Tailgate party set to fire up football fever
Are you ready for some football? Pioneer football season is beginning soon, and what better way to show your school spirit than with a tailgate party? That’s why Main Street McMinnville and a supporting group of merchants have come together to plan and sponsor a Warren County Pioneers Tailgate Party to get the ball rolling for the 2007 football season.
Scott Moore, of Moore’s Office Supply, says the event is designed to give local residents a chance to demonstrate their support for the Pioneers, and enjoy a fun-filled celebration downtown at the same time.
‘What we have planned is a pep rally sponsored by Main Street McMinnville on Aug. 17, which is the Friday night before the first home football game on Aug. 24,’ Moore said. ‘A lot of merchants downtown will be involved with this along with some corporate sponsors.’
The various Booster clubs will be selling food as a fund-raiser for the sports and music programs at WCHS. Several other vendors will also be on hand.
A section of Main Street, between North Chancery and Spring Street and around the court square, will be blocked off for the tailgaters to set up their vehicles. The event will feature contests with prizes awarded to the family, business or individual with the best school spirit and school colors displays. This will include a ‘People’s Choice’ competition and a competition for best presentation of food by tailgaters. Prizes will include gift certificates donated by downtown merchants.
Those wishing to participate in the tailgate party and competitions will need to pre-register with WCHS cheerleaders, who will be marketing the spots as a fund-raiser, by contacting Tammy Smartt at 668-4891 or 212-4785 . The money raised will go to help fund a trip to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade for varsity cheerleaders Kirstin King, Kristin Luna, Jac Smartt and Samantha Hughes. There are currently 52 spaces available, so register soon to reserve your spot.
‘Tailgating setup is from 5-5:45 p.m., and no vehicles will be moving on the square after 5:45 p.m.,’ Moore said. ‘The tailgate party and competition will be going on from around 6-7 p.m. Of course, the tailgate party will go on into the night,’ Moore added. ‘Then around 7-7:30 p.m. the WCHS band, Pioneerettes, cheerleaders, and the WCHS football team will be congregating on the east side of Main Street, where they will start what we’re calling a ‘Victory March’ through the tailgaters up to the town square.’
A 30-45 minute pep rally will follow with all the marchers participating, during which the 2007 WCHS football team will be introduced. Moore estimates the festivities will last until around 9-9:30 p.m. at the latest.
The event will also feature live entertainment, and the Pioneer Youth Football League will be presenting a variety of games, many with a football theme, as a fund-raiser.
According to Moore, there should be a ready-made crowd, since the groups involved with the event will include the WCHS football team, the Pioneerettes, WCHS cheerleaders, the WCHS band, Warren County Middle School football team and cheerleaders, as well as the Pioneer Youth Football League.
‘With all those groups involved there should be around 600-800 kids,’ Moore said. ‘And each of those kids will probably have two or three family members with them, so there’s a possibility of having around 2,000 to 2,500 people up here.
‘Now that would be amazing,’ Moore added, ‘to have a pep rally with 2,500 people on the square downtown.’
New York Grill and Capalano’s will maintain their regular business hours during the event, Moore said.
Sponsors for the event include Ben Lomand Communications, Newsradio 1230 WAKI and the Southern Standard, your source for local news.
The event will go on rain or shine, Moore says, and will be free and open to the public. For more information on the event, contact the Main Street McMinnville office at 506-5335.