Gosport Lazy Days festival returns next week

Next week, from Aug. 13 to 16, downtown Gosport’s annual Lazy Days Festival will return to the town with vendors, live music and a range of competitions. The Gosport John Brighton Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7850 is set to present the colors during the opening ceremony, host a fish fry and provide cheeseburgers. 

Festival leaders will provide chalk for a free to enter sidewalk chalk art contest. The most creative and best “Come Together” themed designs will receive prizes. 

At the festival, the winners of the Little Miss and Mister contest will be announced during the opening ceremony and be placed in the parade lineup. 

Meineke Car Care is sponsoring the Tim Dittemore Memorial Car Show, where judges will award cars prizes in categories such as best vintage car, sports car and custom car. 

To round out the weekend, on Sunday the Gosport Baptist, Christian and Methodist Churches, Eminence Baptist Church, Family of God and Mount Olivet Christian Church will sponsor a community church service in the park, followed by a community pitch-in. The churches will provide fried chicken and attendees with the last name first initial A-G are encouraged to bring a side dish, H-N bring dessert, O-U bring drinks and V-Z bring bread/rolls.

Here’s the full festival schedule:

Thursday, Aug. 13

• 5 p.m. - Vendor booths open
• 5 p.m. - Registration for free sidewalk chalk art contest
• 5:30 p.m. - Sidewalk chalk art contest begins
• 6 p.m. - Opening ceremonies, with a prayer by Darren Fauber, presentation of colors by the Gosport VFW Post 7850, national anthem by Rose O’Neal, committee introduction by Lazy Days President Chris Wesley, announcement of outstanding senior citizens and outstanding citizens and presentation of Little Miss and Mister
• 6:30 to 9 p.m. - The Fab Four on the Bandstand

Friday, Aug. 14

• Gosport History Museum open
• 4 p.m. - Tim Dittemore Memorial Car Show
• 5 p.m. - Vendor booths open
• 5 to 7 p.m. - Gosport VFW Post 7850 auxiliary fish fry
• 5:30 to 7 p.m. - Kid’s games
• 6 p.m. - Car show judging
• 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. - Bad Penny on the Bandstand
• 9 to 11 p.m. - Ellie Grayce Band on the Bandstand

Saturday, Aug. 15

• Gosport History Museum open
• 6:45 to 7:15 a.m. - Gosport Lion’s Club 5K registration
• 7:30 a.m. - 5K begins
• 8:30 a.m. - Bike race registration, children 13 and under
• 9 a.m. - Bike race begins
• 9:30 a.m. - Baby contest sign in, pre-registration required
• 10 a.m. - Baby contest begins
• 10 a.m. - Kid’s games
• 11 a.m. - Vendor booths open
• Noon to 1 p.m. - Parade line up and registration at the Gosport Community Building
• 1 p.m. - Parade
• 2 p.m. - Bed race
• 3 p.m. - Journey wrestling
• 3 p.m. - Kappa Kappa Sigma raffle
• 3 to 7 p.m. - Kid’s games
• 5 to 7 p.m. - Gosport VFW Post 7850 cheeseburgers
• 5 to 7 p.m. - Eastern Wing Band on the Bandstand

Sunday, Aug. 16

• 10 to 10:45 a.m. - Community Church Service gospel sing at the park
• 10:45 to 11:30 a.m. - Sermon
• Noon - Community pitch-in