Four days of festivities are planned in celebration of Galena’s 131st birthday.
All programs will be free to the public. The event, sponsored by the Galena Volunteer Fire Department, will feature a performance by “Confederate Railroad” at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Saturday.
The group, which started as a bar band in Georgia, was awarded the Academy of Country Music’s Best New Group Award in 1993. It has been nominated for a Grammy, as well as other awards from the Country Music Association and the British Country Music Foundation.
Among the band’s hits are “Daddy Never Was the Cadillac Kind,” She Took It Like a Man,” “Jesus and Mama,” “Queen of Memphis” and “Trashy Women.”
Activities will start Wednesday, including a lasagna dinner from 5 to 7 p.m. at Saints Memorial Church of God in Christ, bingo and gospel singing from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. with the Missourians, Brothers with Purpose and Mary Harper. The evening will end with a prize drawing at 9:30 p.m.
Activities Thursday will include a luau dinner from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Galena Assembly of God Church, bingo, Sunflower Dance and Baton Academy at 6:30 p.m., Kevin Danzig and Box Cars at 7 p.. and 8:30 p.m., karaoke contest at 7:30 p.m. and a prize drawing at 10 p.m.
Friday will start with a taco salad dinner from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Empire Mission Church.
Following will be bingo, a performance at 7 p.m. by Duke Mason and the Heartland Band, recognition and prizes at 8 p.m., the Galena High School Girls Trio at 8:30 p.m. and the Heartland Band at 9 p.m. The evening will end with a prize drawing at 10 p.m.
A classic car show is planned from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.. Saturday, with horseshoe pitching at noon and fire truck rides at 1 p.m. The gala parade will be at 4 p.m. with Carli Holt, current Miss Galena, as grand marshal. Birthday cake will be served at 5 p.m. in the fire station, followed by a chicken noodle dinner from 5 to 7 p.m. at the First Baptist Church. Route 66 Cloggers will perform at 5:30 p.m., and bingo will be p layed at 6 p.m. “Confederate Railroad” performs at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
Galena Education Foundation “Beautiful Baby” will be crowned at 7:”30 p.m. An auto auction benefiting Children’s Miracle Network and Mercy Health Foundation will be held at 7:50 p.m.
A fireworks display will be sponsored by the Galena Masonic Lodge and Eastern Star.
New Miss Galena will be crowned at 10 p.m. Candidates are Kelsey Anderson, Amber Brewer, Sarah Lamica, Shaya Perdew, Tina Smith, Sheila Williams, Kesha Ash, Syrenia Dart, Kayla Merit, Morgan Sherrell, Courtney Thurman and Faith Woodward. Prize drawings will follow at 10:15 p.m., concluding with a drawing for a 2008 Hyundai Accent or $10,000 cash.
Toby’s Carnival will be on hand throughout the celebration.
