Ready for bunches of fun? Banana Split Festival this weekend

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WILMINGTON — The season heats up this weekend when the Banana Split Festival offers something for everyone at J.W. Denver Williams Jr. Park in Wilmington.

The annual Friday and Saturday extravaganza features free admission and shuttle rides from the parking areas along with a healthy mix of entertainment, food and drinks, unique crafts, classic cars, kids’ activities and games and exhibits.

And, of course, featured will be the event’s namesake concoction — which Wilmington historically claims as its own — featuring ice cream, sauce, nuts, whipped cream and a cherry on top.

Highlights include:

• The Car Show and Cruise-In will be featured Friday 4-10 p.m. and is open to cars, trucks and Jeeps. There is no charge to participate in the Cruise-In. Car show entries are open noon-4:30 p.m. with an entry fee of $10 per vehicle. Entries will be judged and 15 winners will be presented with trophies at 5:30 p.m.

• On Saturday the Heather’s Hope Foundation for Diabetes 5K run registration begins at 8 a.m. with a 9 a.m. race start.

Heather’s Hope is a non-profit diabetes organization founded in 2010 by friends and family of Heather James. Heather was a 2003 graduate of Wilmington High School who passed away in 2008 from complications with Type-1 Diabetes.

Heather’s Hope raises money to help serve the medical needs of Clinton County’s diabetic patients.

For more information, email Adrienne Schaad at [email protected]. To register, you can download a registration form at www.bananasplitfestival.com. 5K prizes will be awarded for each age group.

• The banana split-eating competition starts at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Banana Split Booth. There is no sign-up; check in after 2:30 p.m. at the table.

• All weekend long is the Big Banana Baseball Tournament for regional youths 14 and younger (including T-ball) that will be competing on multiple fields.

The entertainment for the weekend features:

Friday, June 9

4-5:30 p.m. FlashBack, ’60s and ’70s classic rock

5:45-7:45 p.m. Branded, ’60s through ’90s classic country

8-10 p.m. Smoooth, R&B classics, harmonies and choreography

Saturday, June 10

12:30-1:30 p.m. Lauren Kelly, variety with something for everyone

2-4 p.m. Model Behavior, high-energy pop, rock, dance and party music

4-5:30 Lost and Found, a capella praise and worship

5:30-6 p.m. Announcements and car show awards

6-7:45 p.m. Sawgrass, high-energy progressive bluegrass

8 p.m. Crossroad Station, against-the-grain boot-to-the-mouth country

The Banana Split Festival is presented by the Wilmington Rotary Clubs and sponsored by Clinton Memorial Hospital, R+L Carriers, Wilmington Savings Bank, Ahresty, Clinton County Port Authority, Peoples Bank, Liberty Savings Bank, Wendy’s, ABX Air, Servicemaster, Long Pharmacy, Smith-Feike-Minton Insurance, National Cooperative Bank (NCB), Jason Pittser, O.D., Peelle Law Offices, Dennis & Williams Law Office, Damon’s Grill Restaurant, Tommy R. Tigar, M.D., RLR Investments (Roberts Centre), Ace Hardware, and the Wilmington News Journal.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2017/06/web1_SplitBanner-1.jpg

Last year’s banana split-eating contest provided some tasty but not-so-neat treats.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2017/06/web1_split-kids.jpgLast year’s banana split-eating contest provided some tasty but not-so-neat treats. News Journal file photo

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2017/06/web1_smoooth-3.jpgCourtesy photo

Crossroad Station will bring its blend of country, rock and blues to the stage at 8 p.m. Saturday. The harmonies and choreography of Smoooth will grace the stage at 8 p.m. Friday.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2017/06/web1_Crossroad-Station-1.jpgCrossroad Station will bring its blend of country, rock and blues to the stage at 8 p.m. Saturday. The harmonies and choreography of Smoooth will grace the stage at 8 p.m. Friday. Courtesy photo
Banana Split Festival this weekend

By Tom Barr

[email protected]

The annual Banana Split Festival is 4-10 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday. The park opens for the 5K run at 8 a.m. Saturday.

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