Blueberry Festival History
2021 theme: ‘Faith, Family, Farming’
PLYMOUTH - It all began in 1966 when Indiana became 150 years old. Roger D. Branigin was governor and wanted each county in the state to celebrate this anniversary. Gov. Branigin appointed a person in each county to generate a celebration sometime during that year. Attorney George Stevens was appointed to do this task for Marshall County. Time was moving on and nothing was being done - so o o a couple of Pilot-News reporters were talking one day and noted that fact. They then talked to Eleanor Boys Blank, who was president of the Pilot Company at that time, that something should be done. Mrs. Blank agreed then met with her nephew Mike Boys, who was assistant publisher, to discussHISTORY
the possibility of The Pilot-News sponsoring this celebration. Mike agreed that the Pilot-News should do just that keeping its founder, Samuel E. Boys, mission to promote Marshall County. Eleanor then contacted George Stevens and asked if it was OK with him if a committee was formed to begin the festivities. He welcomed this idea.
From this began a series of meetings with civic groups, Chambers of Commerce, church groups and active citizens of the county. Because this was to be a county celebration event the steering committee consisted of one person from each township. As it was already late in the year and most of the holidays were already having events - - except Labor Day. It was decided to hold the event Sunday and Monday in Centennial Park on that weekend. There were about twenty or so food booths, a few craft booths, arts and crafts show and many had family picnics in the park. There were quite a few sporting events such as softball and baseball and fun games like beard growing contest, rolling pin throw, horse shoe pitch, ladies nail driving contest and many other fun contests.
There was a parade on Monday morning and fireworks on Monday evening to officially end the celebration. Hundreds of people came to this two-day event and everyone had such a wonderful time that a nucleus group of organizers wanted to hold a county-wide festival every year on Labor Day week-end.
A contest was held to decide what to call the festival. It was almost called the Pickle Festival as Heinz Pickle factory was a huge employer in Marshall County at the time and many farmers grew cucumbers. However there were also a lot of blueberries grown in Marshall County so it was decided by the committee that it should be called the Marshall County Blueberry Festival. THE EARLY YEARS
For the first several years the Blueberry Festival was held in the old portion of Centennial Park. This was before the city acquired the portion of property on the north-east side of the creek. The property was, at one time, a farm. During those early years there were only about sixty food and craft booths for people to shop - - and shop they did. It was mostly local booths but a few commercial booths were there to add variety.
Early on, the fireworks were held in the area where the swimming pool now stands. Festival goers sat on the bank by the old grand stand which stood on top of the hill just north of the current swimming pool and members of the Blueberry Board would “pass the bucket” to those present to help pay for the fireworks. The fireworks were held on Monday evening at the end of the Labor Day week-end. As time marched on the fireworks show was moved to Sunday to allow an additional day in case of rain which happened frequently. One addition to the fireworks show was a hot air balloon glow.
You won’t want to miss this years fantastic fireworks show - - in a word - - AWESOME!
BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL PARADE
2021 THEME IS FAITH, FAMILY, FARMING The Pilot-News sponsored the Parade for many years when the Boys family owned the paper. The first few years the festival committee wanted to draw everyone to the park for a grand finale with the Blueberry Festival Parade as that was the final day of the weekend celebration. The Pilot-News asked Chuck Etchason, who was a Jaycee, if he and the Jaycees would help coordinate, organize and provide the manpower for the parade which he/they did for many years.
The parade was held beginning at 10 a.m. with the starting line at Lincoln School and ending at Centennial Park. The Indiana University Calliope, which traditionally was the last entry in the parade, gave a concert at Centennial Park on Labor Day. Today the parade begins at Plymouth High School and ends at Lincoln Jr.