Piotique Celebration

September 27, 2008

Clay Center’s Piotique Celebration will be held Saturday, September 27th. The theme this year is “We’ve Got A Place for You!”

Growing on over seventy (70) years of tradition:
The summer of 1936 was one of the hottest and driest on record in Kansas, so despite an upswing in the national economy, farming communities such as Clay Center were suffering. Perhaps that was a factor in the decision of the Clay Center Area Chamber of Commerce to plan a special fall celebration day. Clay Center had several Fall Festivals during the 1920’s with parades and floats, but this one was to be a special one called an antique day. It was timed to coincide with the opening of Highway 24 west of Clay Center which would give an all weather road and river bridge for shoppers and touists to come to Clay Center. The new overpass at the west edge of Clay Center was to be completed and a bridge over the Republican River at Wakefield would be opened. Needing a special name for this special celebration, the Chamber conducted a contest. Persons entering names were identified by number and names were revealed only after the selection of a winner was made. Mrs. Ed Cody won the ten dollar first prize for the unique name of “Piotique” (Pi-o-teek), a combination of pioneer and antique.

Clay Center will have an entire day of exciting activities as the residents of the town celebrate the annual Piotique Festival on September 27.

Schedule of Events:
SATURDAY
6:30 AM – Biscuits & Gravy at the Elks

8:00 AM – Vendor Booths Open: Craft, Food, and Information

- Clay Center’s “Old Car Nuts” – people can view preserved vintage cars at Dexter Park

8:30 AM – Hearing & Eye Screening (Clay County Health Department)

– Ident-a-Kid Program (Masonic Lodge)

9:00 AM – Pitching Contest

- Kiddie Games: Sack Races, Jump Rope Contest, Relay Races, Face Painting, Jump Houses, and an Instrument Petting Zoo at Dexter Park

– 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament

– Karate Demonstration

9:45 AM – Line UP Participants meet at Wall’s True Value to line up for the Children’s Parade

10:00 AM – Children’s Parade – No registration is needed. Children may dress up, ride decorated bikes or walk a pet.

10:15 AM – John Kaul

10:35 AM – Dixieland Band (Courthouse West Steps)

11:30 AM – Round Dancing

12:15 PM – Twirlers (Slagle Studios)

1:00 PM – Dancers (The Dance Company)

1:55 PM – National Anthem

2:00 PM – 2008 Piotique Parade – Grand Marshal (to be announced). There will be bands, twirlers and drill teams, farm equipment, fire trucks, area Shriner clowns, vintage cars, ponies and horses, dancers and more.

3:30 PM – Covenant Church Praise & Worship

– Horseshoe Tournament at Dexter Park

4:30 PM – Community Chamber Orchestra Concert at the Rex Theatre – Ana Lourdes, is the featured Piano Soloist. The Community Orchestra is made up of members from fourth grade to adult from the Clay Center Area

5:30 PM – Bar-B-Q by Diecks

7:00 PM – Free Community Dance – Cuzster Country Rock Band (Clay County Arts Council)

SUNDAY
9:00 AM – Clay County Wrestling Club – Scramble Clay Center Public Golf Course

Clay Center Area Chamber of Commerce
Andy Contreras, Executive Director
517 Court
Clay Center, KS 67432
785-632-5674
E-mail: ccchamber@eaglecom.net