MORAN A night spent around a campfire brings to mind the warmth of friends and families, creating and sharing memories.
Moran Days organizers hope to capture that spirit this weekend, when the annual event returns with a full slate of activities.
Most events take place Saturday, with a few activities on Friday and Sunday. A rummage sale at the Moran Methodist Church is offered Friday and Saturday. A Community Picnic in the Park takes place at 6 p.m. Sunday, sponsored by Hope Chapel Assembly of God.
SATURDAYS activities kick off early, with registration for a 5K Run/Walk at 6:30 a.m. The event starts at 7:15 a.m.
Hope Chapel Assembly of God is sponsoring a free shoe giveaway from 8 to 9 a.m. for students from kindergarten to 12th grade, and from 9 to 9:30 a.m. for adults, at the brick building by Troxel Park. There is a limit of one pair per person.
Photo contest entries are due at 9:30 a.m., at the Moran Senior Center; entries are limited to one entry per category: Hometown pride, nature, landscape and sporting event. Results will be announced after the parade.
A Chariot Race takes place at 10:30 a.m. on Main Street. Onlookers will be thrilled by the creative competition between homemade chariots (i.e., wagons) just before the parade.
THE PARADE, with its Around the Campfire theme, kicks off at 11 a.m. when Kaysha Elmenhorst sings the National Anthem. Grand marshals for the parade are Lloyd and Nancy Houk. The parade route heads south from Marmaton Valley High School, then east to Main Street past Marmaton Village and west past the park.
Afternoon activities include a variety of games, a corn hole tournament, a free bean feed and a pony pull.
Contest winners, merchant drawings and grand prize drawings will be announced at 2:30 p.m. Entries for those contests need to be made in the morning. Food trucks and craft vendors also will be on hand.
EVENTS continue into the evening, with Music in Mildred at the Mildred Store or a free movie night on the tennis courts at the park. The Little Rascals will be shown.
