June 16, 2006

Approximately 1,322 paying customers and 400 to 500 visitors celebrated the 100th anniversary of the discovery of diamonds in Pike County. The two-day event that began on this date was in honor of John Huddleston, who discovered diamonds on his 160-acre farm in 1906. An annual celebration has been held on the third Saturday of June since 1984 at the Crater of Diamonds State Park near Murfreesboro (Pike County). The festival includes activities and prizes for people of all ages, and all offer free admission except for the diamond search area. Celebrity diamonds are sometimes displayed by their owners.