INCOMMONS BANK PRESIDENT Kevin Moller hopes to hold on to the "Sprit of Freestone" traveling trophy his bank won at the 2008 Freestone County Fair parade. Pictured with Moller are parade organizers, l-r, Michelle Bottoms, Vanessa Smith and Lisa Schick. The 2009 Freestone County Fair parade set for Monday, June 15, as the kickoff for the fair has drawn 90 early entries.

Parade chairman Vanessa Smith, who is coordinating the event with daughters Michelle Bottoms and Lisa Schick, reports that there were 125 entries last year and expects to easily reach that number again.

Theme for the event is "Country Paradise."

Up for grabs as top prize is the "Spirit of Freestone Award," a traveling trophy currently held by Incommons Bank.

Prizes of $50 each will be given to entries denoting the best theme interpretation, most creative, most entertaining and most beautiful.

The parade each year contains a little bit of everything, floats, antique vehicles, marching bands, firetrucks, Miss Freestone County and Miss Teen Freestone County pageant contestants, bicycles, motorcycles and horses.

Running through downtown Fairfield, the parade is slated for a 7 p.m. start.

Entries must be lined up in assigned spaces by 6 p.m. for judging.

Participants in the Best Dressed Cowboy and Best Dressed Cowgirl, open for ages eight and under, will be judged at 6 p.m. in the parking lot of First United Methodist Church. Cowgirl and Cowgirl participants must be able to sit a horse by themselves.

For safety reasons, candy and other objects cannot be thrown along the parade route from moving vehicles. Walkers, however, may throw candy.

Parade entry forms are available at all banks in Freestone county and at Hometown Pharmacy and Texas 99 Radio station, both in Fairfield.