‘Hop­pin’ Good Time’ at first Frog Fest

Times-Record - - FRONT PAGE - By DUSTIN HOLT dholt@ches­pub.com

FED­ER­ALS­BURG — The com­mu­nity cel­e­brated a “Hop­pin’ Good Time” Satur­day, June 24, at the in­au­gu­ral Fed­er­als­burg Frog Fest along Marshy­hope Creek.

Hosted by the Fed­er­als­burg Lions Club, and spon­sored by Pre­ston Au­to­mo­tive Group, the event fea­tured a down­town pa­rade then en­ter­tain­ment, rides, card­board boat races, games craft ven­dors, food and a large fire­works dis­play at the Fed­er­als­burg Ma­rina.

FED­ER­ALS­BURG — The com­mu­nity cel­e­brated a “Hop­pin’ Good Time” Satur­day, June 24, at the in­au­gu­ral Fed­er­als­burg Frog Fest along Marshy­hope Creek.

Hosted by the Fed­er­als­burg Lions Club, and spon­sored by Pre­ston Au­to­mo­tive Group, the event fea­tured a down­town pa­rade then en­ter­tain­ment, rides, card­board boat races, games, craft ven­dors, food and a large fire­works dis­play at the Fed­er­als­burg Ma­rina.

The fire­works dis­play honored the late Pansy C. Wil­son, of Fed­er­als­burg, who passed away Mon­day, June 19, at the age of 87. She worked as a nurse with the Caro­line County Health Depart­ment and vol­un­teered with the Fed­er­als­burg Lions Club.

“We had an out­stand­ing crowd and great weather,” said Lions Club mem­ber Lisa Sch­mitt. “The part that I love about the en­tire fes­ti­val is watch­ing ev­ery­one come to­gether. We have great sup­port from many or­ga­ni­za­tions like the fire com­pany, VFW, the boy scouts. So many pitch in to make this a re­ally fun, fam­ily day.”

The fes­ti­val’s main at­trac­tion was boaters re­leas­ing rub­ber frogs in the ma­rina. The Lions Club sold the green frogs prior to the re­lease, each with a num­ber associated with the per­son who bought the frog. The fastest frogs and the slow­est frog re­ceived cash prizes.

First place and $500 went to Noah Cole. Sec­ond place and $250 dol­lars went to Ro­man Coale. Third place and $250 went to Vickie Gray. Fourth place and $100 dol­lars went to Coale. Fifth place and $100 went to Bon­nie Bet­ton. The slow­est frog and $50 went to Bil­lie Orr.

Money raised at the event ben­e­fits the com­mu­nity. This year, the Lions Club will be mak­ing do­na­tions to the Caro­line Hos­pice Foun­da­tion and the South Caro­line Mus­tangs. The or­ga­ni­za­tion con­tin­ues to tally the amount raised at the fes­ti­val.

“South Caro­line Youth Foot­ball is a great or­ga­ni­za­tion, and we love watch­ing the kids grow in that pro­gram,” Sch­mitt said. “The one that is near­est and dear­est to our hearts is Caro­line Hos­pice. We’ve all been touched by hos­pice at some point. To be able to give back to them is very mean­ing­ful.”

In 2016, the Fed­er­als­burg Lions Club raised more than $12,000 at a sim­i­lar event. The Lions used the money in 2016 to make two $3,500 do­na­tions to the com­mu­nity. The first do­na­tion went to the Colonel Richard­son Mid­dle School Cho­rus for new uni­forms, and the sec­ond do­na­tion went to the Caro­line County Public Li­brary Imag­i­na­tion Li­brary pro­gram.

The fes­ti­val kicked off with a pa­rade through down­town Fed­er­als­burg to the ma­rina. At the ma­rina, chil­dren could en­joy car­ni­val rides.

There were 13 food ven­dors serv­ing pit beef, cheese­burg­ers, hot dogs, crab cakes, fried fish, Ital­ian sausages, fla­vored mac­a­roni and cheese, french fries, fun­nel cakes, snow cones, cot­ton candy, pop­corn, le­mon­ade, cakes, peanuts and

deep fried candy bars and Oreos.

In ad­di­tion to the fes­ti­val, the Men For Change Or­ga­ni­za­tion hosted a car, truck and bike show.

Later in the af­ter­noon, chil­dren com­peted in the Lit­tle Mr. and Miss Tad­pole con­tests for chil­dren 4 to 6 years old. Har­lem McCready was named Lit­tle Mr Tad­pole, and Jillian Sch­mitt was named Lit­tle Miss Tad­pole. They re­ceives cash prizes, and will be able to ride in the 2017 Fed­er­als­burg Christ­mas Pa­rade.

Af­ter the frogs were re­leased, the Lions Club held the card­board boat races, which was won by Alan Mur­phy of Murph’s Auto Body in Hur­lock.

The Ash­ley Mitchell Acous­tic Group and Glass Onion each per­formed will on stage be­fore the fes­ti­val cul­mi­nated with a large fire­works dis­play at dusk.

PHO­TOS BY DUSTIN HOLT

Har­lem McCready, left, was named Lit­tle Mr Tad­pole, and Jillian Sch­mitt was named Lit­tle Miss Tad­pole at the Fed­er­als­burg Frog Fest Satur­day, June 24.

Miss Fed­er­als­burg Vol­un­teer Fire Com­pany Emilee Coul­bourne waves to the crowd at the Fed­er­als­burg Frog Fest Satur­day, June 24.

Fire­works glow above the Fed­er­als­burg Home­town Veter­ans Me­mo­rial Satur­day, June 24, at the con­clu­sion of the Fed­er­als­burg Frog Fest hosted by the Fed­er­als­burg Lions Club.

Alan Mur­phy of Murph’s Auto Body races in the Fed­er­als­burg Frog Fest card­board boat races Satur­day, June 24. He went on to win the race.

A young­ster rides his bike in the Fed­er­als­burg Frog Fest Pa­rade Satur­day, June 24.

PHO­TOS BY DUSTIN HOLT

The Fed­er­als­burg Frog Fest fea­tured a card­board boat race Satur­day, June 24.

The Pre­ston Ford pink ford Mus­tang rides through down­town Fed­er­als­burg Satur­day, June 24, dur­ing the Frog Fest Pa­rade.

The South Caro­line cheer team per­forms dur­ing the Fed­er­als­burg Frog Fest Pa­rade Satur­day, June 24.

The Fed­er­als­burg Frog Fest fea­tured a card­board boat race Satur­day, June 24.

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