Illinois Valley Lions Labor Day Festival draws near
From our weekly issue dated August 26, 2009
UPDATED:Contact information follows.
Steve Lyons is unusually busy these days.
A real estate agent at Century 21 Harris & Taylor, he’s also president of the Illinois Valley Lions Club, and as such, is amid preparations for the club’s 37th annual Labor Day Festival & Parade.
The schedule of events, with fun, food and a wide range of attractions, will take place weekend after next -- Saturday, Sept. 5 to Monday, Sept. 7 -- primarily based at Jubilee Park.
Each year since 1973, spectators have lined the portion of Redwood Hwy. running through Downtown Cave Junction for the parade. It traditionally is held on Labor Day, which is the last day of the three days of events.
This year will be no different, and Lyons said that he and his fellow Lions are working overtime to make it all happen. Preparations begin weeks prior to the festival and parade, with numerous arrangements and planning having to be accomplished.
Then, “We meet the Tuesday before Labor Day to set up the park,” he said. “We’re building a new announcer booth on a trailer.
“We’re getting applications for the parade. Booth people are calling. The Tuesday before Labor Day, we work every evening from 5 or 6 on.”
The festival and parade are the club’s way of thanking the community for its support. Money raised by the club goes toward the Lions Sight & Hearing Program for needy children, a hospital equipment loan program, and scholarships for area high school students.
Valley historian Harold Teague -- who once led pack trains from Crescent City, Calif., to Illinois Valley -- will serve as the parade grand marshal. The procession will begin Monday, Sept. 7 at 10 a.m. from Evergreen Elementary School.
The parade coordinator is O’Brien resident Harry Johnson, who was honored as the club’s 2008 Lion of the Year. The parade theme is “Celebrate 150 Years of Oregon History.”
Johnson said that plans for the parade are really picking up.
“I think I’ve gotten 30 applicants so far,” he said. “Last year, there were 75. The last three weeks, I get hammered with them. We’re right about on schedule. We’ve got new people coming in, and new floats. I’m very excited about it.”
Among the attractions will be live music, as Two Foot Daddy will perform Saturday evening the 5th, with Crossfire playing on Sunday. Both shows will run from 5 to 8 p.m.
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Breakfast will be served from 8 to 11 a.m. all three days in the park pavilion by Kerby Belt Masonic Lodge 18 AF&AM. And Glenn Morrison American Legion Post 70 & Auxiliary will host bingo games starting at noon every day.
The popular Tuff Trucks event over an obstacle course will take place Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. on the lot between Jubilee Park and Caves Hwy. A softball tournament will be held at the park field starting at 10 a.m. on all three days.
Also featured again this year will be a talent show. Competition will kick off at 1 p.m. on Saturday for the juniors and intermediate categories, and Sunday at 1 p.m. for adults. At 2 p.m. on Monday, an adult talent show winner revival will be held, featuring everyone who has earned the top prize in the competition since 2000.
There also will be plenty of events for children. They will include a great pole climb for cash and prizes, watermelon seed-spitting contest, and money in a haystack, among others.
Several vendor booths offering food, beverages and a range of merchandise and information will be present, along with a beer garden. The I.V. Lions Club will have its Lionburger booth sizzling.
Tickets at $100 still are available for a raffle to win a 2009 Harley Davidson motorcycle. The drawing, for which only 300 tickets have been printed, will take place at 6 p.m. on Monday, and the winner is not required to be present.
The Keller Award will be presented this year to brothers Gale Hatch and Vail Hatch for all the work they’ve done for the I.V. Lions Club.
Lyons said that organizing the festival and parade is a lot of work, but well worth the efforts. He also notes:
“The week before and two days after, we bust our butts to get it put up, and then put away.”
To get involved, contact: Tuff Truck Races - Jerry, 592-2603; Talent Show - Donna, 596-2719; Vendor Booths - Carl, 592-2692; Parade - Harry, 596-2104; Harley Raffle Tickets - Blake, 592-2252.
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