Hop Into Spring at the Hopalong Cassidy Festival!

Cambridge will be welcoming the arrival of spring along with a few Hollywood guests May 2-3, 2003 at the 13th annual Hopalong Cassidy Festival. Started over a decade ago to honor Cambridge resident William Boyd who portrayed the cowboy star, the festival continues to entertain western fans of all ages.

CAMBRIDGE, OH, MARCH 11, 2003 -- Cambridge will be welcoming the arrival of spring along with a few Hollywood guests May 2-3, 2003 at the 13th annual Hopalong Cassidy Festival. Started over a decade ago to honor Cambridge resident William Boyd who portrayed the cowboy star, the festival continues to entertain western fans of all ages.

Special Hollywood guests at this years festival include Ben Cooper of Wagon Train," James Drury of The Virginian," John Locke of Gunsmoke," Dale Robertson of Wells Fargo" and Dallas," Roberta Shore of Lawman," Cheryl Rogers daughter of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, Katie West a Western celebrity artist, and our most honored guest Grace Bradley Boyd, Hopalong Cassidys wife. Along with these celebrities there will also be Western look-a-likes including Hopalong Cassidy, Lash Larue, Ben Johnson and John Wayne to name a few.

Join the western stars and look-a-likes Friday morning for the opening ceremony at Park Elementary School where Hoppy attended as a boy. After the ceremony stop by the Hopalong Cassidy Museum to learn more about this cowboy hero and discover the many artifacts relating to his career. Friday evening at 6:30 p.m. attend a buffet dinner with the stars at Theos Restaurant in Historic Downtown Cambridge followed by a star panel discussion. Cost of the Friday buffet dinner at Theos Restaurant is $15.00 per person.

Saddle up Saturday morning for the Western Parade starting at 10:00 a.m. in Historic Downtown Cambridge followed by a Cowboy Look-a-Like Contest, Little Buckaroos Contest, and Fast Draw/Guns exhibition on the Courthouse Square. After the festivities lasso a bargain at the Saturday Shop Hop at the many specialty and antique stores in Historic Downtown Cambridge.

The 13th Annual Western Collectors Show will also be held in conjunction with the festival at the Pritchard Laughlin Civic Center in Cambridge. Come see tables covered with Hoppy, Gene, Roy, Lone Ranger and all your favorite Western cowboy memorabilia. Western look-a-likes will provide entertainment along with Hoppy movies being played continuously in the auditorium. The Western celebrities will also be hand for autograph sessions. Show hours are Friday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is $7.00 per person for the entire weekend.

For more information on the 13th Annual Hopalong Cassidy Festival in Cambridge or to request a free copy of the Cambridge/Guernsey County Vacation Guide visit www.visitguernseycounty.com or call 1-800-933-5480.