By Sue Moore
For 46 years, Vicksburg area residents and their guests have been treated to the Lions Club’s Summer Festival, the B & B – beer and bratwurst. It’s held at the community pavilion on N. Richardson Street.
It’s a swinging time for those who like to compete in the cornhole and horseshoe pitching tourneys. Folks can also enjoy good beer, camaraderie and rocking bands each night on Thursday, Friday and Saturday of the last weekend in July. This year, that’s on July 25, 26 and 27..
On Thursday night, after kid’s activities end at 8 p.m., the Lions Club is hosting a “Hoedown for Danny” an old friend and musician with the JAG band that often played for the festival. Danny Castle unfortunately passed away on February 24, 2019 and was a long-time friend of the Lions Club. The music event is being hosted by the JAG Band. Band members Dave Reno and Toby Hardy are heading up the Hoedown for Danny. They are also members of the Lions Club. “We expect to have well over a dozen musicians honor Danny on the B & B stage Thursday evening,” Brett Grossman, one of the organizers said.
Ahead of that, Kids’ Night goes from 5 until 8 p.m. on Thursday. It will feature the usual activities of games, food discounts, vision screening by KidSight and lots of prizes for the contestants. Local artist Bryce Cooley will draw caricatures at no cost to attendees. Cooley is the grandson of the longest serving active member of Vicksburg Lions Club, Bob Merrill.
Last year, winners of the 7th Annual Cornhole Tournament were Ray Miller and Michael Boyd, who beat out 90 others. The 8th annual kicks off at 6 p.m. on Friday evening. Other than last year’s winners, it is a random draw, double-elimination, $10 entry fee and a minimum of 18 years of age. The first 100 to sign up are in. Text or call Ryan Bright at 269-217-7880 to get your name on the list before it’s too late.
The winners of the 12th Annual Horseshoe Tournament in 2018 were again Bob Gettys and Bryan Wolthuis. This was their second year in a row and this time they beat out 86 others in what was the largest (and longest) tournament to date. Much like cornhole, this is a random draw, double-elimination, $10 entry fee event starting at 11 a.m. Saturday morning following the alumni breakfast. Entrants can contact Grossman to sign up at 269-649-3000.
The Backroads Band plays its classic and modern rock on Friday night, beginning at 8:30 p.m. On Saturday, DC-90 is featured beginning at 9 p.m. Each day, the B & B is open for lunch and dinner with its famous bratwurst and sauerkraut combo, from 11 a.m. to midnight.