Judges Angie Bruce (left) and Rose Meldrum prepare to taste some of the pies entered in the Markle Wildcat Festival Pie Bakeoff last year. This year’s bake-off is set for Friday, Aug. 27, at 6 p.m. TAB file photo.
With a celebration that's been around since 1977, locals can expect some returning favorites at this year's Markle Wildcat Festival, to be held Aug. 27-29 with the theme "Wizard of Oz."
The festival kicks off on Friday evening with the MarkleBank Pork BBQ Dinner from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the main tent at Markle Park. Tickets are available in advance at the bank.
Registration for the Pie-Bake Off is between 5 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on Friday. Judging will begin at 6 p.m.
Judging criteria includes overall appearance, crust, flavor and texture. There are several rules to compete.
Contest forms must be submitted by Aug. 25.
For more information on the contest, call Jim Gass at 638-4730. Entry forms and rules are available at www.wildcatfestival.com. There is a per-pie fee with a maximum of two pies.
Friday evening at 8:30 p.m., the four 2010 Markle Grouches will be introduced, as well as winners of the business window display contest and the Pie Bake-Off.
These announcements will be held at the festival stage at Markle Park.
Nicolle Helvie says people in the community nominate and vote for people who live or work in Markle to be crowned Markle Grouches. Voting cans are available at Crossroads Pantry, Markle Quik Stop, MarkleBank, The Pickle, Markle Do-It Best Hardware and Markle Health & Rehabilitation.
To participate in the window display contest, businesses throughout Markle have to decorate according to the year's theme. Judging will take place prior to the festival on Aug. 25, Helvie says.
On Friday evening from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., The Bel Airs will perform Rock-a-Billy style music. The band, based in Fort Wayne, features a member who was raised in Markle, Helvie explains.
New this year, says Helvie, is the fireworks display, which will be held Friday at 9 a.m. at Markle Park.
On Saturday, Aug. 28 from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., Bluffton Regional will have mobile screenings for free lipids, diabetic screenings and PSA screenings. Each separate screening is at no charge.
At 10 a.m. is the annual parade. The festival grand marshals this year are Linda Beck and Teresa Beck.
At noon, The Brown Family will perform on the festival stage. Following at 1:30 p.m., the Chain-O-Lakes Barbershop Chorus takes the stage.
Later in the afternoon at 2:30 p.m., the frog-jumping contest will be held at the playground area in Markle Park. Doug Denney, committee member for the contest, says the event has been held for about 10 years now. Categories and prizes vary. Kids are asked to bring their own frogs and show up a little before the competition's start to sign up.
At 2:45 p.m., anyone can take the stage for open-mic. Sign up by contacting James Helvie at 359-9845. Rock of Elders - formerly The Jones - takes over the stage at 6 p.m. and the parade winners will be announced at 7:30 p.m.
There are also two car shows this year. The vintage car show is on Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the front lawn of Markle Exit 86 Antique Mall. Sign up at the antique mall.
The second car show is also on Sunday, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Registration is from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. that morning at Markle Park.
Vendors will be open at various times throughout the weekend and include food, crafts and children activities.
For more information, visit www.wildcatfesti val.com.
Markle Ball Park is located off Ind.-3, half a block south of the Ind.-3 and Ind.-116 junction; cross the bridge and the park is on the right side of the road.
