The Mount Gilead State Park will host the annual Taste of Country Festival on July 10, 11, and 12th offering a variety of attractions for the entire family.

The festival will kick off Friday, July 10, with the Nature Center open from 4 to 7pm There will be creatures to be viewed with friendly volunteers hosting.

The Country Breakfast will be served Saturday morning from 7:30 am to 10 am in Shelter House #1. Menu will include pancakes, sausage, sausage gravy, biscuits and eggs served by the Volunteers. Donations will be accepted.

From 9 am to 5 pm there will be a host of Demonstrations including the Honeybee Conservancy, Friends of Mount Gilead, The Whetstone Weavers, Art Wesrick Rug Weaver, Morrow County Farm Bureau, Walker’s Supreme Old Fashion Ice Cream, Petting Zoo with Lynn Wagner the Morrow County Joint Veterans Council and Quilting by Marcella Garverick and many more.

From 10:30 am to 11:30 am. there will be old fashion country games played at the Nature Center and a lunch will be served from 1 to 2 pm at Shelter House #1 where the menu will be hamburgers, hot dogs, and chips for donations.

From 12 pm to 1:30 pm the Country Rose Band will play and from noon to 1 pm, the Nature Center will be hosted by Terri the Naturalist with a presentation on snakes. Archery basketball can be played (10 years and older) from 1 to 2:30 pm.

The annual pie and cake judging contest will be held at 2 pm. Those competing can drop off their pie or cake in foil pan at the camp store at 2 pm. There will be cash prizes for the tastiest treats. These goods must be traditional, no refrigeration.

From 2 to 3:30 pm, Dick Starcher and Friends will entertain and at 3 pm the Corn Hole Contest will be held at the Gazebo. The hog calling contest and longest pig tail contest will be held at 4:15 pm at Shelter House #1. Hog caller age categories are 1-4; 5-8; 9-14; and 15 plus Pigtail competition is open to those ages 1-5; 6-14 and 15 plus.

The hog roast meal will be served at 5:30 pm at Shelter House #1.

The dinner will also include sloppy joes, chicken and noodles, sweet corn, watermelon, baked beans, and a variety of sides and the desserts from the earlier contest.

The button drawing will begin right after the dinner is finished.

A breakfast will be served Sunday morning, July 12, at the Shelter House #1 served by the volunteers in the park and the Nature Center will be open from 10 am to noon.

This is a great time for family – visit the Mount Gilead State Park, a place of beauty and serenity any time of the year.

Evelyn Long is a correspondent with the Morrow County Sentinel and can be reached at [email protected].