Cotton Gin Fest set for Sept. 26

As Noxapater prepares for its annual Cotton Gin Festival, signs are going up as the residents prepare to show why some call it a "Small Town, Big Heart."

According to organizers, the Cotton Gin Festival provides a day of "friendship, southern hospitality, warmth, fun with lots of good times and people." The event also provides many persons and groups a chance to raise funds for good causes.

The 16th Annual Noxapater Cotton Gin Festival will be held Saturday, September 26 with a full slate of activities and fun.

The Noxapater Community Alliance is sponsoring the Cotton Gin Festival. All proceeds from the festival are used to improve the Noxapater community.

The official kickoff for the festival is at 9 a.m. and will consist of entertainment by local talent. As part of the entertainment, the Noxapater Cotton Gin Pageant will begin around noon. Attendees may set out their lawn chairs and enjoy these young ladies and girls representing their community. Contestants must pay a registration fee to participate in the pageant. The beauty revue is for ages 4-18 with Wee Miss 4-6; Tiny Miss 7-9; Little Miss 10-12; Teen Miss 13-15; and Cotton Gin Queen 16-18.

One of the biggest draws each year to the event is the Cotton Gin Car Show. The car show will feature 25 classes with first, second and third places in each class plus a best of show. In all 76 trophies will be awarded. Registration for the event begins at 8 a.m. and ends at 10:30 a.m. Awards for the show will be awarded at 3 p.m. Sponsors for the car show are WLSM, Manning Body and Paint, Mike and Carol McAdory, Woody's, The Catfish Opry, Farm Bureau, Caperton Auto Supply, Prisock Pro Clean, D&D Tire, Joe Hodge, Eastside Motors, Nowell Funeral Services, The Pack Rat, Dixie Wholesale Water Works, Valu-Max, Bancorpsouth, Richardson Detail Shop, Mary Lou's Biscuit Barn, H& H Plaza, Fair and Mayo, Louisville Title Loans, David Wilson, M&N Computers, Gator Computers, Frazier's Shoe Store, Baker Ready Mix, Fred Nabers, and K&W Auto and Appliance. For more information on the car show contact Robert Wall at 724-4656 or email wallrr@noxapatertel.net or Jesse Hudson at 724-2604.

For information on the festival call Mark Robinson at 662-803-7230 or email him at marear@noxaptertel.com; Grady Suttle at 662-724-2567, 662-803-4667; or Judy Lovorn at 662-773-6261.