The City of Lewisburg is preparing for its annual Purple Martin Festival to be held June 2-8, 2013. Organizers of this year’s festival boast it will be the biggest in Lewisburg’s history. Numerous activities have been planned for those who attend, and enjoyment in the number one goal of the city during this special time of year.

Lewisburg is well known for its Purple Martin population. You can see Purple Martin houses throughout the town. The Purple Martin is the largest North American swallow. These aerial acrobats have speed and agility in flight, and when approaching their housing, will dive from the sky at great speeds with their wings tucked. The average length from bill to tail is 7.9 inches. Adults have a slightly forked tail. Adult males are entirely black with glossy steel blue sheen, the only swallow in North America with such coloration. Adult females are dark on top with some steel blue sheen, and lighter underparts.

Because of these birds, the City of Lewisburg hosts an annual event in their honor and have been for years. They open the city and invite people from all over to enjoy not only the birds, but each other’s company. Lewisburg is a quaint town with lots to offer.

Lewisburg Mayor Tina Callahan-Dye is excited about the festival. She says they are looking forward to having country music singer/songwriter Marty Brown join in this year’s events.

“Marty and his family are very knowledgeable about Purple Martins, so I’m sure we will hear wonderful tips and stories from him as well. I am always pleased with how our community gets involved with these events. I just want everyone to know Lewisburg is a fun and friendly place to visit,” said Dye.

The events for the week are as follows:

June 2

Gospel Concert- 2 p.m. at Lewisburg City Complex featuring singers from local churches. For more information contact Gerald Hilderbrand 270-755-4921

June 3

Church History Tour- 9:30 at Lewisburg United Methodist Church

Enjoy a bus ride throughout Lewisburg and North Logan County as we visit several of our oldest churches and cemeteries. The tour will begin at Arnold’s Chapel at Bibb Town and then on to Stuart’s Chapel before stopping to enjoy lunch at the Ranger Grill. The tour will continue with Cumberland Presbyterian, Kennerly’s Chapel and then conclude at Lewisburg United Methodist. At each stop you will be greeted by knowledgeable members of the congregation and given a tour and informative history of your destinations.

There’s room in God’s Kingdom, but limited space on the buses. The first 26 people to make reservations will get those seats. If you would like to drive your own vehicle or carpool with friends, that will be permitted. Everyone wanting to go should be at the Lewisburg United Methodist parking lot at 9:30 a.m. in order to depart on time. To make reservations or for more information call Shirley Young 270-755-4354.

Little Mr. & Miss Pageant- 6 p.m. at Lewisburg City Complex

Categories will include: boys and girls ages birth-24 months and girls ages 2-8th grade. Forms can be picked up at the following locations: Lewisburg City Hall, Lewisburg Elementary School, Lewisburg Banking Co. (Lewisburg and Russellville) and Logan County Chamber of Commerce. Concessions provided by Russellville-Logan County Kiwanis Club. For more information contact Debbie Wilson 755-2960.

June 4

Town Hall Meeting- 6 p.m. at Lewisburg City Complex

Be part of the solution. Come out and meet your local and state officials and representatives from the federal government. WRUS’s Chris McGinnis will be the moderator. This event is sponsored by the Lewisburg Lions Club. For more information contact Tony Ashby 270-847-9085.

June 5

Walking Tour- 4:30 p.m. at McKinney Park Lions Club Pavilion

Discover the rich history of Lewisburg from its mound builders to the inception of Henryville to the move to Lewisburg to the present. Wear your walking shoes. Water will be provided. For more information contact Tony Ashby 270-847-9085.

June 6

Teen Dance- 7-10 p.m. at Lewisburg City Complex

This event is free for 5th -9th graders. They can come out and have fun dancing, hanging out with friends getting there face painted and enjoy refreshments. It is well chaperoned. For more information contact Melanie Henderson 270-791-4656.

June 6-8

Books-to-Go Book Sale- 12-5 p.m. at Old City Hall

Come out and support Books-to-Go Library. They operate solely on donations as they do not receive any funding from public entities.

Free Yard Sale Permit Weekend

If you live in the city limits of Lewisburg, then you will not have to have a permit to have a yard sale on this weekend. We encourage those outside of the city to also have yard sales this weekend, as it will be a busy time in our area.

