Old Settlers Reunion Dancing in 2021

PROTECTED CONTENT

If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.

Username

Password

Login

Lost your password?

Username and Password Help

Please enter your email and we will send your username and password to you.

Email

Submit

← Back

By Martha Jane East

The 133rd Old Settlers Reunion took place July 22, 23 and 24 accompanied by hot, humid weather. The temperature registered 96 degrees at 2 p.m. Saturday and felt like 108 according to the Weather Channel.

“Come Dance with Me at 133” was the theme for the 2021 reunion. Kindergarten and up youth got a head start with a Sock Hop on Wednesday night, July 21, at Kessler Park.

An Ice Cream Social, sponsored by the North Shelby Band Boosters, was the first activity on the Thursday night schedule. The members served homemade ice cream and cake to raise funds to support the music program. The North Shelby High School Band performed a concert on Main Street directed by Michelle Ratley.

Thad Requet and Jon Blaine, both Shelby County natives, sang and played guitars prior to the Old Settlers Queen contest. Requet also invited two of his young guitar students to perform on stage with him.

The CTA Teen Center sponsored a pie supper Friday night with a wide variety of homemade pies to choose from.

Since the baby show was cancelled last year because of the pandemic, it was decided to add an extra class to accommodate those babies that had missed out. Friday night there were the usual 0-6 months, 7-12 months and 13-18 months categories plus one for 19 months to two years. This is the only year the older group will be offered.

The program went from babies to little folks. Michele Trenhaile visited with 24 three to five-year-old children about their families, pets and interests. Some youngsters sang one of their favorite songs for the audience.

Prizes were offered for two age groups to compete in a talent show.

The Fifty-Fifty Band played for the street dance to end the evening.

Saturday was a bright, hot, sunny day. Vendors lined the street under the canopy and occupied some space in the courtyard that morning.

Lawrence Healy, a Vietnam veteran, was the Grand Marshal for the parade which included the color guard, floats, antique vehicles, the North Shelby High School Band, Shriners, business enterprises and emergency vehicles. The floats that were judged to best depict the “dance” theme received prize money. Shelbyville Inn III Bar and Grill received $100 for first place, coming in second for a $75 prize was Shelby County 911 and the Sheriff’s Department. The first and second place floats had jukeboxes with recorded music. The third-place prize of $50 went to the Winn family.

Immediately following the parade, a section of the street was setup for the Power Wheels Derby. This event drew 21 participants eager to be the last contender. Continuing into the afternoon were games for all ages, sponsored by the Shelbyville Moonshiners. Participation and enthusiasm for the games was high in spite of the heat.

The 2021 Saturday night program featured Mentalist Lance Nicolai and a street dance with music by Disengaged, playing rock and rockin’ country from the 70s, 80s and 90s. Janet White, Emden, was the winner of the trunk loaded with prizes from the GFWC Woman’s Club of Shelbyville. Debbie Gibbons was the Cow Chip Bingo winner.

Kenny’s Funland Carnival provided rides and games for the midway on the north and east sides of the courthouse square during the three-day Old Settlers Reunion.