138 years and counting

Salem Old Settlers festival returns to the small Henry County city this weekend.

The 138th annual Salem Old Settlers festival kicks off at 5 p.m., Friday with a car cruise night and Elvis tribute artist Junior Talley performing in the park from 6-9 p.m.

A ham and bean supper will be served at the Shelter House beginning at 5 p.m.

The ham and bean supper is just the beginning of the weekend celebration’s food offerings.

From 6-9 a.m., Saturday, the Salem Fire Department will serve a pancake breakfast at the community center.

Late Saturday afternoon, the smell of barbecue chicken will draw hungry festival goers to the community center for the 5 p.m. chicken barbecue dinner.

Sunday morning, following the 10 a.m. church service in the park, everyone is invited to an old fashion community pot luck.

Of course, Salem Old Settlers is not just about the food.

There is a half-mile kids’ fun run at 7:30 a.m. Saturday followed by a 2.2-mile adult fun run/walk at 8 a.m. The event is sponsored by the Henry County Health Center and Dr. A.D. Savage.

At 10:30 a.m. Saturday people will line the streets of Salem for the parade.

This year’s parade theme is “Whoooo Let the Owls Out.”

Also Saturday there will be a quilt show from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and bake sale and silent auction library from 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Both of those events will be at the library.

For those with a competitive spirit, there will be a bags tournament at the basketball court Saturday.

Registration begins at 11:30 a.m., and the tournament starts at noon.

The pedal pull competition begins at 1 p.m. on the north side of the park, which will be followed by the fire department water fights.

The band Jive Radio will bring the funk from 6-9 p.m., Saturday, in the park.

From 9 p.m.-1 a.m. the band Whiskey Friends will perform at Underground.

At 11 a.m., Sunday, there will be a horseshoe tournament.

Throughout the entire weekend J & K Shows Carnival will be set up in the park.

They will be bringing 10 rides, and each ride ranges from one to four tickets.

The carnival will start at 5 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. Saturday, and noon Sunday.