By Jarius Garner

Robbins Farmers Day Chairman

Come join us Thursday, Aug. 4, for the 56th annual Farmers Day celebration as gospel music fills the air in downtown Robbins with a night of great entertainment, featuring The Webbs, Keith Plott and The Jacobs Family from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Stroll down the streets of Robbins Friday, Aug. 5, as events kickoff at 6 p.m. with foot stomping bluegrass bands and cloggers kicking up their heels.

Don't miss the exciting 20th annual Pottery Auction at 7:30 p.m. to see who wins the unique Farmers Day pottery pieces. Friday, we will feature our exciting firemen competition with various fire departments participating in timed agility events for top rankings and the coveted best overall award.

Country music and Nashville recording group Ross Coppley and The Ross Coppley Band will rock the main stage from 9 p.m. to 12 midnight. Friday night at 10:15 p.m., look up as the sky explodes with the largest Fireworks display in the history of the event.

Friday and Saturday, the streets of Robbins fill with artisans and crafters, horse tack, pony rides, pottery turning and train rides. Food booths with their great aromas from such festival favorites as blooming onions, funnel cakes, hamburgers, hot dogs, barbecue, baked potatoes, cotton candy, candy apples, homemade ice cream, frozen lemonade and kettle corn should not be missed.

Saturday morning, Aug. 6, Robbins is bursting with excitement as the 56th annual Farmers Day parade begins. See a variety of more than 400 horses, mules and wagons parade up Middleton Street starting at 11 a.m. with more than 30,000 spectators cheering them on.

The parade will include Miss North Carolina Hailey Best and Miss Moore County Blair Puleo with trophies presented to the proud winners in 21 different categories.

As the parade ends, the town will be jumping with entertainment as the Special Forces Association parachute team brings in the American flag. Carnival and kiddie rides, rock wall climbing and a moonwalk are enjoyable for the children. Enjoy watching guitar makers, gunsmithing, metal engraving and blacksmithing.

The Carolina Mule Association will present a mule show with 10 classes of competition with ribbons and trophies presented in each class, including our traditional crowd-pleasing mule jump competition. Horses will demonstrate log pulling and log stacking.

Saturday, we present our fast-growing Antique Tractor Show with an Antique Tractor Parade beginning at 4 p.m., featuring more than 100 entries. Many pieces of antique equipment will be on display and demonstrated during the day.

Our crowd-pleasing lumberjack competition put on by the South Atlantic Woodsmens Association will be back this year as lumberjacks display their skills with axes, crosscut saws and more. Don't be late as the wood and sawdust hits the air, beginning at 12:30 p.m.

Music blasts throughout the streets from three stages located within the town with new bluegrass, gospel, light rock, beach and country-western bands.

Hold on to your hats as the dirt starts to fly when our lawn tractor competitors let loose for a great Saturday night of lawn tractor pulling. Also Saturday night, several spectacular national gospel groups will perform, featuring The Pfeifers, from Washington Court House, Ohio.

Come and enjoy the great family entertainment. Don't miss the many unmentioned special events and attractions for the 56th anniversary.

All entertainment is provided at no charge except for rides, thanks to all our great sponsors.

The 56th annual Robbins Farmers Day has been voted one of the Top Twenty Events by the Southeast Tourism Society.

For more information, visit our website at www.robbinsfarmersday.com.