Harlem is ready for Hardy-loving crowd
Harlem officials expect their city to be bursting at the seams this weekend as visitors crowd into downtown streets during the 16th annual Oliver Hardy Festival on Saturday.
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Dale Walter Sr. makes the trip from Ohio every year to play Oliver Hardy during the Harlem festival honoring the comedian.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
"We'll expect a big showcase day for the city and the area," Mayor Scott Dean said.
More than 32,000 people squeezed into the rural town for the 2003 festival, but Kathy Ham, the festival coordinator, estimates the city's bid to hold the 2006 Sons of the Desert convention will attract even more people.
"We expect to have a good many more visitors from out of town and state because of the convention bid being located here," Ham said. "We'll have a nice display at the museum."
A crystal pineapple, symbolizing the city's bid to play host to the worldwide convention of Oliver and Hardy fan clubs, will be prominently displayed in the Oliver Hardy Museum, Ham said.
Dale Walter Sr. and Dennis Moriarty, the official faces of the festival, will lead the parade in an antique Model T for the 11th consecutive year as grand marshals Oliver Norvell Hardy and Stan Laurel, respectively.
Moriarty said he and his longtime partner pay for their annual trip from Ohio, because they believe in the museum, the festival committee and the local Sons of the Desert Berth Marks tent.
"The support from the city and the (festival) committee makes it enjoyable for us," Moriarty said. "We're treated royally and first-class. They treat us the same way they would treat Stan and Ollie if they were alive today."
Ham said the day of events begins with a children's parade at 9 a.m., followed by a parade at 10 a.m.
Live entertainment is scheduled throughout the day on two stages - next to the police station and on the lawn of city hall. The entertainment includes skits by Walter and Moriarty, church choirs, cloggers, musicians and a look-alike contest.
Harlem's 13th annual Oliver Hardy Festival in Harlem drew about 30,000 visitors in October 2001. This year's festival will feature skits, look-alike contests, arts and crafts and carnival rides. The festival will kick off at 9 a.m. Saturday in downtown Harlem.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
Carnival rides, games, clowns and pony rides will be available for children while parents browse the more than 350 arts, crafts and food vendors.
Bids for silent auction items, including flight lessons, yard equipment, gym memberships and gift certificates, will be accepted throughout the festival.
Raffle drawings for prizes, including a grand prize minivacation to downtown Augusta, also will be drawn all day.
The Oliver Hardy Festival and the Columbia County West Rotary Club will hold a family bicycle tour of Harlem.
The Metric Century, which involves 45- and 65-mile loops, starts at 8:30 a.m. for more experienced cyclists. A 10- or 20-mile loop family ride will kick off at 11 a.m. Both rides begin at Harlem High School.
For a parade application or for more information, call the museum at 556-0401. For more information about the bicycle tour, call David Titus at 860-2205.
Oliver Hardy Festival Schedule
Main Stage (next to the police station):
9 a.m. - Children's parade begins; Arts and crafts booths open
9:30 a.m. - Opening ceremony; Welcome by Harlem Mayor Scott Dean; National anthem by Elyse Walden
10 a.m. - Parade begins
11 a.m. - Laurel and Hardy skit
11:30 a.m. - Brandi
Noon - Augusta Cloggers
12:30 p.m. - Laurel & Hardy Look-alike Contest
1 p.m. - Eric Berry and Friends
2 p.m. - Final Harvest
3 p.m. - Willie Anderson
4 p.m. - Ed Jones Smooth Country
City Hall Stage
Live Civil War Re-enactment Camp all day
9 a.m. - Children's Parade begins
9:30 a.m. - Welcome by Harlem Mayor Pro-Tem and festival Co-chairman Robin Root and Councilmen Rudolph Dixon, John Thigpen and Tom Blalock; National anthem by Mona Morris
10 a.m. - Parade begins
11 a.m. - Puppets of Faith
Noon - Laurel and Hardy skit
12:30 p.m. - G.R. Dean Gospel Choir of New Holt Baptist Church
1 p.m. - Bill Vaughn and friends from Mount Tabor Church
2 p.m. - Christy Harrison and friends
3 p.m. - Ted Bingham and Just Plain Folks
4 p.m. - Richard Neal Gospel Rock Band
4:30 p.m. - Rhythm and Class Cloggers