Tate Day Festival 2011

Festivals

A parade that wound through the streets of Tate kicked off the festivities for Tate Day 2011. The turnout was much larger this year than previous years according to Marble Valley Friends president Jane Griffeth. She contributes the larger turnout to the beautiful weather as well as to the new children’s activities and the “rideable” rail cars.

Children on a rail car

There was a constant line of people waiting to ride the rail cars which took them from the Tate depot to the crossing at New Town Street and back to the depot. Children and adults alike enjoyed the scenic ride. Children also enjoyed the petting zoo, bouncy house and face painting. Adults mingled amongst the vendors set up in downtown Tate who were selling handmade crafts and edible items.

Parade

The Old Tate Gym was packed with people who were there for the”mini class reunions,” lunch and/or cake sampling. Donations were also being accepted for the new roof fund. Williamson Brother’s BBQ served delicious plates of BBQ sandwiches with sides and a drink for 7.00.

This year was the first year that the “Cake Bake Off” winner was chosen entirely by people’s choice. For 1.00, attendees were able to sample all of the cakes that were entered into the contest and write down the number that was placed in front of their favorite cake on an index card and then drop it into a jar. That was my kind of cake contest! The decision was difficult, as all of the cakes were delicious. But everyone, including myself, had to make two choices, one for favorite “Pound Cake” and one for favorite “Layered Iced Cake.” The Most Creative award went to Linda Joyner. Iced Layer Cake Winners were: 1st Place- Linda Alred; 2nd Place- Vivian Westbrook; 3rd Place- Lynn Young. The Pound Cake Winners were: 1st Place- Marsha Benson and 2nd Place- Sally Eubanks.

The atmosphere in the nostalgic gym echoed a time past; I could just imagine all of the school dances and basketball games that had taken place there over the decades. The packed gym was basked in sunlight that poured through the many windows above the bleachers. The old building is a bright departure from the modern cold-steel windowless structures that are built on school campuses these days.

After I had lunch at the gym and enjoyed mingling for awhile, I made my way to the open house at the Tate United Methodist Church. The quaint, white wooden church has a larger fellowship hall next door. The view from the hill that the church sits atop is breathtaking and colorful this time of year.

Tate Day 2011 was a success. Mrs. Griffeth and the Marble Valley Friends extend their gratitude to all of the attendees this year. I truly enjoyed the festivities and vendors and look forward to Tate Day 2012 which will be the first weekend in November.

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