Skip to main content

Markle gets ready to jump into its annual Wildcat Festival Aug. 21-23

The Town of Markle will host its annual Markle Wildcat Festival Aug. 21 through Aug. 23 at Markle Fish and Game Club Park.

The weekend kicks off Friday, Aug. 21, with vendor booths opening from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Bluffton Regional sponsors blood pressure screening at the park, from 5 to 8 p.m.

From 5 to 7 p.m., the MarkleBank pork barbecue dinner will be held in the tent. There is a cost for tickets, which can be purchased at the bank.

Also at 5 p.m., the pie bake-off contest starts. Registration starts at 5:30 p.m. at the back pavilion, with judging to start at 6 p.m.

Pie and ice cream will be served after the contest.
Prizes are first place, $100; second place, $50 and third place, $25.

"Little Big Band" will be the featured performers from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. the Princess Wildcat, Junior Miss and Little Miss winners will be announced. The 2009 Markle Grouches will be introduced and the winners of the business window display contest and pie contest will be announced.

The featured entertainment will be The Bel Aires, from 8 to 11:30 p.m.
Festivities on Saturday, Aug. 22, start early.

From 6:30 to 9:30 a.m., Markle United Methodist Church will host a pancake and sausage breakfast.

Bluffton Regional will conduct mobile screenings at the Town Hall, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

A three-on-three bas-ketball tournament for individuals 17 years old and over will start at 8:30 a.m., at the basketball court.

There is an entry fee per four-player team and half of the fee goes towards the prize pool for the tournament champion.

For more information, contact Trevor Helvie at 519-0433.

From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., interested individuals can participate in the Discover Scuba Diving program at Markle Pool. There is a cost and health and permission forms must be signed prior to participating.

Pool admission is also required and participants who complete the program will receive a DSD certificate.
The annual parade will start at 10 a.m. Grand marshals are Linda Reed and Ruby Kreisher.

Vendor booths will be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Weather permitting; Markle Pool will be open to the public, from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Children's activities, caricature's and games will be available at the playground, from noon to 4 p.m.

A cornhole tournament will be held at the tennis courts, starting at 1 p.m. For more information call 758-3160.

Musical entertainment on the festival stage from 1:15 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. is Music Americana. The Chain-O-Lakes Barbershop Chorus will be in performance from 2:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.

The festivities continue with a frog-jumping contest at 2:30 p.m., in the playground area. Participants should bring their own frogs and the event is open to youth 18 years old and under. Prizes will be awarded in three different categories.

At 3:15 p.m. Guitar Studio students will provide musical entertainment on the stage.

From 2 to 4 p.m., festival attendees can participate in bingo, at the back pavilion. For a donation, participants receive three cards.

At 3 p.m., the Lifeguard Challenge will be held at Markle Pool. Sign-up is available at the pool. Various contests will be held, including a race against pool lifeguards. Prizes will be awarded to the top three finishers.

Entertainment continues at 4 p.m., with Mannequin Angel; the Todd Harold Band, at 5 p.m. and a jazz band, at 7 p.m.

Acoustic Jam will be on the back pavilion, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Fatima Washington, R&B and soul music vocalist, will provide entertainment from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.
"The Jones" take the stage at 9:30 p.m.

At 9 p.m., the winners of the parade will be announced and well as winners of the festival raffle and T-shirt drawing.

Raffle tickets are available for purchase prior to the festival at MarkleBank, Village Salon, Clark Street Salon or any other festival committee member.

On Saturday, tickets will be available at the information both and must be bought before 9 p.m. Prizes include $250, one of three Vera Bradley bags and a $25 gas card. Raffle winners need not be present to win.

The action kicks off on Sunday with registration for the car between 8 a.m. and noon. The show runs through 3 p.m.

Registration for the Flower and Vegetable Show will be held in the festival tent, from 10 a.m. to noon. Prizes will be awarded for first through third place in 12 classes. Judging starts at 1 p.m.

Vendor booths will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Markle Pool will hold a slide skidding for dis-tance contest at 3 p.m.

For more information contact Sherri Richardson, chairperson, at 758-2131 or visit www.wildcatfestival.com.