Beech Tree News Network

The Green River Catfish Festival is preparing for the 36th edition of the longstanding event. The GRCF will take place July 1-4 at Charles Black City Park in Morgantown. There will be kick-off events leading up to the opening ceremonies, which take place Friday, July 1 at 6:00 p.m. 

CLICK HERE FOR THE 2015 Catfish Festival Video: https://youtu.be/08s30NcN5A8

Butler County Chamber of Commerce Secretary Annette Jared said all events and times for the GRCF are set. 

A full listing of all events and times of the 36th Annual GRCF can be viewed at the end of this article. 

The first event of the festival is the Green River Road Race which takes place at Charles Black City Park at 7:30 a.m. Sat., June 18. Registration begins at 6:00 a.m.

“We have more music this year and different singers coming to sing at the festival,” she said. “We have brought back the softball tournament this year and it will be held on July 2 at the Rochester Ball Field.” 

Jared said new visitors to the GRCF can expect a wide variety of food, drinks and sweets. Vendors will be selling crafts and art work, along with airbrush face painting and airbrush tattoos.

“We will also have our regular events, like the terrapin race for the kids and fishing for the little ones,” she said. 

Carnival rides and catfish plates provided by the Reedyville/Cassia Lodge will be included as always, Jared said.

The festival will conclude with fireworks provided by the city of Morgantown at twilight Monday, July 4. 

“This year they will be set to music and you can tune into WLBQ 101.5 FM,” Jared said. 

The GRCF has taken place each year in Morgatown around the Fourth of July since 1980. 

Thursday, June 30

9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. - Butler County Best of the Best Fair (4-H Entries Accepted-sponsored by Butler County Cooperative Extension Service)

Friday, July 1

6:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. -$2K Fishing -- Green River

Sponsored by Chamber of Commerce

5:00 p.m. Gates open, Carnival Rides

5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Reedyville & Cassia Lodge Catfish Plates

5:00 p.m. - Musical Tribute to America (sponsored by Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints)

5:00 p.m.- 9:00 p.m. - BC Exhibit “Best of the Best” Fair Show Viewing-- Eva J. Hawes Building, City Park

6:00 p.m. - Pageants - Butler County Residents Only - Pre-Teen, Jr. Miss, Miss Butler County Catfish ages 8-21 (girls only) --Ampitheater (Sponsored by: Tiffany’s Tanning, Beech Tree News & Delta Faucet of Morgantown) CLICK HERE FOR ENTRY FORM Pageant Entry Form redone.pdf

6:00 p.m. - Opening Ceremonies (National Anthem, performed by Rye Davis) Presentation of colors by BCHS NJROTC Color Guard

7:00 p.m. - Fishin’ for the Little Ones Contest-- Chamber trailer, Sponsored by: McDonald’s

8:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. -- Rye Davis Band- Basketball Court, Sponsored by: The Dale & Martha Franklin Family

Saturday, July 2

6:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. - $2K Fishing Tournament, Sponsored by: The Chamber of Commerce

8:00 a.m. - Green River Softball Tournament-- Rochester Ball Park

9:00 a.m - Gates open

9:00 a.m. - Pageants- 0-7 years old girls & boys up to 23 months, Sponsored by: Tiffany’s Tanning, Beech Tree News & Delta Faucet of Morgantown)CLICK HERE FOR ENTRY FORM Pageant Entry Form redone.pdf

10:00am - Archery Tournament - Upper baseball field - open to grades 2-12, a male division, a female division, and also a child and adult team division, Sponsored by Morgantown Bank & Trust CLICK HERE FOR ENTRY FORM Archery Ad.pdf

Noon- Carnival Rides Open

Noon-9:00 p.m. - Reedyville Catfish Plates with Cassia Lodge & Reedyville

4:00 p.m. - Livestock Show Check-In

4-7:30 p.m. - The Dustin Collins Band, Sponsored by: Houchens Industries, Body Works Chiropractic Dr. Amy Brumlow DC, BC Attorney Richard J. Deye

5:00 p.m. - OPEN Pageants -  Pre-Teen, Jr. Miss, Miss Butler County Fair ages 8-21 (girls only) --Ampitheater (Sponsored by: Tiffany’s Tanning, Beech Tree News & Delta Faucet of Morgantown)CLICK HERE FOR ENTRY FORM Pageant Entry Form redone.pdf

5:45 p.m. - Livestock Show begins

7:00 p.m. - Fishin’ For The Little Ones Contest- Chamber Trailer Sponsored by: BC Drug Free

8 p.m. - 11 p.m. - Snake Blood Remedy (Basketball Court), Sponsored by: Gipe Automotive & BC County Attorney Richard J. Deye, Logan Telephone Cooperative

Sunday, July 3

6:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. - $2K Fishing Tournament, Sponsored by: The Chamber of Commerce

1:00 p.m. - Gates Open: Carnival Rides

1:00 p.m. - Resurrection Bound, Sponsored by: Body Works Chiropractic Dr. Amy Brumlow DC

3:00 p.m. - Johnson Family with special guest Scott & Katherine Flener, sponsored by: Hocker Family Insurance, LLC, Body Works Chiropractic Dr. Amy Brumlow, DC

4-7 p.m. - Troubadours- Sponsored by: Mid-Park Inc., SST, King Drug & Home Care

3:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. - BC Exhibit “Best of the Best” 4-H

1:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. - Reedyville and Cassia Lodge Catfish Plates

5:00 p.m. - Classic Car/Hot Rod-Line Up, Sponsored by: Final Finish

5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. - Classic Car-Hot Rod-Parade Into the Park & Show

7:00 p.m. - Fishin’ For the Little Ones-- Chamber Trailer, Sponsored by: Cassia Lodge #272

8-Midnight -Don Thomason’s All Stars, Sponsored By: Butler County Farm Bureau

Monday, July 4

8:00 a.m. - Terrapin race sign up

8:00 am. - Terrapin Race-Ball Fields, Sponsored by: Cassia Lodge #272, Jones Funeral Home & Monument Company, Henderson Land Surveying, BC Shrine Club, Beech Tree News.

9:00 a.m. - Gates open
9:00 am- Old Fashion Games- Eva Hawes Building

9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. - BC Exhibit Fair Show “Best of the Best” Eva J. Hawes Building, City Park

9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. - Antique Tractor Show--City Park

11:00 a.m. - Catfish Cook Off - Ross Melton Pavilion, Sponsored by: Dr. Todd Cohron

12:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. - Cassia Lodge Catfish Plates--Cassia Lodge Booth

11:00 a.m. - Dog Show - Last pavilion on left, Sponsored by: PBI Bank, PETCO, Snodgrass Veterinary Medical Center CLICK HERE FOR ENTRY FORM 2016 Dog Show entry for website-1.pdf

2-5 p.m. - Mary Kutter - Sponsored by: Logan Telephone Cooperative, Weathers Auto, King Drug & Home Care

6:00 p.m. Closing Ceremony, Tagged Fish Awards,
 Drawing For Fishin For Little Ones, Sponsored by: WRECC, Drake’s Farm Service, Roger & Anita Gossett

7:30 p.m. - Wrestling - Eva J. Hawes Building, sponsored by: SERVPRO of Butler County

8-10 p.m. - John King & The Mud River Revival--Ross Melton Pavilion, Sponsored by: Mid-Park Inc., SST, PBI Bank

8 p.m. -12:00 a.m. Rose Band (Basketball Court), Sponsored by: Butler County Farm Bureau

 Twilight: Fireworks, Sponsored by: The City of Morgantown