The biggest birthday party in Franklin County history has beendelayed until next year to make sure that everything planned forthe event is prepared, an organizer said.

Franklin County Chancery Clerk Jill Gilbert said the FranklinCounty Bicentennial, a four-night celebration of 200 years ofcounty history that will travel from Roxie to Meadville to Bude,has been tentatively rescheduled for March 2010.

The event was planned for October of this year, she said.However, difficulties encountered by the bicentennial committee inplanning a pair of publications to coincide with the party are notgoing as planned.

Rather than hold an incomplete celebration, organizers havemoved it back.

“We’re doing a Franklin County history book and a cookbook ofarea churches,” Gilbert said. “We’re continuously sending photosand information in. We’re getting that all to press, and it’staking more time than we had.”

The county history book will be composed of family historiesstretching back to the beginning of the county, Gilbert said, whilethe cookbook is being compiled from recipes donated by areachurches. Bicentennial committee members particularly need moretime to search for a pair of rare gems they want included in thepublication – a pair of county cookbooks from 1920 and 1924.

Gilbert said Franklin County’s actual bicentennial date is Dec.21, but if all goes according to plan for March 2010, the birthdayparty should be one to remember.

The event will kick off on a Thursday night in Roxie with acelebration of rhythm and blues, and follow the railroad toMeadville for Friday night. In Meadville, several churches will behosting open houses, the Franklin County Museum will be open and atraveling exhibit from the Smithsonian Institution will be ondisplay.

On Saturday, the bicentennial party will move to Bude, whereofficials plan to restore the old railroad depot and celebrate thetown’s history.

The Bude celebration was planned to coincide with the town’sannual Great Day, which was moved from May to Oct. 3 to accommodatethe bicentennial, Gilbert said. The Great Day celebration – aone-day fair that features vendors, fireworks and a canoe race onthe Homochitto River – will go on in October regardless of thedelayed bicentennial celebration.

The 200-year birthday party will end Sunday on the footballfield at Franklin County High School with dinner and gospelsinging, Gilbert said.