All county residents are invited to the county’s 200th birthday party this weekend.
The Jefferson County Bicentennial Exposition will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6, at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds, 10349 Business 21, in Hillsboro.
The free event is sponsored by the Bicentennial Committee and is the culmination of nearly a year of events and programs spotlighting the happenings in the county since it was formed in 1818.
Parking is free, too.
An opening ceremony will be held at 9:15 a.m., with Julia Terry performing the national anthem.
From 9-11 a.m., expogoers can grab a short stack at the pancake breakfast offered by the Hillsboro Rotary Club. Then, from 11:30 a.m. to closing time, fried chicken will be on sale by Jamm-In, and barbecue will be prepared and served by local Scout troops.
There will be several all-day exhibitions and activities:
■ A display of vintage equipment, like a 1919 steam engine and several antique tractors.
■ A Civil War encampment with living history and re-enactors.
■ A 4-H animal encounter.
■ Pony rides for children.
■ Craft and business vendors will be on hand.
A variety of other events will be held, including:
■ 9:30-11 a.m. – Better Class of Losers band performs.
■ 11 a.m. – Hillsboro Rockin’ Hawks performance.
■ 11:20 a.m. – Hillsboro Intermediate Treble Singers performance.
■ 11:40 a.m. – Hillsboro High School Swing Choir.
■ Noon – Cannon demonstration by re-enactors.
■ 12:30 p.m. – Williams Beard Co. Beard and Mustache Contest.
■ 1-3 p.m. – Jam Session by Frank Ray Sr. and Mel Besher. Musicians welcome.
■ 3-4 p.m. – Line dancing with Earline Abney.
■ 4-5 p.m. – Jefferson College Concert Band.
■ 5 p.m. – Closing ceremony.
Throughout the day, there will be special presentations in the Civic Center building:
■ 9:30 a.m. – History of Jefferson County, presented by Stephen Huss.
■ 10:30 a.m. – The Sullivan Ballou Letter, presented by Fletcher Camp 47.
■ 11 a.m. – Murder and Mayhem in Jefferson County, presented by Mindy Hudson.
■ 12:30 p.m. – The Jefferson County judicial system, presented by Jefferson County Div. 12 Associate Circuit Judge Tony Manansala.
■ 1 p.m. – History of Jefferson County, presented by Stephen Huss.
■ 2 p.m. – The Sullivan Ballou Letter, presented by Fletcher Camp 47.
■ 2:30 p.m. – Sam Hildebrand, presented by Kevin Culton.
■ 3 p.m. – Murder and Mayhem in Jefferson County, presented by Mindy Hudson.
For more information about the exposition or about the Bicentennial, visit the committee’s website at jeffcomo200.org or go to the Jefferson County Bicentennial Facebook page.