By Mark Bailey

The excitement of the annual Lilac Festival in Pine Mountain Village is drawing near. It is hard to believe that this year’s event marks a quarter century of Lilac Festival fun.

A little research reveals that Lilac Festival was the brainchild of a lady named Judy Watkins, owner of Pine Cone Parlor—now the popular Curious Bear Café in the Pine Mountain Village Center.

During a particularly bleak and barren March day twenty-five years ago, Judy was cheering friends Patti Rowe and Barry Burgelin with tales about a "welcome the spring" festival in Washington state. The three daydreamed about creating such an event locally to shake off the winter doldrums. The rest is history.

The three decided to kickstart a busy spring and summer season on the mountain with what started off way back in 1982 as a miniscule occasion (back then only about a quarter of the buildings in the Pine Mountain Commercial Center existed). That little brainchild has now grown into a "must attend" annual event for thousands of residents and off-mountain visitors alike. Much credit must be given to Barry’s wife, Rosetta Burgelin, who has overseen and nurtured about 20 of the past festivals.

This year’s 2007 Lilac Festival will be one of the best ever. We’ve brought the skydivers back!

The daredevil skydivers always set the tone for an exciting weekend. After the skydivers land safely, our Lilac Festival Parade kicks off, following the singing of our national anthem. I asked one of my favorite vocalists, Pine Mountain’s Sandy Browne to perform this worthy yet potentially terrifying public feat. Once I was able to revive Sandy with smelling salts, she graciously accepted the invitation, albeit apprehensively. Sandy routinely provides hospitality and housing to our troops returning from arduous overseas duties. Furthermore, Sandy was crowned "PMC Idol" at the end of a local year-long singing competition in 2005.

This year’s artisan fair will be one of the best yet. Favorite vendors are returning, as well as many new and exciting crafters who have learned of the Lilac Festival’s growing reputation. There will be fun for all ages. We’ll have helicopter rides, pony rides, train rides, a large children’s play area, street performers, musicians, the amazing biannual quilt show, a golf tournament and scrumptious food.

We are proud to announce that Kern County Supervisor Ray Watson is this year’s Lilac Festival Grand Marshall. Providing the "fancy cars" for our parade guests will be this year’s proud sponsor, Motor City of Bakersfield.

Save May 19 and 20 on your calendar for loads of family fun. The Lilac Festival Parade on Saturday begins right after the skydivers land at 11:00 a.m. Vendors open their booths both Saturday and Sunday at 9:00 a.m. Parking and admission are free.

For vendor information, please call Julie Potwin at 242-2645. For parade information, please call Brenda Gordon at 242-9000. All other Lilac Festival questions can be directed to Mark Bailey at 242-8810. See you there!

Saturday, May 19 and Sunday, May 20

Pine Mountain Village Center

Saturday, May 19

Live Music All Day by Duchicela

9:00 a.m.
Arts, Crafts and Food Booths Open

10:00 a.m.
KUZZ Remote Broadcast

10:00 a.m.
Quilt Show Begins

11:00 a.m.
Skydivers’ Scheduled Landings

11:00 a.m.
National Anthem by "PMC Idol Sandy Browne"

11:05 a.m.
Parade Along Mil Potrero Hwy & Pine Valley Lane

12:30 p.m.
Opening Ceremonies & Parade Awards

12:30 p.m.
Helicopter Rides

1:00 p.m.
Lilac Festival Golf Tournament

1:00 p.m. Frazier Mountain
Mountain Music Medley
Frazier Mountain High School Drumline
El Tejon Badger Choir
El Tejon Surf Band

2:00 p.m.
Recording Artist Vicki Thomas performs

2:30 p.m.
Mountain Bear Cheerleaders

2:35 p.m.
Mountain Shakespeare Festival – Stage Combat

3:00 p.m.
"Yesteryear" Band Performs

Sunday, May 20

Live Music All Day by Duchicela

9:00 a.m.
Arts, Crafts and Food Booths Open

10:00 a.m.
KNZR Remote Broadcast with Ralph Bailey and The Dodger Pitching Machine

11:00 a.m.
Helicopter Rides

2:00 p.m.
"Yesteryear" Band Performs

At 6:00 p.m. Free Speech Zone Theater presents The Trial of the Catonsville Nine readers theater dramatization and audience participation in the Pine Mountain Clubhouse Condor Room. All are invited.

This is part of the May 18, 2007 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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