Elks’ community picnic
scheduled for Thursday
PRESQUE ISLE — For the eighth consecutive year, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Lodge #1954 of Presque Isle will host a community picnic, entirely free to the general public, at Presque Isle’s Riverside Park.
Contributed photo/Presque Isle Elks Club
PICNIC PLANNED — The Presque Isle Elks’ annual July 4th community picnic at Riverside Park in Presque Isle draws the largest number of people into that park of any event throughout the year, as shown in this picture of last year’s picnic. This year’s event is set for Thursday from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., with Saturday serving as the rain date.
The event will be held Thursday, July 4 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. In the event of rain, the picnic will be held on Saturday, July 6, also beginning at 11 a.m.
Presque Isle Elks Exalted Ruler Vicki Delong announced the plans for the annual July 4 event. Elks Lodge members will serve grilled hot dogs and hamburgers to everyone. Soft drinks, a variety of potato chips, ice cream, cotton candy and shaved ice will also be provided.
During the picnic, there will be a variety of contests for children, with prizes for all participants, as well as bouncing houses for children under age 11. Boat rides up the Presque Isle Stream, an ever-popular activity for all ages, will again be offered.
The Elks’ dunking booth, filled with bone-chilling water, will be back at the Riverside Park, affording an opportunity for individuals to drop the celebrity of the moment into the chilly water of the dunk tank with an accurate throw of a softball.
The Presque Isle Fire Department will perform demonstrations of its equipment and individual firefighter skills. In the park gazebo, area musicians will be showing off their musical talents.
Riverside Drive will again be the site of the Elks’ annual car show. Registration for the car show is free. All participating car owners will receive a commemorative gift. Registration begins at 10 a.m. for the car show, which will run from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. The best vehicle in each class, including muscle cars, antique and classic cars, and cars of special interest will receive a trophy. A trophy will also be awarded on the basis of the people’s choice and to the best in the show.
“Every year the Presque Isle Elks look forward to hosting this community-wide event, which puts smiles on the faces of young children, parents, and grandparents,” Delong said. “Serving the hundreds of hotdogs and hamburgers and soft drinks in the beautiful setting of Presque Isle’s Riverside Park provides great satisfaction to members of the Presque Isle Elks Lodge, whose motto is, ‘Elks Care, Elks Share.’”
According to Delong, attendance at the Elks’ annual picnic has grown every year. The annual attendance now exceeds 1,000 people, with the largest number of attendees being elementary school age children and senior citizens, some of whom look forward to the event for months.
The Elks will provide transportation to Riverside Park, including transportation for wheel-chair bound, to individuals unable to otherwise get to the park. Arrangements for transportation can be made by calling the Presque Isle Elks at 764-0985.
