BY ANDREA TORTORA
The Cincinnati Enquirer
BURLINGTON -- Children pounded nails into a board, 11 hungry people stuck their faces into pies and a handful of folks dressed in period garb strolled the streets.
Hundreds of others clad in T-shirts and shorts came to Burlington Saturday to eat, listen to music and get a little bit of history. This was The Big Party -- the final celebration of Boone County's 200th birthday.
"I think it's cool that the county's so old because I like Civil War history," Timothy Jester, 12, of Burlington said.
Wearing a tri-cornered black hat, James Jester, 46, tried to encourage residents to place items in the county's time capsule, located on the lawn outside the old county courthouse.
Decked in a red, white and blue bunting, the building served as the center of attention.
Out front, children and adults participated in all sorts of contests: Husband-calling, nail-hammering, pie-eating.
"The pie was good but I would have liked to have had some milk," said Greg Drance, 43, of Florence. He used his entire face to mop up the coconut custard while others were a little more dainty.
For those not wanting to get stuffed and dirty, there was a petting zoo, a dunking booth, games of chance and plenty of music. Bluegrass, rock, country and contemporary bands played on 10 stages.
Drawing a large crowd was Eve, playing at center stage right in front of the courthouse. As the four-member band played, children and adults danced in the street.
On the other side of the court house, residents flocked to booths selling bicentennial merchandise. There were books on Boone County history, hats, shirts, buttons, cookie cutters in the shape of Boone County and a local version of the famous Parker Brothers' game, Booneopoly.
"We've been pretty busy all day," volunteer Linda Kinney said from behind one counter. "Folks are having fun with all of this history."
