Schedule set for Old Threshers ?09

Mel Tillis, Heidi Newfield, Phil Vasser and a double feature of Collin Raye and Restless Heart will headline the 60th Old Threshers Reunion, set for Sept. 3-7 this year.

Terry McWilliams, public relations and marketing director for Midwest Old Threshers, made the announcement Wednesday afternoon during the Mount Pleasant Area Chamber Alliance?s Alive After Five networking event. Each of the concerts will be free and open to anyone with tickets to the Reunion, he said, continuing a practice that started last year.

Old Threshers CEO Lennis Moore noted the later start for this year?s Reunion, which began on Aug. 28 last year.

?This year, we are doing something very special on the first day,? Moore said. ?And, of course, we always think every day of Old Threshers is special.?

The first day of the Reunion will be ?veterans? day.? Veterans will be admitted to the Reunion for half price, he said, and ?we are going to have some special things through the day for our veterans.?

McWilliams said that would include Old Threshers? first-ever fireworks display at the end of  Tillis? performance. Noting that Tillis is himself a veteran, McWilliams said the concert will end with a patriotic song to lead into the display.

For more, see our March 12 print edition.