 Next week on Friday, June 28, the public will have a great
opportunity to support the local fireworks and at the same time
enjoy a terrific meal. The park district will once again have their
annual drive-thru chicken dinner in the parking lot of the American
Legion on Fifth Street.The $7.50 meal includes fried chicken,
potato salad, baked beans and a dinner roll, and being prepared by
the Sons of the American Legion is guaranteed to be tasty.
Roy Logan said the group turns out a terrific meal for the
fundraiser and the park district really appreciates their help.
Marcia Greenslate added that in addition to helping finance the
fireworks, the park district does give a donation to the Sons of
American Legion, though it is not as significant as she would like
for it to be.
Right now, just a little over a week away from the event,
Greenslate said she is concerned about the number of advance tickets
that have been purchased. The numbers just aren't where they should
be for a week before the dinner.
Greenslate said she tries to estimate each year how many meals
will be needed because the last thing they want to do is have to
turn away hungry supporters, but a big part of her figuring out how
many meals will be needed is advance ticket sales.
She said with the numbers down on advance tickets this year,
figuring out the food is going to be a real challenge.
However, there is a solution to the problem. Logan and Greenslate
are hoping that over the next week folks will take out a few minutes
from their day and come out to the park district or stop in at the
Legion and go ahead and buy their tickets.
Greenslate said that if people will do that, it will be a great
help to her and the cooks at the Legion as it nears the time to
purchase and prepare food for the event.
If anyone is interested in getting their tickets early, it isn't
that hard to do. Tickets are available at the Rec Center on Primm
Road in Lincoln or at the lounge of the Legion. The cost of the
meal, at only $7.50, is the same price it has been for the last
several years.
The drive-thru service is very convenient for customers as it is
a "come as you are, you don't even have to get out of the car"
event. Customers drive up to the food tent, hand a volunteer their
tickets, their dinners are dished up on the spot, and they can drive
away.
Logan commented that this has always been a successful fundraiser
because of the convenience, and they are hopeful that this year will
be no exception.
The serving time is from 4:30 to 7 p.m. on June 28, which is the
perfect time for busy folks just getting off work to grab a bite and
take it home for a really nice sit-down meal with their family.
When it comes to the holiday celebration, the Fourth of July will
begin as it has for the past several years with a children's walking
parade. Calling it a children's parade is a little deceptive because
anyone of any age is welcome to join in, and so are animals.
Each year children dress up their bikes or themselves in
patriotic colors, animal parents find great-looking costumes for
their four-legged babies, and some grown-ups show up in colorful
patriotic hats or outfits.
The parade then proceeds from Decatur Street on the south side of
Scully Park, down South McLean to Wyatt and from Wyatt to the Rec
Center on Primm Road.
Once they arrive, they are invited to enjoy a treat and a cold
drink. Then comes the part the kids are anxious for, the awarding of
prizes for best costumes. The kids are recognized for their efforts
in decorating themselves or their bikes. They are judged by age
group, so several youngsters walk away as winners.
In addition, prizes are given to the pets, usually all dogs,
which have the best costumes.
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Afterward comes the fun and games with the Lincoln Fire
Department. The department brings out one of their big trucks, and
the kids are given water-filled balloons. Generally, at some point
during the fight, spectators will get to see Mayor Keith Snyder and
even police Chief Ken Greenslate get in on the fun as water flies
everywhere, and grown-ups and kids alike get a good soaking.
After that, there is time to relax, go home and get dried off
maybe, take the decorations off the dogs and bikes, and then spend
the rest of the day being lazy if you like.
However, as the afternoon draws toward evening, folks will want
to make their way back to the park district for the annual
fireworks.
According to Marcia Greenslate and Roy Logan of the park
district, there are hopes that there will be a couple of activities
for folks to enjoy before the fireworks.
Greenslate said that last year the district hosted a bags
tournament in the late afternoon, and they are working to try and
get that activity back again this year.
The district will also provide DJ Kevin Curry for the evening
hours, and Lincoln Land Catering will be on hand with walking tacos,
corn dogs, shake-ups and a lot more. Greenslate commented that their
food selections were great and that folks could even plan on coming
out to the park district for their supper.
For those who have never been to the park district for fireworks,
it is an event worth going to if for nothing else than good
old-fashioned socializing. You'll see friends and neighbors.
Families come out early, bring lawn chairs, spread blankets in
the grass and gather as a group to enjoy an evening together. Kids
play with their Frisbees or light sparklers and enjoy a time in the
wide-open spaces of the district's back golf course. Hundreds turn
out each year, and folks always run into someone they know and
perhaps haven't seen since the last Fourth of July.
In addition, just a short distance away, Immanuel Lutheran Church
at 1409 Pulaski has events going on that are open to the public, and
they welcome everyone to join them and stay until after the
fireworks, which can be easily seen from the church lawn.
When dusk approaches, the American Legion color guard will kick
off the fireworks with their presentation of colors. Then the
fireworks will begin.
Greenslate said the show this year will last about 30 minutes and
is going to be great.
She also mentioned that the park district really appreciates
having a local fireworks provider to work with. She said that for
the last several years S & N Display Fireworks have provided the
Lincoln show, and they have been great to work with. She noted that
they have been very good about holding their prices down so that the
park district could literally offer a big bang for their buck.
However, she said, they are a business and they have to charge the
district according to what their show is worth, and this year the
price has gone up just a little.
The fireworks this year will cost just under $10,000.
___
Friday, June 28, 4:30-7 p.m.
Drive-thru chicken dinner at the
American Legion
Cost: $7.50 per meal
Early tickets are available at the Rec Center on Primm Road or at
the lounge of the Legion in Lincoln
[By NILA SMITH] |
