This year's theme of the 2016 Old Timers Festival in La Vergne is "Celebrating Our Hometown Heroes". This year's event will be on Saturday, September 17th, and begins with the parade starting at the La Vergne City Hall and continue to Veterans Memorial Park. The line-up is time is 9:00AM.
Grand Marshals
Vinny Pollizzotto, one of the oldest WWII veterans living in La Vergne, will serve as one of the grand marshals at the parade.
In 1943, Mr. Pollizzotto was about to finish high school in Brooklyn, New York when he and eight friends enlisted instead. He was assigned to the Army Air Corps (now known as the Air Force), and was sent to the Pacific where he worked with B-29 bombers.
Of the nine young men who enlisted, eight survived - one was killed at the Battle of the Bulge.
Sixty-two years later, Representative Peter King of Long Island sponsored a bill that would grant high school diplomas to the young men who answered the call to serve their country.
Mr. Pollizzotto says, "I am so proud of that diploma! I even hung it on my office wall."
Live Entertainment
Live entertainment, family activities, craft and food venders start at 11:30AM that morning. Bands featured this year are: Mike Oldham and The Tone Rangers, Zone Status, Animal Educationalist Bob Tarter, Wildfire, and Missy Garnett and the Two Dollar Pistols.
Carnival Wednesday - Saturday
Although the festival is Saturday only, the carnival rides and games are scheduled for four days at the Veterans Memorial Park, Wednesday through Sunday, September 14-17, 2016.
Last year, Old Timers Festival brought in over 5,000 people - we are expecting this year's festival to be even bigger! Please join us as we celebrate La Vergne's Hometown Heroes!
More Info:
Saturday Sept 17 - Old Timers Festival
Veterans Memorial Park 115 Floyd Mayfield Dr, La Vergne - opens at 10am
Parade starts at 10am at La Vergne City Hall and ends at Veterans Memorial Park
Carnival Dates and Times:
September 14-17
Open5pm-10pm Wednesday and Thursday, and Friday 5pm-12am
Saturday Carnival opens at noon and closes at midnight