NEW STRAITSVILLE — The 53rd annual New Straitsville Moonshine Festival will be held Friday through Monday.
New Straitsville, located in Perry County on State Route 93, was known as the Moonshine Capital of the World during Prohibition. “New Straitsville Special,” as it was called, was shipped all over the world.
Today the heritage of the village is celebrated with the annual festival over Memorial Day weekend with a variety of fun and entertainment for the entire family.
The event opens at 5 p.m. on Friday with the Veterans’ Parade at 7 p.m. For evening entertainment Hayley Watson Keffer will perform following the parade. All royalty and baby contestants will be in the parade with signage on their transportation of choice.
Saturday is Kids Day filled with kids’ games beginning at 11 a.m. until 1:30 p.m., with a kiddie tractor pull sponsored by Logan Moose No. 873 to end the afternoon activities. The Royalty Contest will be held at 2 p.m. for Miss, Junior Miss, and Little Miss Moonshine. A Garden Tractor Pull will be held on Main Street at 6 p.m. with SCW Wrestling at 8 p.m. at the fire department to end the evening. Back by popular demand is the Men’s Best Lookin’ Leg Contest at 5 p.m.
Sunday will bring a variety of events including a cruise-in with registration at noon. The Baby Contest will take place at 12:30 p.m. At 2 p.m. Mr. Dennis and Twisted Sisters Ventriloquist Show will be on stage. At 3 p.m. will be local entertainment Blaine and Brynley Needham. Following at 5 p.m. will be Tonight’s Special Guest Band. An auction will be held for the popular business-decorated jug at 7:15 p.m. The evening will conclude with free entertainment featuring the Sensational Soul Brothers Show Band and Revue at 8 p.m.
Memorial Day, May 27 will begin with a memorial service in the Mount Calvary Catholic Cemetery at 11 a.m. At 2 p.m. the Pie and Cake Contest/Auction will begin. All entries (pies/cakes) for this contest must be turned in on Sunday evening by 9 p.m. The Grande Parade will begin at 3 p.m. to conclude the 2024 Moonshine Festival with the ever-popular Talent Contest with cash prizes in three age groups at 4 p.m.
During the event there will be Calliope Productions, LLC on the Midway, various food vendors including Moonshine Pie and Moonshine Burgers, crafts and commercial booths and more.
The local Masonic Temple will serve breakfast on Saturday and Sunday from 7-11 a.m. for donation. The local History Museum will be open along with tours of Robinson Cave (birthplace of the United Mine Workers of America).
The most popular attraction is the working still display in which the actual making of moonshine is demonstrated, along with some confiscated stills and history of the Moonshine Era.
Advance ride tickets are available at Ed’s Carryout for $15. One advance ride ticket is good for Friday or Monday from open-close, Saturday or Sunday noon to 5 p.m. or 6 p.m. to close.
For information, call (740) 605-0131.
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