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C'ville fired up about Jamboree |
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Thursday, 09 July 2009 |
 A youth rides a pony during the 2008 Cridersville Firemen’s Jamboree. Activities and games for children and adults as well as food and entertainment are offered during the weekend event. File photo By MATT NICHOLS
Staff Writer
Once a year for 44 years, people have made the pilgrimage to a stretch of pavement in the heart of Cridersville for entertainment and fun.
For 44 years, people have congregated in the village for games, rides and some of the best barbecue in the region, according to organizers. The 45th year promises to be no different.
The 45th annual Cridersville Firemen’s Jamboree kicks off Friday, celebrating the village’s fire department with a plethora of festivities over the course of two days.
Cridersville Fire Chief Ron Mertz said the event is slated to begin at approximately 5:30 p.m. Friday with the traditional rides, games, food and bingo, as well as a grand prize drawing.
Country singer Jim Boedicker will return again to entertain attendees during the evening, followed by the music group First Due. Mertz said the music begins at 7 p.m. and likely will not end until 11 p.m.
While the bands perform on the stage, the classic car show is to return for its fourth year on Friday evening. Approximately 80 cars participated in last year’s event, and Mertz said he expects even more for this year’s show.
“It just keeps growing every year,” Mertz said of the car show. “I mean, there’s 2 1/2 blocks filled with nothing but cars.”
The festivities kick off even earlier on Saturday. The famous Uncle Louie’s chicken barbecue dinners are to be served at noon up until the evening. The annual parade is slated to begin at 1 p.m., and like the car show, is expected to include more units than the 2008 edition.
Rides, food, and games will also continue on Friday, before Boedicker performs once again, followed by the Danger Brothers from 7 to 11 p.m. Mertz said the final grand prize drawing is to be made at 11:30 p.m.
Mertz indicated the event is held rain or shine. If Mother Nature deals a curve this weekend, Mertz said attendees can take shelter in the massive 120- by 60-foot entertainment tent.
“If it rains, everything gets moved under the tent,” Mertz said. “The games, food — everything get’s moved and we keep right on going.”
The fire chief said it gets progressively difficult finding new and different attractions each year, but the search always yields interesting results.
“We’ve done everything from bed races, lawn mower races, big wheel racing, even square dancing lawn mowers,” Mertz said. “We’re always looking at different things.”
Mertz said this year’s event will likely be on par with last year’s festivities, but things are already in the works for the 2010 event, where the fire chief is promising major changes.
“We’re going to pick it up a notch,” Mertz said. “We plan a year ahead, and entertainment wise, it’s going to be bigger. We’re planning things right now.”
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Last Updated ( Friday, 10 July 2009 )
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