The ending of summer; the beginning of school; and Antwerp Chamber of Commerce’s Day in the Park. Day in the Park has become known as the climax of summer; a time of relaxing and enjoying the splendor of the park atmosphere and neighbors’ crafting wares and food & games & fundraisers for the local school and churches… all just before the school year is set to begin taking kids and parents back into a more structured routine.
The morning gets a kickstart at the EMS building with a Pancake & Sausage breakfast from 7:00-11:00 a.m. The Parade will proceed through downtown and out to the Riverside Veterans Memorial Park at 10:00 a.m. Opening ceremonies commence at 11:00 a.m. with words from the Mayor, the singing of the National Anthem, recognition of the local peace keepers, fire fighters and EMS, and the ceremonial flag retirement by the boy scout troop #143 and VFW Post #5087.
The Gem of the Year, Pudge Kennedy, will be introduced to the attendees of the festivities at the park, and have a seat of honor placed by the entertainment pavilion. Parade float winners will also be announced at this time. Speaking of entertainment, each hour of the afternoon will be filled with a variety of enticing local acts. K&S Tumblefit will feature the limber young people around the area, Strong Tower Fitness will be showing demos of the array of classes Reta Ptak teaches. Aria Clem will astound viewers with her ventriloquism skills with Pops, Iris, and Rusty. The Antwerp Community Band never disappoints with their pomp and circumstance performance. Illusions brought by Jim Barron will draw the young and old with his unusual phantasmic display.
Mark’s Ark will be set up in the Park to observe … and even pet, some interesting and possibly unusual creatures. Throughout the park dotted amidst a myriad of food choices will be craft vendors of local artisans. When the kiddos are full of food and games, but the parents still want to peruse the wares in the park, besides the park’s jungle gym, there will be a kids area set up with two bounce houses, a duck pond, face painting, obstacle course, photo booth, bean bag toss, nail painting, and hair braiding.
Other things to make sure to check out at the Park on Saturday is voting for your favorite Cutie Pie, enter the 50/50 raffle and bid on your coveted Silent Auction item in the Business in Industry Tent.
Many things will be going on in the town of Antwerp on Saturday, August 11 – you don’t want to miss it!
