Grand Junction will be bustling with activities and entertainment this Saturday during Lincoln Highway Day.
A special task of Lincoln Highway Day organizers this year is to raise funds for repair of the city pool. The pool is closed this summer, pending completion of an estimated $130,000 in needed repairs. About $30,000 is in the fund now, and Lincoln Highway Day organizers hope the fund will be much larger by the end of the day Saturday.
Outdoor events include a 3-on-3 basketball tournament at 3 pm at the tennis court. Teams should contact Mark Renslow at 515-370-2372 to register.
The Lincoln Highway Day parade will step off at 5 pm, with line-up starting at 4:30 at the bus barn. The route will be north on 14th St to Main Street, and then west and ending at 11th St. Groups, businesses and individuals interested in being part of the parade should contact Pierre Kellogg at 515-370-7123 or Derek Kennedy at Peoples Trust & Savings Bank at 515-738-2312.
Runners and walkers are invited to 5K Glow Run/Walk leaving from the community center at 9 pm. The course does two laps and ends at the community center for food and beverages. Participants can register at www.racesonline.com
Many of the events will be held in the new Grand Junction Community on Main St. The air-conditioned community center, with its spacious gathering room, its large and well-equipped kitchen and its smaller conference room is ideally suited for a community event like Lincoln Highway Day.
A silent auction is already in progress at the Grand Junction office of Peoples Bank with 40 items on display there. The auction will be moved and ready for more bids starting Saturday at 11 am at the community center. Bidding will close at 8 pm.
Also with an 11 start time at the community center is two-crust pie baking contest. There will be divisions for adults and children, with a $25 cash prize in each division.
A vendor fair and a bake sale will be held at the community center from 11 am to 2 pm.
The conference room will be the scene for bingo at 2 and 8 pm.
In between bingo, the Greene County Singers, which includes many residents of East Greene County, will sing at 3:30, and at 4:30 pm the Off the Track Players will present the one-act comedy “Frumpled Fairy Tale” by Bill Springer, published by Eldridge Publishing Company. An encore performance is slated for 7:15 pm.
Lunch and supper will be served at the community center. The Grand Junction park and recreation board will serve a beefburger lunch from 11:30 am to 1 pm, and the Greene County Pork Producers will serve grilled pork burgers with the extras from 5:30 to 7 pm. Free will donations will be accepted at both meals for the pool fund.
For those who like to finish a meal with something sweet, Grand Junction Methodist Church members will sponsor an ice cream social from 5:30 to 7 pm, also at the community center. Entries in the morning’s pie contest will be part of the fare.
Interviews for the first-ever Little Miss & Mr Lincoln Highway Day contest will be held at the community center following the parade. The contest is open to children ages 3-7. Registration forms are available at city hall during business hours, by calling 738-2585, or online at grandjunctionia.org.
The Grand Junction public library is hosting street games near the library from 1 to 2 pm, a puppet show presented by Jesters at the library at 2 pm, and kids games at the library at 3 pm.
To cap off the day, Ferg’s will host Klassic Karaoke and DJ at 9 pm, with all cover charges going to the pool fund.
All are invited for a day of small town fun Saturday, July 23, in Grand Junction.
