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Special Events & Festivals

Atkinson, Amick crowned 4-H royalty

Aaron Amick (second from left) is the 2023 Huntington County 4-H King and Samantha Atkinson is queen. On the court are Carter Zezula (left), first runner-up, Leslie Ludemann (second from right), first runner-up, and Kylee Burnau, second runner-up.
Photo by Hank Dyson

Samantha Atkinson was crowned queen and Aaron Amick was crowned king of the 2023 Huntington County 4-H. The pair received the crown during a ceremony Friday, July 14. Carter Zezula was named first runner-up in the king contest. In the queen contest, Kelsie Ludemann was named the first runner-up, and Kylee Burnau was named second runner-up. The royalty will reign this week during the Huntington County 4-H Fair. The fair continues through Saturday, July 29, at the fairgrounds.

City’s celebration draws large crowds

Members of the Mizpah Shrine Horse Patrol make their way onto the Heritage Days Parade Route.
Photo by Joseph Slacian

Residents turned out in large amounts to celebrate the City of Huntington’s demisemiseptcentennial from June 14-18 during Heritage Days. Large crowds could be found at all events, from the naming of the new chief of the Flint Springs Tribe to the hot air balloon festival and everything in between. “I think the weekend’s been really good,” said Steve Kimmel, Huntington County Chamber of Commerce executive director. “The weather has been perfect. We’ve been totally blessed. “We’ve had record crowds from the ice cream social on Thursday night. The car show Friday night was totally packed.

2023 Heritage Days to mark Huntington’s 175th anniversary

A hot air balloon is filled during the 2022 Heritage Days Hot Air Balloon Festival.
The Tab file photo

Heritage Days will kick off on Wednesday and continue through Sunday, June 18. The festival, sponsored by Coldwell Banker Real Estate Group, has a two-part celebration for the City of Huntington – the demisemispetcentennial. That means it is celebrating both the city’s 175th and 150th anniversaries. Huntington was incorporated as a town in February 1848 (175 years ago) and reached city status in September 1873 (150 years ago). The celebration begins on Wednesday, June 14, with the Little Miss Heritage Days and the Junior Miss Heritage Days pageants. The pageants begin at 7 p.m.

Heritage Days buttons available

Huntington at 175 years will be the theme of Heritage Days 2023, Wednesday, June 14 through Sunday, June 18. Many activities will take place throughout the celebration. For the complete list, visit huntington-chamber.com/blog/category/heritage-days/. The official sponsor is Coldwell Banker Real Estate Group, and the colors: navy blue, gold, red. Official buttons commemorating Heritage Days 2023 and Huntington’s incorporation as a city are available at the Chamber of Commerce office, 40 E. Franklin Street, Suite 121 for $2.

Little Miss and Junior Miss Heritage Days Pageant to be held June 14

Huntington County girls are invited to become contestants for the Little Miss and Junior Miss Heritage Days Pageant to be held Wednesday, June 14 at 7 p.m.

The location will be announced at a later date.

The pageant is open to girls ages five to 12 and is part of Huntington’s Heritage Days celebration.

Two divisions will be judged including Little Miss Heritage Days for girls, ages five to eight, and Junior Miss Heritage Days, ages nine to 12.

The objective is for girls to learn about stage presence and gain self-confidence.