Weatherman assures us the weather will be pleasant

Eufaula will celebrate the 152nd year of its founding with a full day of activities Saturday.

One of the many highlights of this year’s Heritage Day will be the coronation by the Eufaula Indian Journal of two of the town’s most prominent residents as Mr. and Ms. Heritage Day – Gary Moores and Alma Harper.

The honorees will be in the Heritage Day Parade, which begins at the high school at 1 p.m. A coronation ceremony will be held in their honor at 1:45 p.m. at the High Street Coffee.

Past Mr. and Ms. Heritages are welcome to join in Saturday’s celebration, including the parade.

The parade, arts and crafts, the coronation and an arts and crafts festival much more are in store for the community that was formed in the 19th century pioneer days of Indian Territory and today is a thriving, modern town that is experiencing explosive growth in the 21st century.

The Eufaula Indian Journal and the community have grown up together.

It is the oldest newspaper in Oklahoma, founded in 1876 – making this the 148th anniversary of the publication that has followed the evolution of the town almost from the start.

The beginning of Eufaula can be traced back to the 1830s when the Muscogee (Creek) Nation was forced out of its ancestral home in Alabama and settled in this part of Indian Territory after traveling the Trail of Tears.

A Eufaula community was established, similar to the Eufaula community in Alabama, but it moved several times through the years, eventually putting down its present roots about the time the M. K. & T. railroad established a depot in this area in 1872.

Heritage Day was formed to celebrate Eufaula’s rich heritage and honor citizens who have made an impact on the town.

The day begins at 7 a.m. with a community breakfast meet & greet at Sulphur Springs Baptist Church on Booker T. Washington.

The Eufaula Arts Council will host an Arts & Crafts festival downtown on Main Street from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

In addition to other activities, Dale Moser & Blackhorse will perform from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Tavern No. 9 downtown.

Many community groups and individuals have worked hard to make this year’s Heritage Day festival one for the history books.

Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Serina Kleveter highlighted the various groups that will be participating in this year’s event, including: Eufaula Historical Society, Eufaula Memorial Library, Eufaula Indian Journal, Eufaula Arts Council, Lake Eufaula Disc Golf Alliance, Oklahoma History Center, Lake Eufaula Association, Booker T. Washington Association, Vision Eufaula and the Eufaula Indian Community Center.