Katy Nicholson/Herald Staff Writer

herald file photo This is the time of the year that children love to pick out their favorite pumpkin. Advertisement

HALIFAX - From a rodeo queen to a pickle contest to peanut threshing, the 16th annual Halifax Harvest Days planned for this weekend is chock-full of an eclectic assortment of activities.

“People are coming from other states to be a part of the Roanoke Valley, and I'm very, very pleased with this,” said County Extension Director Dr. Zoann Parker said of the festival, which will be held at the 4-H Rural Life Center.

Last year's second day of Harvest Days fell prey to Mother Nature, but this year, organizers won't let anything get in the way of a good time. The event relies on community sponsorship, Parker noted, and the support has been strong this year. One big difference this year is that the event will be held on Friday and Saturday instead of Saturday and Sunday. Once again, Harvest Days will be open exclusively to schoolchildren and senior citizens from surrounding counties from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Friday.

This year's high school rodeo will include an appearance by North Carolina High School Rodeo Queen Lindsey Harper. The rodeo begins at 7 both nights, and for those who want to join in the fun, pony rides will be offered this year. Rodeo tickets will be on sale at the event and will cost $8 for adults, $5 for first- through 12th-grade students and free for children under 5.

Also new this year will be a performance by NoJoe's Clown Circus, a group of retired state policemen from Georgia who will teach children about the importance of reading, math, science, history, the performing arts, manners and other lessons in a fun setting. The show will take place at 2 p.m., Saturday, and 4 p.m., Sunday.

Brenda Hamilton, daughter of Carey Pittman, who built Rosenwald Schools in North Carolina in the 1920s, will be available on Friday to give a presentation to the schoolchildren and seniors, and on Saturday to answer questions about the schools. There will also be period games, like sack races.

This year, the Halifax County Arts Council will hold a pumpkin carving demonstration and pumpkin decorating contest. Children are invited to decorate pumpkins from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, and judging will take place at 3 p.m.

Everyone is invited to enter their two-crust, nine-inch fruit pies and watermelon rind pickles - a local specialty - into the pie and pickle contest. Prizes include a North Carolina pottery pie baking dish, canning jars, cookbook, and coupons for next year's farmers market. Entries can be dropped off anytime on Friday at the main building.

“I thought, ‘How great that we're bringing out a cultural pickle that is really, really big here in Halifax County,'” Parker noted.

The event also will include some old favorites from previous years, like the single engine and antique tractor show, which has been “greatly expanded.”

Musical entertainment will be provided by returning acts the Alves Brothers, two young brothers who sing gospel music; and North Carolina Music Network, a group of young performers.

There will be military re-enactments ranging from the revolutionary war through today, including cannon shots and a World War II battle with a 1940s ammunition truck.

Nineteen craft vendors will be at Harvest Days with merchandise including quilting, sewing, candlemaking and woodcarving.

Also returning will be the saw mill and peanut threshing demonstrations and cotton wagon.

“If you've never jumped in a cotton wagon, it's for people from 0 to 99,” Parker said.

For more information about Halifax Harvest Days, contact the Cooperative Extension Office at 583-5161.