June 7

Vendor Sale- 5 p.m. at McKinney Park

Vendors that will be setting up are: Kentucky Komfort Natural Spa Products, It Works!, Miche’ Handbags, Thirty-one, ACE and other craft and knick knack vendors. Food vendors are Tiki Dawgs & Coy’s BBQ

Car/Truck/Motorcycle/Tractor Show- 5 p.m. at Front St. and McKinney Park

$5 Entry Fee. First 25 entries receive plaques. Trophies given in each category. There will be a Peoples’ Choice winner. There will be a drawing for entry fee money, for cash prizes and door prizes and there will be crusin’ music played throughout the night. Contact Tommy Guffy 270-847-3006 for more information.

Friday Night Flicks at dusk in McKinney Park

Tonight’s movie will feature the classic movie Gone in 60 Seconds. This will be a fun way to end the night. Just bring your lawn chair or blankets and enjoy this great movie with friends and neighbors under the stars.

June 8

Vendor Sale- 8 p.m. at McKinney Park

Vendors that will be setting up are: Kentucky Komfort Natural Spa Products, It Works!, Miche’ Handbags, Thirty-one, Scentsy, ACE and other craft and knick knack vendors. Food vendor is Coy’s BBQ.

Purple Martin 5K- 7:30 a.m. at Mt. Pleasant Church

Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. and the race begins at 8 a.m. There is a $15 early registration by May 24th, or a $20 registration after May 24th. Please make checks payable to Lewisburg Lion’s Club and drop off at City Hall. A Kid’s event will be held in the church parking lot before the race. Door Prizes will be given away for this event. There will be awards for top finishers in each age group and top three over all. Age groups are as follows: 19 & under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60 and over.

June 8

Tractor Ride- 10 a.m. at Lewisburg Elementary School

Start your tractor and sign up for a beautiful scenic, country ride. Ride will commence from Lewisburg Elementary School and travel out Hwy 1040 by Mt. Pleasant Cemetery. Then go east on 106 to Beechland Rd., then to Iron Mountain Rd. to the Coon Range Lake for a picnic lunch. Next, traveling left on Beechland Rd. to Beechland Baptist Church turning right on Beechland Quality Rd. to L. McReynolds Rd. to 106 back to Lewisburg. Tractors must be able to travel at least 10 mph. There are rules. For further information contact Drexel Johnson 270-755-4011. The organizers of this event are not responsible for any injuries/accidents.

Purple Martin Music Fest- 10 a.m. at McKinney Park, Lions Club Pavilion

Come out and enjoy a day filled with music. Bring a lawn chair for your comfort. Kicking the day off will be Travis Bryan & Friends with a variety of music from gospel, oldies, and country to 80’s Hair Band. Then, at 11 a.m. Chris Kramer will perform his Elvis Tribute Show. At 12:30 p.m. Simply Country will be entertaining the crowd with their live band. Finally, at 2 p.m. Tim Harris & The Rockin’ Ragers will rock the show with their crowd pleasing old time rock and roll.

Purple Martin Parade- 4:30 p.m. at Industrial Drive

Lineup will start on Industrial Dr. & Third St. at 3:45 p.m. Parking for trucks and trailers will be infield by Gower’s Drug Store and IGA. Registration forms will be available June 7th at the Car Show and on Parade Day at the Lewisburg Lions Club Booth. Contact Jason Harper 270-893-0012.

Marty Brown Concert- 6 p.m. at McKinney Park, Lions Club Pavilion

Country music singer/songwriter, Marty Brown, will close out the 2013 Purple Martin Festival with a free concert. Marty made his mark on Nashville in the 1990’s when he met with legendary record producer Tony Brown who signed him to a record deal at MCA Records. Marty, together, with Tony, made four albums for MCA and eight videos for CMT television over the next ten years including Wild Kentucky Skies, In My Wildest Dreams, High and Dry, and Every Now and Then. He toured with acts such as Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, Hank Williams, Jr. and many, many more. After his recording years, he started writing hit songs for artists like the heart-felt and groovy “I’m From the Country and I Like It That Way” for Tracy Byrd. He still lives in Kentucky with his wife and kids and is still cranking out his classic country sound. His music and videos can be found on youtube.com under TheMartyBrown channel. He also has a song “When I Stop Loving You” on Trace Adkins’ new CD, “Love Will.”