Rain clouds threatened most of Saturday but that didn't keep hundreds of people from enjoying all the events planned for Troy.

Opening Day for Troy City Recreation had the kids and their &uot;fans&uot; out early for a preview of 59-plus baseball and softball teams that will be in action during the coming weeks.

On the square in downtown Troy there was an &uot;opening day&uot; of another kind.

The first Troy Fest got under way at 9 a.m. and didn't come to a close until lightening brought the curtain down around 5:30 p.m.

Dawn Railey, Troy Fest committee chairman, said she was pleased with every aspect of Troy Fest.

&uot;We had a steady crowd all day long and that was very exciting,&uot; she said. &uot;The people who attended were happy and the exhibitors were happy. I couldn't be more pleased.&uot;

Railey said the positive response to having the Troy Fest on the square will probably ensure a new home for the festival.

&uot;I think this is the place,&uot; Railey said. &uot;There is a special festive atmosphere in the downtown area that blends well with an art show.

Some people said they had never been to downtown Troy before and, hopefully, they will be encouraged to come back and shop with our downtown

merchants.&uot;

Shelia Jackson, Troy public relations director, agreed that having Troy Fest downtown seemed to create an atmosphere of community.

&uot;There was a special spirit about Troy Fest,&uot; she said. &uot;Everyone seemed to be having a good time and the exhibitors were spaced so that they were able to enjoy the entertainment.

Troy Fest was a good opportunity for us to showcase our downtown area and introduce visitors to the different businesses on the square. It was a win-win event. I think we have found the perfect place for the festival.&uot;

And, the perfect place for a day of pickin' and grinnin' was at the Pioneer Museum of Alabama.

For the fifth year, the museum hosted Pioneer Music Day and, for the fifth year, the event was a great success.

People from near and far made their way to the museum to join in the pickin' that featured the music of America's heritage - country, bluegrass, Western and gospel.

The day was filled with pickin' and singin' and there was never a shortage of listeners who came to relax and enjoy the music and the warm spring weather.

The weather was not as kind to the 65-plus motorcyclists who rode in the Troy Poker Run.

&uot;We hit rain three times and dried out three times,&uot; said Dan Fraley, who also hit the jackpot with his poker hand.

Fraley took first place in the 95-mile Troy Poker Run with some low spades but all spades. His flush won him top honors and $100. D.J. Williams had the second best poker hand and took home $75. Greg Wright was third with $50.

The Troy Poker Run was sponsored by the Southern Cruisers and benefited the Big Brother Big Sisters of Pike County.

The Troy Poker Run raised more than $1,300 for the youth program.