FLAT TOP W.Va. (Hinton News) – The 2024 Annual Lilly Reunion will be held at Flat Top, on July 12, 13 and 14, 2024. The family dinner starts at 5 p.m. on Friday. Enjoy music, fellowship, food and more from 10-7 on Saturday and 10-4 on Sunday. And you don’t have to be a Lilly to attend. Everyone is welcome.
The first Lilly Reunion was held in 1929 and was held annually until 1949. It was then revived in 1978 and has been held each year since. The Lilly Reunion was in the 2009 Guinness Book of World Records as The World’s Largest Family Reunion!
Lilly cousins and friends are certainly invited. However, you don’t have to be a “Lilly” to enjoy the food, entertainment, and fellowship! If your family has lived in the area for a few generations, you probably have some Lilly heritage in your family tree. Come and see for yourself at the Genealogy Booth.
The family dinner (fried chicken/ham/beans and cornbread with fixin’s), on Friday, July 12 from 5–7 p.m. (only $10 for adults/$2.50 for children), will be followed by entertainment in the covered amphitheater featuring Darrell Ramsey with Arukah and the Lilly Amateur Hour Cuz’N Night. See Rick or Carlos Lilly if you want to perform.
Saturday, July 13, festivities will begin at 10:15 a.m. with opening remarks followed by a beautiful flag-raising ceremony to honor veterans at 10:30 a.m. There is time to visit the genealogy booth, and the souvenir booth and eat lunch at the Lilly Café before the live entertainment begins. Entertainers include Lilian Comer, Southern Draw Band, Mark Stuart, Alan Kinsler and Payton Alexis, Big City Band and Matt Withrow. During the afternoon, the Daughters and Sons of the Revolution will offer a special historical presentation.
On Sunday, July 14 following the opening remarks and flag ceremony at 10:15 a.m., there will be inspirational music from Bob Smallwood and Josh Wilson, Eternity’s Crossing, Laura Waterhouse, Kevin Spencer and Rick Lilly.
There is no charge to enter, or for parking, entertainment, and children’s playground. There is also a $100 registration prize.
The Lilly Café will offer a variety of reasonably priced food on Saturday and Sunday beginning with breakfast at 8 a.m. and continuing to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 4 p.m. on Sunday.
The Souvenir Booth will offer keepsakes to take home, t-shirts, Official Souvenir Program Books, and drinks and snacks. It is conveniently located next to the amphitheater.
All funds earned at the reunion are invested right back into paying for the ‘free’ entertainment and upkeep of the grounds. All of our Board of Directors and helpers are volunteers.
The Lilly Reunion is held at Lilly Reunion Park, 314 Ellison Ridge Road, Flat Top, WV 25841. Ellison Ridge is at the Raleigh and Mercer County line.
For more information, visit www.lillyreunion.org.
