Good Egg Days

From the Stuart Sesquicentennial Book

The first Good Egg Days in Stuart was held in September 1962. The town motto, “1600 Good Egg Days and A Few Stinkers” was established back in 1951, but it was Thelma Maline that submitted the name “Good Egg Days” for the annual festivities. Good Egg Days 1962 was held September 10-11, a Monday and Tuesday. The initial two-day event included a BBQ dinner, parade, watermelon feed, carnival, bicycle rodeo, and a talent show. The Stuart Service Club sponsored the celebration and would continue the sponsorship to the present now operating as the Stuart Chamber. Chalmers Musselman followed the parade with his goat and a sign saying, “I am the stinker”. For that he was awarded $7.

The annual Good Egg Days remained in late August into early September for many years and continued the Monday and Tuesday dates until 1968 when it was first held on a Friday and Saturday. Dances and tractor pulls were additions to the entertainment.

Good Egg Days took a rest in 1970 for the Stuart Centennial and was not resumed until 1974! The event was a small size in 1974, and was held at the city park for the first time. 1976 saw Good Egg Days and the nation’s bicentennial celebrated together in September. The Stuart Lions and Stuart Jaycees sponsored some of the events. 1978 saw a Sunday-only event, but a car show and slow pitch softball tournament were included with varied stage entertainment at the park.

After a very modest 1978, Good Egg Days moved back downtown for a large three-day celebration including carnival and fireworks at the football field. 1980 was even larger with four days, and Duane and Floppy taking part and was held back at Lawbaugh Park. 1981 saw the return to a Saturday-Sunday event minus a carnival. The 5K fun run/walk was started in the early 1980s, and by 1985 Good Egg Days returned many activities to the downtown. Since then, most celebrations have been centered at Lawbaugh Park with a couple return trips back downtown.

Good Egg Days has been a constant in the lives of Stuart residents even as dates, location, and events have changed through the years. The watermelon feed was loved, but became a part of history when the annual festivities moved to Father’s Day weekend in June 1999 to align with the Alumni Banquet. Fire department water fights have sometimes taken place and were always popular. Some years a carnival was on hand, but not always, as carnivals became scarce and more costly. Summer Sweetheart came and went, but Little Stinker remains a popular competition. Father of the Year was added and is enjoyed. Tractor pulls, garden tractor pulls, and Myers pedal tractors have all played a role in the fun.

Food has varied, but a community meal after the parade remains popular. For years, the Methodist and Congregational Churches held an ice cream social. Vendors and vendor food options have been participants for years with many seeking bargains at the “flea market,” and fried egg sandwiches are worth remembering.

Entertainment has been varied, but continuous through the years. Bill Riley Talent contests or locally organized entertainers have always been well received by area residents who settled in lawn chairs for the fun. A community Sunday worship service was held many years.

Baby contests, inflatables, and many games for children are popular. Slow pitch softball tournaments were a big attraction for several years and are poised to make a return. Three-on-three basketball, bags tournaments, street dances, and soccer have all played roles in providing entertainment. Most years there has been a Grand Marshal or Citizen of the Year, or both, and the adult parade has been the iconic event through the decades. The elaborate floats are basically a part of the past, but citizens smile as they see the 50-year and 25-year classes pass by, local businesses and organizations taking part, and little children still delighting in grabbing a piece of candy tossed their way. May we all remain appreciative of the gathering of citizens and former residents in simple celebrations after this current period of distance.