SOUTH BEND - It's time once again to "Come and Play" - starting Friday in South Bend and continuing through Labor Day - it's the 59th Annual "Come and Play On Labor Day" celebration hosted by the "Oyster Capital of the World"!
All new this year is a laser show at dusk instead of fireworks. The laser show will be provided by Slick Lasers and conducted at Milam Field. The laser show will be completely run by Slick Lasers. The cost was $8,000, which is the same as last year's fireworks.
"It will be special,"South Bend Mayor Julie Struck told the Herald. "It will be set to music and will last twice as long as the fireworks show did.
"The chief reason (for switching from fireworks) was because of the fire danger across the river," Struck said. "The sewer retention ponds are no longer there and the area is now a grassy field. Last year, we didn't receive clearance from the fire chief to hold the fireworks show until two days prior to the event. We just couldn't continue to pay for fireworks with the chance we wouldn't receive the okay to hold the show.
"The environmental equation was not the driver for making the switch," Struck added. "It was mainly because of the fire danger that the switch was made." Laser shows are a great alternative and have proven to be extremely popular in other areas."
Mythical Sea Creatures
This year's theme is Mythical Sea Creatures.
"The Labor Day Committee sponsored a theme/graphic contest that was open to any student in the tri-district area." Struck said. "The contest winner was Alexis Frank (RHS 2022 graduate). Her design is featured on our t-shirts, brochures and advertising. Alexis created the theme "Mythical Sea Creatures" and created the graphic to accompany it."
The festival is very kid-friendly. "There are numerous options for kids to enjoy the festival free of charge," Struck said. "Beginning with the color run, races and kids parade on Saturday morning, Jeff Evans (magician), pole walk and bounce houses in the afternoon and ending with a kids movie, "The Bad Guy", on Saturday evening. Sunday the grand parade is always a free event that kids enjoy and this year there will be a free concert and laser show on Sunday evening. Free entertainment for the whole family all weekend long."
Parade Sunday, 1:00 P.M.
The Grand Parade is always the best one to attend in the county.
"I won't know until the day of the parade exactly how many participants there will be," Struck said. "The last week prior to the parade most of the applications were received. Judging from how many I currently have on hand, it is looking to be similar to the last few years, approximately 50 entries."
The grand marshal for the parade is photographer-extraordinaire Larry Bale of Raymond.
"Larry Bale was chosen as this year's grand marshal," Struck informed. "Larry has graciously taken photos at student sporting events throughout the tri-district area and given them out freely over social media. He has given countless hours of his time to the community and we appreciate all he has done to memorialize student activities."
Each year the festival has a variety of food and craft vendors on hand that will be open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. "I won't know how many vendors there will be until a couple of days prior to the event," Struck said. "Many signed up in the last week."
There will also be live entertainment provided by Chester Club and Oyster Friday (Rob Johnson Karaoke and Saturday at 8:00 p.m. (Norm Olsen), and Sunday at 3:00 p.m.
Here's a brief rundown of some of the awesome events taking place:
The highly competitive Salmon Derby is Saturday and Sunday from daylight to 6:00 p.m. The cost is $10 per day. You can still get tickets at Dennis Company through Thursday and at the South Bend Ron Craig Boat Launch on derby days from 5:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Talented and well-known magician Jeff Evans will perform at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Mary Rogers Pioneer Park.
The Color Run Race is Saturday (8:00 a.m.) at Koplitz Field House with check-in at 7:00 a.m.
Kid's Races (12 and under) start at 10 am at Milam Field.
There's a Kid's Parade on Saturday at noon starting at Koplitz Field House and ending at First and Monroe streets. The theme is "Dive In Dream Big".
The Blair Warnstadt Pole Walk is 1:00 p.m. Saturday at Robert Bush Drive.
The Wood on the Willapa Softball Tournament is a daily event located at Cheney Park. The Pitchwood Beer Garden is daily at Cheney Park.
The Don Wiesel Memorial Texas Hold 'em Poker Tourney is Friday (7:00 p.m.) at the Community Center Chamber Building.
The Scavenger Hunt winds up Saturday with prizes awarded.
Check out the Free Kid's Movie, "The Bad Guy" Saturday (6:00 p.m.) at the community center.
Hold Card Truth is scheduled to perform at 8 pm Saturday (8:00 p.m.) at Chester Club.
The Water Ball competition squirts off at 3:00 p.m. Saturday at the fire hall. The battle is a spirited contest between the local fire departments.
For a chance to get some great reading material, visit The Friends of the Library Book Sale on Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Penoyar Law Office.
The Duck Race is noon Monday. Buy your lucky duck for 5 bucks and don't forget to purchase a Labor Day Button.
Committee Members
Mayor Struck and Debra Bostwick are the co-chairs of the Labor Day Committee. Listed are the committee members and the event they are in charge of: Aimee Betrozoff, Pole Walk; Bostwick, Salmon Derby; Brian Morley, softball tournament; Alyssa Olsen, Kids Parade; Lisa Olsen, oyster van; Jenny Penoyar, Scavenger Hunt, magician; Sue Scott, Salmon Derby, advertising; Sarah Sheary, softball tournament; Zoe Sowa, Color Run, advertising; Lucas Stigall, Water Ball Competition, security, Grand Parade Traffic Control; and Susie Webber: Texas Hold'em.
It's never too late to volunteer. "Labor Day can always use volunteers," Struck said. "Workers are especially needed to fill shifts for the oyster van this year." If interested in helping out, please contact Mayor Struck at julie.struck@southbend-wa.gov.
In closing Mayor Struck said, "The Labor Day Committee would like to thank all of our sponsors for the 2022 celebration. Labor Day would not be possible without their assistance."
This year's "Come and Play on Labor Day" sponsorships include:
Platinum Sponsors: Chen's Motel and Restaurant, Coastline Roofing & Construction, Inc., Pacific Seafood, Scott Harmer, Attorney at Law, and Weyerhaeuser.
Gold Sponsors: Bud's Lumber & Electric, Valley View Health Center, South Bend Pharmacy, and Fibre Federal Credit Union.
Silver Sponsors: Security State Bank, Pioneer Grocery Inc., South Bend Kiwanis Club, Seaquest Motel, Pacific County Title, and Seiler Home Group.
Bronze Sponsors: Dilk Tire, Willapa Brewing Co., Riverview Chiropractic Clinic, Pitchwood Inn & Alehouse, Bank of the Pacific, Davis Insurance & Real Estate Agency Inc., and The Shop.
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