Those who say there is nothing to do in and around Pike County just don’t know what there is to do in and around the county.

Area weekend events on Saturday and Sunday offer a variety of outings, from cow milking to a hometown parade and a donor appreciation reception.

The weekend fun will kick off tonight in Clio with an evening “Sing” at the Clio Fairgrounds.

“If you don’t know where the fairgrounds are just look for the signs as soon as you get into town,” said Kenneth Williams, a member of the sponsoring Clio Historical and Preservation Society. “If you’re coming in on Highway 10 from Brundidge and you get to the traffic light, you’ve gone too far.”

The “Sing” will be from 6 until 10 p.m. and will feature the Benton Brothers and several other local gospel groups. Admission is free and everyone who enjoys gospel and old-time church music is invited.

“Clio is turning 125 years old this year and to celebrate our Quasquicentennial, we’ll have a parade at 9 o’clock Saturday morning and an arts and crafts fair that will go on until 5 o’clock,” Williams said. “We’ll have food booths and novelties and it will be a fun day and everybody is invited.”

On Saturday, the Burning Bush Cowboy Church in Troy will host its first Ranch Rodeo at Cattleman’s Arena. There will be two performances, at 2 and 7 p.m. Admission is free.

“Alvie Walker, pastor of Burning Bush Cowboy Church, said a Ranch Rodeo features events that are based on activities or chores that cowboys would perform on a working ranch.

“The Ranch Rodeo is a fun rodeo with cow milking and cow sorting by teams of four,” Walker said. “The Ranch Rodeo is great family entertainment. We’ll have activities especially for the kids and free mule and wagon rides. And, between the Ranch Rodeos, Kevin Adair, who is a great country music singer, will be on stage.”

The Banks Volunteer Fire Department will fire up the grills so there will be plenty to eat and lots of fun to have.

From 2 until 4 p.m. Sunday, the Johnson Center for the Arts will host a reception in honor of those who have made recent donations in support of the arts center.

Honored at the reception will be the Mack Gibson family, the Manley and Mary Johnson Foundation, Caleb Dawson, Steve, Jim and Harold Campbell and their families, Tom and Frankie Brantley and Regions Bank.

Vicki Pritchett, Johnson Center executive director, said the arts center has been the recipient of so many good things that the center staff wanted to publicly recognize those who have made recent donations to the Johnson Center.

“This is also an opportunity for the community to thank these patrons of the arts for all they do to help enhance the quality of life for our citizens,” Pritchett said. “We hope those who attend the reception will also take time to view the exhibits on display in both the upper and lower level galleries.”

The Clio Quasquicentennial Celebration, the Burning Bush Cowboy Church Ranch Rodeo and the Johnson Center Donor Reception are all free and open to the public.