Dickson Old Timers Day returns this month, honors Clement family

Chris Gadd, Nashville Tennessean
·2 min read
Attorney Ewing J. Harris, 91, who still practicing at his Bolivar, Tenn., law firm, rides in the 34th annual Dickson Old Timers' Parade as honorary grand marshal May 2, 1992. Harris returns to his hometown Dickson, Tenn., annually for this celebration of seniors reminiscing about the good ole days with lifelong friends.
Attorney Ewing J. Harris, 91, who still practicing at his Bolivar, Tenn., law firm, rides in the 34th annual Dickson Old Timers' Parade as honorary grand marshal May 2, 1992. Harris returns to his hometown Dickson, Tenn., annually for this celebration of seniors reminiscing about the good ole days with lifelong friends.
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Dickson County’s biggest annual event, Old Timers Day, is returning in September in a move to capitalize on pleasant fall weather, organizers said.

The Clement family will be honored this year for the festival, which is Sept. 22-24.

Old Timers Day has traditionally been the first weekend in May for more than 60 years. However, Old Timers Day was moved last year to September due to COVID after being canceled in 2020.

The festival will again feature multiple music stages, vendors, events, kid activities and the popular parade.

“We would love for everybody to come out. We have lots of events. I think they will really enjoy it,” said Old Timers Day Committee Chairman Horace Perkins.

The festival has expanded into a three-day event in Downtown Dickson in recent years.

The main “Old Timers” day is Saturday though folks can get warmed up starting Thursday night with the regularly-sold out Farm to Table Dinner on South Main Street with locally-grown and cooked food. Friday is the Community Foundation of Dickson County Golf Tournament during the day and the car cruise-in at night.

Before the parade gets going Saturday morning at 10 a.m., the Civitan Club will – as they have for decades – serve up hundreds of pancakes at First United Methodist Church starting 6 a.m.

Frank Clement, center, with his wife Lucille, and their sons, thanks the cheering crowd at the Legislative Plaza Aug. 2, 1962, after winning the Democratic nomination to run for a third term as governor of Tennessee.
Frank Clement, center, with his wife Lucille, and their sons, thanks the cheering crowd at the Legislative Plaza Aug. 2, 1962, after winning the Democratic nomination to run for a third term as governor of Tennessee.

The Clement family, which have a long history in Dickson County that includes former three-term governor Frank G. Clement, will be celebrated. Clement’s sons, former Congressman Bob Clement and state Appeals Court Judge Frank Clement Jr. and their families, are expected to be in attendance and be grand marshals of the Old Timers Day Parade.

Perkins said the Clements are being honored this year partially as a late celebration of what would have been the former governor’s 100th birthday last year. Frank G. Clement died in 1969.

Old Timers Day in Downtown Dickson on Saturday, Sept. 25.
Old Timers Day in Downtown Dickson on Saturday, Sept. 25.

One new event will include an emergency vehicle “touch a truck” as well as the return of Miss Senior Dickson County.

The live music stage will have a new location this year, Perkins said, moving to a spot further south on South Main Street, next to Little Bite of Everything.

The main stage band lineup includes: Cypress Band at 11 a.m.; Barney Wells at 12:10 p.m.; Andy Mead at 1:20 p.m.; The Keepers at 2:30 p.m.; and Groove Crooze at 4 p.m.

The gospel stage will again be located on the permanent stage behind the War Memorial Building.

Some of the gospel stage performers include: Lydia Walker, a singer-songwriter and worship leader from Middle Tennessee; and Pam Weston, a Knoxville performer.

Dickson County Old Timers Day

When: Thursday, Sept. 22 through Saturday, Sept. 24

Where: Downtown Dickson

Information: For more information, go online to theoldtimersdayfestival.com.

Old Timers Day in Downtown Dickson on Saturday, Sept. 25.
Old Timers Day in Downtown Dickson on Saturday, Sept. 25.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Dickson Old Timers Day returns this month, honors Clement family