By Sherri Blevins
The first week of June is an exciting time in the City of Stevenson because it is the week of Depot Days. Each year the City throws a celebration to honor Stevenson’s history and great community spirit. This year will be no exception. Weeks of planning and preparation for the event have taken place, and now it is time to prepare to attend.
The activities begin on Saturday, June 3, with an all-day community yard sale along Main Street. Fishing enthusiasts may participate in the Depot Days Fishing Tournament at the Snodgrass Bridge beginning at the first safe light and lasting until 1:00 pm.
On Tuesday, June 6, the Mountain Lakes Chamber of Commerce and the City of Stevenson will host the Chamber Breakfast at 7:30 am at the Old Choo Choo Restaurant. Gospel Night will be at 6:00 pm on June 7 at the Mack Morris Amphitheater. Local churches sponsor the event and provide a free dinner of hot dogs, chips, and drinks.
Meet at the Mack Morris Amphitheater on Thursday night, June 8, for bingo and music. Bingo begins at 6:00 pm, and Todd Herendeen will provide live entertainment at 7:00 pm.
Friday is packed full of fun, beginning with a Pioneer Breakfast at Phillips Place at 6:00 am. The Depot Days Golf Tournament will be played at Dogwood Hills, with registration starting at 11:00 am and the tournament at noon. The cost is $60 per player or $240 for a team of four. The evening ends with an Ice Cream Social and more in Steele Park at 6:00 pm.
The week of fun ends on Saturday, June 10, with an Open Car & Truck Show at 9:00 am in Stevenson City Park. The entry fee is $20, with 25 awards up for grabs. Registration is from 9:00 am until noon, when judging begins. Awards will be presented at 1:30 pm. At 10:30 am, the Depot Days Parade will begin at the Stevenson Middle School, with Grand Marshall Mitzi Guess leading the way to Main Street. All day Saturday, food, vendors, and live music will abound down Main Street, with the following vendors are registered to participate: Stevenson Nutrition & Sno Cones, MainStreet Clothing Co., The Shop on Main, The Bridge Boutique,
T Sweet Treats, River Edge Gallery, The Grove Grotto & Spa, Scents with Big Mama, Neon Moon Snack Co., Garners Fine $5 Jewelry, Too Blesses Vinyl Express, Kim’s Tumblers & Shirts, Krafty Queenz, Bug’s Bae, Laurel Berry Artisanal Soaps, Scarecrow’s Haberdashery,
Medicine Woman Designs, Crow Creek Trading Company, Unks BBQ, Lemon Shakers, C & S Designs, Kona Ice, MadiScents, Gator on a Stick, Mexican Street Corn (Ashley Roach), BBQ ( David Hutchins), Rice Jewelry (Weihong Hatton), Back 40 BBQ, BBQ (Evon Butcher), Hamburgers & Hotdogs (Wanita Hutchins), Arts & Crafts ( Thelma Hutchins), Crow Cutlery,
McCrary Cabinet Shop, Face Painting with Sophie Clark, Food Truck (Anthony McDonald),
Chicken on a Stick (James Patterson), Hair Coloring by Lexi Stubblefield, K’s Hair Tinsel,
Blushing Apple Boutique, Wild Magnolia Tresses & Co., KettleKorn Arts, and CopterS.
The night ends with a Street Dance featuring Wrong 2 Wright from 8:00 pm until midnight on downtown Main Street. Don’t miss out on the excitement.
June 10 is also a day water lovers may enjoy. The City is hosting a free kayak event and a cardboard boat regatta. The 2023 Depot Days Kayak Races offers participants a chance to win trophies and prizes for finishing in first, second, and third places. The races will leave from the boat ramp at Russell Pike by the Iron Bridge and end at the Stevenson Park Boat Ramp. Racers will be timed to determine the winners. Racers may either park and leave their vehicle at the ramp or have someone drop them off with their Kayak and pick them up at the park. Each racer
must have their own Kayak and paddle, and a life vest MUST be in the Kayak. Registration begins at 9:00 am at the ramp, and racers will begin leaving at 10:00 am. The rules will be announced at registration, and awards will be given out on the flatbed stage on Main Street after the races.
The Depot Days Cardboard Boat Regatta will be at the Stevenson City Pool, with competitors racing back and forth across the pool with the goals of not sinking and finishing first. For complete details and boat requirements, visit the 2023 Stevenson Depot Days Facebook page.
Enjoy Stevenson Depot Days 2023!
