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Oldham County Picnic

Oldham Co. Arts Association
picnic to feature ’40s swing

Concert set for courthouse lawn

By Helen E. McKinney
Contributing Writer

LA GRANGE, Ky. (August 2002) – The Oldham County Courthouse lawn will be swinging to the spirited sounds of Benny Goodman, Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, and the like on Aug. 9 from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. during the Picnic and Free Concert.
The fourth annual event is sponsored by the Oldham County Arts Association and geared toward bringing people of the community together to enjoy dancing, music and providing a chance for winning great prizes.

La Grange Courthouse

La Grange Courthouse

“People are invited to come in 1940s apparel and dance to the swing sounds of Oldham County’s own, The Sizzle,” said event chairwoman Mary Broecker. “The Oldham County Arts Association is creating a nostalgic look and sound that harkens back to a slower and more peaceful time.”
The Sizzle is a six-piece band that plays a variety of music, specializing in jazz standards, said member John Manning.
This group of professional musicians has been together since the mid-1980s. Manning added that he has been involved in some aspect of the music scene since the late 1960s and is a member of the Musicians Union.
The Sizzle is noted for its Big Band Sound, having performed at “concerts, private parties and corporate events. Manning cited performances at past events, such as Derby Eve at the Kentucky Derby Museum, the Jeffersonville Main Street Concert and Theatre Square in Louisville.
A new quartet from Oldham County, The Generations, will take the stage before The Sizzle, said association president Sandra Graves. The Generations made their debut at this years Arts on the Green.
In addition, there will be several couples swing dancing, and all participants are invited to join in the dancing. This family and community oriented event will also provide a clown to entertain children, said Graves.
While the mood of the evening will take guests back to the 1940s, the picnic competition was patterned after a more recent event, said Broecker. She based her idea on “Heartstrings,” an event by the Louisville Orchestra.
Participants may enter in their choice of three categories, gearing their dress and food to a style reminiscent of the 1940s era. The picnic theme categories are as follows: for families (Bobbie Socks and Lollipops), for couples (I’ll Take Romance), and for general entries (Swingin’ 40s).
Last years winners in the “Made in Kentucky” picnic theme category were Sonny and Pat English. “It was lots of fun; and it was fun just getting ready. It is really an addition to Oldham County,” Pat English said.
The Englishs’ combined creative efforts with another local couple, Glenn and Katherine Yost, to produce an entry unique enough to win first place in the competition. English said their picnic consisted of country ham, an antique quilt, wildflowers, and a pitcher made in Kentucky at Louisville Stoneware.
Prizes will be given away totaling more than $800. The people and businesses of Oldham and Jefferson Counties have donated all of the prizes, said Broecker.
Baskets have been assembled for first, second and third place winners, including such items as theatre tickets, restaurant coupons and gifts from shops in Oldham County.
This year’s overall picnic and concert theme is a repeat of last year’s “Swing” theme because, “everyone had such an incredible time,” said Broecker. Past themes have been classical and brass bands.
“This event is a celebration of the end of summer,” Graves said. “It’s one of a series of things we (the OCAA) provide to the community, to bring the arts to the community and to bring the community together through the arts.”
In the event of rain, the event will be moved to La Grange Elementary School.

• For more information, contact Broecker at (502) 222-1731 or Graves at (502) 222-2429.

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