favorites — pink beans & rice night time on Thursday, the Avenue Strut on Saturday morning, for instance — together with just a few new twists.

“Hopefully will probably be as large because it was final yr,” Useful Fest veteran and 2022 Chairman Kenny Perkins stated.

“I might say it was overwhelming,” Perkins stated of the 2021 competition which returned after being referred to as off in 2020 due to Covid.

Native information:Rebuilding after Kentucky twister hasn’t been straightforward. Laws, financial system make it more durable.

“We thought it could be a small crowd, however it was one of many largest crowds we’ve ever had,” he stated of the 2021 occasion. “Everybody was able to get out. We ran out of virtually all the pieces. We bought out of shirts.” When the 2021 T-shirts bought out, organizers introduced out the 2019 shirts; when these bought out, earlier vintages have been placed on sale.

“We bought out of each shirt we had if I’m not mistaken,” Perkins stated.

Wanting forward, “The music lineup is de facto nice this yr,” he stated. For the primary time in almost three a long time, longtime music chairman Dorin Luck didn’t lead the cost in reserving bands. “(Former competition chairman) Brian Bishop did an ideal job taking up for Dorin,” Perkins stated. “We hope to have an ideal crowd. We hear lots of people say the music lineup is nice.”

Headliners embrace the Nick Moss Band and Blood Brothers that includes Mike Zito and Albert Castilglia on Friday night time and Sugaray Rayford and Ronnie Baker Brooks on Saturday night time.

As ordinary, the week begins with Useful Lunch Breaks that includes quite a lot of native artists acting at eating places and different venues in and close to Downtown Henderson.

The primary stage in Audubon Mill Park lights up on Wednesday night with three bands performing.

Thursday night’s Zydeco Evening incorporates a new title — Rex Jewell’s Pink Beans & Rice – named in honor of the lately deceased longtime Useful Fest vendor chairman who oversaw the preparation of pink beans & rice and different Cajun treats for almost 30 years.

Along with the signature Cajun menu merchandise, the occasion — which is a serious fundraiser that helps hold the competition free — will embrace the sale of bread pudding, common and andouille sausages and jambalaya. As ordinary, Chubby Provider and the Bayou Swamp Band would be the headliner on Thursday night time.

“Come down and get your groove on Thursday night time and are available benefit from the free competition,” Perkins urged.

In the meantime, “Java shakes (the coffee-flavored milk shakes which are a Useful custom) are nonetheless there” this yr, Perkins stated. “I believe that’s one in all our staples, apart from Chubby.”

Extra:Kentucky energy plant employees who died Tuesday ‘possible’ killed by fumes, coroner says

Native and touring meals distributors might be promoting on the road all day Friday and Saturday. “Finally rely we had 16 distributors,” he stated.

The Useful merchandise trailer will promote competition T-shirts and different souvenirs.

As soon as once more, the Henderson County Public Library will present quite a lot of actions for youngers, together with the Instrument Petting Zoo at 4 p.m. Wednesday. “Members of the Evansville Philharmonic will deliver devices that youngsters can contact and play,” the library’s related director, Amber Potts, stated. “There gained’t be tubas that they will put their mouths on. Will probably be like xylophone and drum sticks.”

The library may even present different children’ actions all week lengthy. “There might be totally different crafts (corresponding to chalk for drawing sidewalk artwork), some video games, outsized board video games, a cornhole set and arranged video games” corresponding to minute-to-win-it video games for younger and previous alike, Potts stated.

“Simply discover the bookmobile by Rockhouse on the River” on Water Avenue to find these activigties, she stated. “Whereas children are doing crafts, we’ll have charging stations so mother and pop can cost their telephones.”

Saturday morning will see the William Branaman Avenue Strut Folks’s Parade, this yr organized by the Periodic Desk Dancers, a bunch of retired academics and different college workers that features two previous winners of the Grand OOH-PEE-DOO grand prize for probably the most sensational New Orleans Dixieland strutter: Susan Jenkins McVicar and Paige O’Nan, who gained the title final yr.

