OCEANA, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Details emerged Friday regarding plans for the 2023 John Cooke Founders Day and Heritage Festival to be held in the Town of Oceana.
According to Town Councilman Don Morgan, the annually recurring event will begin on Thursday, July 13, 2023, and will continue through Saturday, July 16, 2023, with each day of the weekend event offering a distinct lineup of entertainment and activities for guests.
The fun will kick off on Thursday with a parade set to begin at 6:00pm and work its way toward Gilliland Park from Georgia’s Boutique.
Friday will see a host of activities made available to festival guests, including several vendors such as Jay’s Snowcones, Suntan Swine, and Brothers of the Wheel among others. A dunk tank will be set up and will offer three tosses for a dollar, along with water slides and bounce houses which will be free and open throughout the day. Vendors may begin setting up at 10:00am Friday.
Matt Cook will provide music as DJ from 2:00pm to 5:00pm, and the Heritage Festival Pageant will get underway at 6:00pm. Finally, a kids movie will be shown beneath the Gilliland Park Amphitheater at 10:00pm.
Saturday events will begin at 12:00 noon with the dunk tank, water slides, and bounce houses set to return. A 50/50 split motorcycle poker run will take place at 12:00pm with kickstands set to go up at 11:00am.
Along with vendors available throughout the day, the Gilliland Park Pool will be hosting a free day from 12:00pm to 5:00pm, and a car & bike show will also take place at the park area from 12:00pm to 3:00pm.
Entertainment will be provided by the Harless and Pritchard Family who will be singing from 2:00pm to 5:00pm, and the music of Elvis Presley will be performed beneath the Gilliland Park Amphitheater from 5:00pm to 7:00pm. The evening will close with a fireworks presentation planned to begin at around 9:00pm.