By Jessie Burchette
jburchette@salisburypost.com
CHINA GROVE ó Get out your sunblock and dancing shoes ó Farmers Day is just over a week away.
Just leave the dogs, snakes and other pets at home.
Main Street will be filled Saturday with vendors offering homegrown produce from local farmers.
If tradition holds, the temperature should be hovering around 100 degrees ó perfect for lemonade, ice cream and other icy concoctions.
The Fantastic Shakers, renowned for beach music and Top 40 tunes, will headline the street dance at 7 p.m.
Cameron Marion, holder of the title of N.C. Female Country Singer, will open the evening show at 6 p.m.
Lee Withers, who heads up the Farmers Day Committee, said every thing is on track for another day-long festival downtown.
The crowd could be bigger this year ó more than the 25,000 who typically show up.
Withers said the economic downturn has a lot of people looking for inexpensive entertainment.
“We’re hoping to give back to the community,” said Withers.
Farmers Day is sponsored by the town, the China Grove Board of Trade and several area businesses.
Among the new sponsors is Sustainable Textiles, the company that recently bought the old textile mill on Thom Street.
Representatives of the company will be at Farmers Day. Withers said they might hand out job applications and conduct a mini job fair.
Some who have lost jobs have rented vendor space and will be selling wares in the downtown.
The event is continuing to return to farming and will feature more antique tractors this year.
Anyone with antique farm equipment who wants to display it is asked to contact Withers at 704-855-4684.
Withers said they still have room available for other local growers who have fruit and vegetables to sell. To reserve a space, call 704-855-4684 or contact him by e-mail at farmersdaychairman@carolina.rr.com.
Farmers Day gets under way at 9 a.m. with opening ceremonies at the Main Stage on South Main Street near Captain’s Galley.
The Little Miss and Little Mr. Farmers Day contest will be held at 10 a.m. at Hannah Park. Entries will be accepted until 9:45 a.m.
While organizers and town officials are hoping for more than 25,000 people, they don’t want to see any dogs.
Town officials said this week the town ordinance dealing with dogs and other pets will be strictly enforced. No dogs or dangerous animals are allowed.
Last year, the presence of a couple of very aggressive pit bulls caused problems.
Town officials said anyone with a dog will be asked to leave and if they don’t, they will be arrested.
For a full schedule of events to the the Web site Farmersday.homestead.com.
Contact Jessie Burchette at 704-797-4254.