CELINA-The Clay County Museum of History board last week thanked the public, volunteers, vendors and everyone involved for a successful museum festival on August 3. 

Museum director Beverly Hollifield said the annual event helped the museum toward reaching it’s annual fundraising goal, and provided an opportunity for the public to visit historical sites downtown and be entertained by various events centered around the courthouse square. 

“Thanks to an overwhelming effort by all involved, we had another successful festival,” Hollifield said. “We always want to promote the museum and our abundant local history, and it takes money for us to do that. The festival goes a long way toward helping us meet our annual fundraising goal. 

“We also want to provide entertainment and other activities to give our residents a chance to get together and enjoy themselves and see each other,” Hollifield said. 

“We want to thank everyone who played a part in this huge effort, especially our volunteers and organizers. We couldn’t keep doing what we do without our museum board and other volunteers who graciously give of their time to keep the museum going. There’s so much work involved,” she said. “We also want to thank our vendors, participants and others who played a big part in another successful festival.”

Hollifield said events featured during the festival included: the Duck Race, the “best car show ever” by Johnny Brown, arts & crafts, Rolley Hole Marble Tournament, food, bounce houses, a cake walk with Winton Young giving away “wonderful prizes and delicious goodies from the community,” live music by CrossFire band and karaoke by James Regan. These events were held around the square, at the former Celina High School, the fairgrounds and other places. 

Hollifield said work is nearing completion on the museum addition and renovation, along with the restoration of the adjacent Cordell Hull Law Office.

“This has been an incredibly busy spring and summer at the museum, and we’re looking forward to showing off the new things at the museum and law office in the very near future,” she said. “We know you’ll like what you see, and we hope you’ll come see all the changes and improvements that have taken place.”