HUMBOLDT ? The highlight of Saturday?s annual Biblesta is an afternoon parade, but, as always, much goes into any event ahead of time.
Monday morning Larry Barnett spent a couple of hours, with the aid of Kenny Lumley and his metal detector, locating tie-down spikes for a large tent where beans will be cooked. The free bean feed has been a staple of Biblesta since it started in 1958. Serving starts at 5 p.m., Saturday.
Friday morning Barnett will pull the iron pots from storage and oversee the slicing and dicing of several bags of onions.
That afternoon women will congregate in churches to hand-sort the beans. By mid-morning Saturday aromatic wisps will be rising from the pots attended by volunteers.
?September 1 we go into Biblesta mode,? said City Administrator Cole Herder. That means discretionary chores are shelved as the town prepares for the big day.
A maintenance crew has been dressing up streets and public grounds. Even the tiniest of weeds are removed from cracks of sidewalks and street edges.
For sometime now, members of churches and organizations have been spending evenings and weekends building or refitting floats.
Chris Bauer, a Humboldt activist always ready to help, makes sure flags are in good order.
THE BIBLESTA parade floats tell the story of the Bible in chronological order as they wind through downtown.
Prior to the parade?s start at 1:30, Rizen, a gospel group, will sing followed by Humboldt?s Brenda Clark, a singer and instrumentalist. With the parade?s wrap-up, Lloyd Houk, Moran vocalist, will be on stage at 2:15. Then, Jerry and Friends will sing gospel tunes.
At 7 o?clock, Biblesta after Dark will start. The target audience is young people of all ages.
The get-together is the brainchild of Gary Larson, eastern Kansas Fellowship of Chritisan Athlete director and Humboldt High grad.
Joining him on stage will be Roy Moye and Heart of American Christ Worship Band, as well as Winston Wright, a former Tennessee Titans defensive back, who will encourage kids to follow the virtues of clean living.
