EAST LIVERPOOL Pottery festival to kick off with queen's crowning

The beard-and-mustache contest will be back this year.
EAST LIVERPOOL -- Climb into a humvee, toss a doorknob, hold a snake, or make yourself sick eating hamburgers. These activities and more are available at the 35th annual Tri-State Pottery Festival, which runs Thursday through Saturday. .
The crowning of the queen and opening ceremonies will be at 10 a.m. Thursday on the steps of the Museum of Ceramics. Events will conclude with a fireworks display at 10 p.m. Saturday.
Carnival rides, free live music, a hamburger eat-off, a rose show, a motorcycle show, 5K run, baby contest, children's pet show, talent contest, photo salon and the world's only Pottery Olympics are all part of the festival. The beard-and-mustache contest will return this year.
The humvee is part of an Army Reserve exhibit all day Thursday and Friday.
Parade's grand marshal
Retired Navy Capt. Tom Bennett has been chosen as grand marshal for the parade Friday evening.
Hundreds of bikes are expected to cruise into town Saturday evening for the Bike Night Show at the Oasis Cafe on Broadway, from 6-10 p.m. Prizes will be awarded in various categories, including oldest bike, best show bike and farthest traveled.
Contestants are being scheduled for the talent contest at 5th and Broadway on Friday. People interested in participating can sign in at 9:30 a.m. the morning of the contest. Each contestant will have 10 minutes to sing, dance, lip sync, juggle, play an instrument or display another talent. Cash prizes will be awarded to first through third place in each category: 12 and under, 13-18, and 19 and older.
Entries will be accepted at the East Liverpool Area Chamber of Commerce until noon Thursday for the annual baby contest. The contest will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday in the Memorial Auditorium at Fourth and Walnut streets.
Festival headquarters, open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, will be in the Masonic Temple. There, visitors may view pottery manufacturer exhibits, buy festival souvenirs, register for free door prizes and obtain festival information.
Questions about the festival may be directed to the Chamber of Commerce at (330) 385-0845 or festival publicity chairman Fred Miller, (330) 386-2006.