Stonefort Reunion kicks off Thursday

The 2016 Stonefort Old Soldiers and Sailors Reunion kicks off its three-day festival Thursday, a tradition of live entertainment, good food and good company that's about 120 years old.

This staple festival of Saline County will have carnival rides all three days - the rides open at 6 p.m. each day. Food and craft vendors of all types will be on hand, with live music, local dance groups and a beauty pageant kicking off the live events on Friday.

The first reunion - called the Four Corners Reunion because it was held at the junction of Saline, Pope, Williamson and Johnson counties - was organized in the late 1800s under the leadership of Fred Johnson and other local veterans, seeking a distinctive way to honor local veterans and celebrate their service.

By the early 1900s, under the leadership of Albert Lewis, the event began taking the form familiar to the community today: an annual three-day fair on the last Thursday, Friday and Saturday in August.

Shorty Martin, of Stonefort, says in its heyday the fest was enormously popular, drawing Grand Ol' Opry performers, airplane rides and baseball games all three days. Old families that had moved away would plan their return home for the reunion, some of which still happens.

The fest is more modest these days, but parking and admission is still free. The carnival works for a share of the take, Martin said.

The fair is held on Route 45, just north of the Stonefort village line.

The entertainment schedule is as follows:

Thursday, Aug. 25

5:30 p.m. Beauty pageant.

7 p.m. Gospel Night featuring the group, Voices in Praise.

Friday, Aug. 26

5 p.m. The Old Soldiers and Sailors Reunion fundraiser fish fry.

6 p.m. Dance groups from local schools perform

7 p.m. Republican Night.

8 p.m. Mixed Company performs.

Saturday, Aug. 27

5 p.m. Fish fry.

6 p.m. The J.C. Cloggers, a popular dance group that performs in wooden shoes.

7 p.m. Democratic Night.

8 p.m. Most Wanted performs.