The earlier organizer of the Avenue Strut wasn’t obtainable this yr, so retired instructor Tiffany Gold Sights approached her fellow Periodic Desk Dancers (who compete every Monday night time on the trivia contest at Rockhouse on the River) about organizing this yr’s Avenue Strut, regardless that among the ladies have by no means participated in it earlier than.

“We weren’t going to let it not occur,” Sights stated. “We’re all about Henderson.”

Avenue Strut actions will start at 8 a.m. Saturday on Water Avenue with free breakfast and a workshop that may present supplies to assist strutters adorn umbrellas, numerous conveyances and themselves.

After individuals begin lining up round 9:40 a.m., the William Branaman Avenue Strut Folks’s Parade (named for the unique Grand OOH-PEE-DOO) will start at 10 a.m. Saturday on Water Avenue beside Audubon Mill Park. It’ll wind via a portion of downtown whereas Soul N The Pocket returns to carry out Dixieland-style music.

Prizes might be awarded for:

• Grand OOH-PEE-DOO
• Finest Adorned/Inventive Umbrella (grownup and little one)
• Most Spirited Strutter (grownup and little one)
• Finest Group
• Finest Adorned Bike
• Finest Adorned Child Stroller
• Finest Adorned Wagon
• Finest Adorned Golf Cart
• Most Spirited Pet

Additionally returning this yr might be a half-pot for festival-goers. “That went over properly final yr,” Perkins stated.

Sure guidelines apply on the Useful Fest once more this yr, together with no pets and no coolers. A full record of guidelines is out there at HandyBlues.org.

W.C. Useful Fest occasions schedule

Here’s a take a look at the occasions and dates for key occasions:

Useful Lunch Breaks & Completely satisfied Hours

Tuesday Lunch Breaks

Metzger’s Tavern: Maggie Hollis Music from 11 a.m to 2 p.m.

Rockhouse on the River: Dave Redmon from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and the Honey Roy Trio from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Homer’s Barbecue: DJ DJ from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Tuesday Completely satisfied Hours

On Deck Riverside Bar & Grill: Drew Aud and Brandon Crawford from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Rockhouse on the River: Honey Roy Trio from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday Lunch Breaks

Rockhouse on the River: Zion with Tim Austin from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Henderson County Public Library: Jesse Moore from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Sidewalk Cafe: Spencer Bloodworth from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

On Deck Riverside Bar & Grill: Past Blu from 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Homer’s Barbecue: Pitmaster Josh West from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Cap N Cork: Dave Redmon from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Wednesday Completely satisfied Hours

On Deck: Past Blue from 1 to 4 p.m.

Homer’s BBQ: Dekar & Co. from 3 p.m. to five p.m.

Thursday Lunch Breaks

Rockhouse on the River: Rigdon & Jines from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

On Deck: Drew Aud and Brandon Crawford from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Homer’s Barbecue: Spencer Bloodworth from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Cap N Cork: Dave Redmon from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Thursday Completely satisfied Hour

Homer’s BBQ: Loops & Rhythm from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Useful Fest music schedule

Wednesday

5 p.m. Blues 4 U

7 p.m. Ally Venable

9 p.m. Ghost City Blues Band

Thursday

4 p.m. Heath & Molly

5:30 p.m. Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers

8 p.m. Chubby Provider and the Bayou Swamp Band

Friday

12 p.m. Boscoe France

1:30 p.m. Dustin Douglas & The Electrical Gents

3 p.m. The Chilly Stares

5 p.m. King Solomon Hicks

5:30 p.m. Rex Jewell’s Pink Beans & Rice

7 p.m. Nick Moss Band

9 p.m. Blood Brothers that includes Mike Zito and Albert Castilglia

Saturday

8 a.m. Free breakfast and Avenue Avenue workshop on Water Avenue

10 a.m. William Branaman Avenue Strut Folks’s Parade (start in Audubon Mill Park)

12 p.m. Amelia Eisenhauer

1:30 p.m. Ghalia Volt

3 p.m. Kat Riggins

5 p.m. Eddie 9V

7 p.m. Sugaray Rayford

9 p.m. Ronnie Baker Brooks