BURTON COTTON GIN FESTIVAL SET FOR SATURDAY

  

Burton will celebrate the history of the oldest operating cotton gin in America tomorrow (Saturday) at the 36^th Annual Burton Cotton Gin Festival.

A full day of events on the grounds of the Cotton Gin Museum opens at 10 a.m. and runs through 6 p.m.  The festival opens with a parade down Main Street and will have other activities like tours of the gin, games and contests, demonstrations, a classic car display, an antique engine and tractor show, and shopping at vendors.

Burton Cotton Gin Museum Director Steph Jarvis, speaking during Tuesday’s Community Corner on KWHI, says this year’s festival is special in that it is also a birthday celebration, as the “Lady B” engine that powers the gin is turning 100 years old.

The birthday party for the “Lady B” engine will begin at 11 a.m. and will recognize individuals and groups who have been involved in keeping the engine running.  

During the afternoon, guests can look forward to a tractor pull and the pie-eating, seed-pulling and chorus contests.  Music will be provided by the Czechaholics from 2:30 to 4 p.m. and Slim Bawb and the Stumpgrinders from 4 to 6 p.m.  At 3 p.m., the gin will fire up and gin a bale of cotton.

Admission to the festival is free.

To learn more, visit www.texascottonginmuseum.org. 

KTEX-106’s Ryan Stone will be broadcasting live from the festival in the friendly country cruiser.