2010 Lilac Festival Is A Big Hit

  • Maypole fun

    Maypole fun

There was a little suspense, but the 2010 Lilac Festival was all the more wonderful when the parade, Maypole, Children‘s Corner and vendors booths merged with the sunshine to make a perfect weekend—especially when the traditional pony rides for the wee ones and the miniature train rides around Pine Mountain Village suddenly reappeared. Many hope the helicopter rides over the valley are also back next year, but the praise was sincere and abundant for a terrific festival filled with entertainment and discovery.

Lia Sluyter enjoyed some of the new vendors “with great merchandise such as a vendor from Fresno who sold beautiful leather, making all this out of his garage. I bought a real nice leather backpack (been looking for one for years) for $75. We had a merchant from Arizona with beautiful art design pottery flowers, bowls and jars really very different (had not seen that before) and very reasonable, like $20. Some beautiful ironwork from a couple from Encino. His mother made pretty slippers and purses, crochet and knit, only $18. Saturday after the parade the merchants and restaurants were busy, Sunday was slow…. but I believe that most of the merchants did alright…do not forget we are in a big recession. Clarice did a good job and of course Rosetta made it all complete having the ponies and train. The train did ride thought the village. It was a great show. Brenda did ask me, ‘Lia why do you want the trains and pony rides?’ I said it is a tradition, and grandparents love to take the grandchildren there, and of course so do the parents.

Valerie Phay, president of the Pine Mountain Village Merchants Association (PMVMA) said the group had “a ball” coordinating the parade. “I am really looking forward to next year and have talked to visitors and invited them to participate next year,” Phay enthused on Monday morning.

Here are the parade judges’ awards:

Float: 1) FMHS Robotics Team; 2) Mil Potrero Mutual Water Company; 3) Nora’s Nick Nack Nook

Animal Entry: 1) Shadow Riders; 2) Pine Mountain Posse; 3) Village Yarn’s Baxter

Vehicle Entry: 1) Orange Crush; 2) Queens’ Car; 3) Road Dogs

Children’s Entry: 1) Pine Mountain Learning Center; 2) La Sierra Mexican Restaurant ***; 3) Girl Scouts***

Walkers’ Entry: 1) Mountain Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi ***; 2) Bloomer Girls***; 3) Catherine’s Clothing & Fresh Flowers***

Musical Entry: 1) Play an Accordian Go to Jail; 2) FMHS Drumline ***; 3) Mountain Community Christian School

Best Decorated / Presentation: 1) Sue’s Tavern***; 2) Scrappers Guild; 3) Frenchie’s Boutique

Founders Trophy: Center of the World Festival.

[Note: The winners with *** haven’t picked up their trophies. Please call Valerie at 242-4242 to arrange getting trophies.]

This is part of the May 21, 2010 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

Have an opinion on this matter? We'd like to hear from you.