Jerry Jones is "blading the cane" and preparing for the Molasses Festival. he and Ordie Rogers grew this crop on Pink Road for the festival.

The 42nd annual West Virginia Molasses Festival will be held Thursday, Friday and Saturday at West Fork Park, Arnoldsburg.

Exhibits and country store items could be submitted until 7 p.m. on Wednesday, with judging to begin at 7:30 and completed by noon on Thursday.

Articles previously exhibited at the Molasses Festival may be shown again, but are not eligible for judging.

Molasses making demonstrations begin Thursday and will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day.

Also on Thursday is the crowning of the king and queen at 6 p.m. Candidates are students at Arnoldsburg Elemen­tary. Pretty baby contest is at 7 p.m.

Numerous vendors will be operating during the festival and a variety of concessions will be available.

One of Friday’s highlights is a sausage and pancake supper from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Cake walks, sponsored by Glenville Care and Rehab, begin at 5:30.

Gospel music at 7:30 p.m. includes David Bowen Family, Stockner Family and Friends, and Ron Shamblin.

On Saturday, cookoff contest entries will be accepted from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Trophies will be awarded for first, second, third and crowd favorite.

Calhoun Middle School Ath-letic Boosters will sponsor a rubber ducky race at 10 a.m. Tickets for $5 are available from members.

Chicken barbecue sales will begin at 11 a.m.

Festival parade will be at 1 p.m. Line-up begins at 11 a.m. at Arnoldsburg Elementary.

Karaoke will be held at 2 p.m., which is also the deadline for entries into the Idol Contest that will be held at 3 p.m.

Also at 3:00 will be kids’ games and a corn hole tournament. Age groups for a greased pig contest are 6-8, 9-12 and 13-16. Entry fee is $5. Fee for an obstacle course for ages five and under is $1.

Parade trophy presentations will be at 3:30 p.m. Quilt and final prize drawings will be at 6:30.

Country music, with Cross-fire, will begin at 7 p.m.

Proceeds from the festival, which is sponsored by West Fork Community Action, are used for maintaining and improving projects in the Arnoldsburg/Millstone area.