Happy hunting at Uptown City Fair

Can you find a good bargain? Can you hunt down a deal? Can you sniff out clues and find unusual things in unusual places? Then you need to come to the Uptown City Fair Saturday.

Besides the deals you'll find at the sidewalk sales and craft booths, and the tasty treats at the food vendors, you can participate in a scavenger hunt that will prove just how good those sleuthing skills are.

"We're calling it a discovery scavenger hunt," said Calvin Cannon, chairman of the Main Street Shelbyville promotions committee. "It's a written list with questions about the uptown area. People will have to do some walking and searching for the answers. It'll be mainly things about buildings and places uptown."

Some of the answers will be found inside some of the stores, but Cannon warns the competitors not to count on the staff for shortcuts.

"They won't have any help from the storekeepers," Cannon said.

The list can be picked up at noon at the Main Street tent on the southeast corner of the courthouse lawn, and the hunt ends at 3:30 p.m. The winner will be drawn from the correctly completed lists.

"The prize is going to be a gift bag filled with mechandise from the uptown merchants," Cannon said.

There are other contests offered, as well, including the Pencil Sketch Challenge, Tyson's Chicken Eating Contest, Dog Show and Mutt on a Leash, and The Story of My Redneck Family Competition. Each will have a $25 prize for first place.

Entries have closed for the "You are so Shelbyville if ..." contest, but the winner will be announced and a booklet with all of the entries will be for sale.

"Several out-of-town vendors will be at the fair, including one from Cookeviile who makes handmade wooden flutes," said Cannon. "He will be playing and giving lessons all day. We'll have an incredible potter coming from Pulaski and we have a man who makes birdhouses and bird feeders out of gourds. There will also be handmade jewelry and purses."

The Capri Theater will be honored for being one of the oldest businesses in Bedford County and will show "Our Very Own" at 9 a.m. and 11:30 am., free to the public.

UPTOWN CITY FAIR

The City Fair will take place from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. rain or shine.

YASSI: The winner of the 'You are So Shelbyville If ..." contest will be announced. A booklet with the entries will be available for sale.

Pencil Sketch Challenge: Artists can pick up their assignments at the Main Street Booth at 10 a.m. Finished art is due by 3:30 for judging. Artists must supply their own paper and pencils.

Car & Bike Cruise-in: Cars and motorcycles will be parked along one side of the square. Judging starts at 1:45 p.m.

Chicken Eating Contest: Space is limited to 10 contestants and the chicken chomping begins at noon.

Dog Show and Mutt on a Leash: Two dogs shows begin at 2 p.m., one for the high-falutin' purebreds, and one for those of questionable ancestry.

Husband-calling Competition; 2:30 p.m. Yes, husbands are required to be present.

The Story of My Redneck Family Competition: 2:30 p.m. Bring out the one-liners and whoppers for this story-telling competition. Costumes and props are encouraged, and family-friendly language and subject matter is required.

District Scavenger Hunt: Pick up the list of questions at noon at the Main Street tent and turn it back in by 3:30 p.m. Winner receives a gift basket.