Howardwick enjoys 2021 Hoedown

Howardwick reports that its 2021 Hoedown was the best one so far after an estimated 250 people attended the event last Saturday, July 17.

“It was a great event, even better than the first one,” City Secretary Sandra Childress said. “I am so thankful for our community volunteers and was super pleasantly surprised at the turnout.”

Two days before the event, Childress had planned to have McMorries Memorial Park mowed by city employees for the event. But before the scheduled mowing could happen, a squadron of community volunteers showed up on riding lawnmowers and did the job without being asked.

Childress said food sold out for the Hoedown and said “The Twerks” did an excellent job providing music for the event.

“I’ll hire that band a hundred times,” she said. “They were so good and played a lot of different things.”

A water slide dubbed “The Big Kahuna” was a hit among kids, and a petting zoo and freedom train were also popular.

Raffle drawings throughout the day made winners of many people attending the Hoedown. Childress said prizes for the raffle kept being donated to the city right up through the last second.

Gene White was the winner of the John Boat, which was the big prize for the day.
The Hoedown, the second one since 2019, was scheduled to run through 6 p.m., but at about ten minutes until six, Childress said a storm hit with high wind and heavy rain.

“It ended with a bang,” Childress said, and she is already making plans for the future.

“My head is spinning for the next one,” she said. “I think it can be even better.”