Daily Independent (Ashland, KY)

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October 5, 2012

Autumnfest a family-friendly affair

Event to feature 5-night revival, parade, gospel music

Tim Preston The Independent

Blaine — After attracting thousands of people to the rural community of Blaine last year, residents of the small city had no problem deciding to host the second annual Blaine Autumnfest.

“Blaine is going to be beautiful,” said Edna Arrington, one of many Blaine residents who are pitching in with floral arrangements and other decorations to spruce up the community before welcoming visitors for a week of fellowship and celebration.

The festival officially begins Sunday with the AutumnFest pageant and  a baby contest at Unity Baptist Church, which is again hosting the event.

“We’re going to have a tent revival starting October 8 with different preachers for five night,” Arrington said, explaining a revival tent capable of holding as many as 400 people will be erected across the road from B&C Market. Preaching for the five-night tent revival will be provided by Chris Bellew, Shane Fyffe, Lemmy Wheeler, David Boggs and Rick May, with services starting at 7 p.m. each evening.

Blaine Autumnfest activities continue Oct. 13 with a parade from Blaine Elementary through “downtown Blaine” and finishing at the remains of the old high school which burned several years ago. Arrington said the hometown parade will feature horses, cars, school groups and floats. Officials will give away prizes four times per hour during Saturday’s celebration, which offers free inflatables for children as well as a custom and classic car show (starting at 10 a.m. at the elementary school), food vendors, arts and crafts, games and cloggers. There will also be a pancake breakfast at Blaine’s Masonic Lodge from 8 to 11 a.m., with shuttle service provided up and down the hill to and from the lodge.

Arrington said everyone in Blaine will also have the chance to share a meal as part of the fellowship included in Blaine Autumnfest.

“There is a free dinner for everyone starting at 3 p.m.,” she said. “And there will be singing all day long with six or eight different gospel groups near where they have the tent.”

Arrington said the city’s celebration of family fun began as a simple idea by members of Unity Baptist Church who wanted a way “to get the community to come together and fellowship,” Arrington said, adding she and many others were pleasantly surprised with attendance during their first festival.

“Last year there were more than 2,000 people in Blaine. I couldn’t believe it,” she said.

For more information call Unity Baptist Church Pastor Ed Austin at (606) 638-0647 or 483-1878.

TIM PRESTON can be reached at tpreston@dailyindependent.com.

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