In 13 renditions of the annual Colony Day celebration, organizers have found that a number of activities and games — volleyball, anyone? — have gained a popular foothold in the community.
“One of our biggest keys is that kids get to do the games for free,” said Marla Bain, who chairs the Colony Day committee.
“We’ll always welcome new events, but if we find something people like, we’ll keep doing it,” she noted.
Saturday’s event should provide entertainment for festival-goers of all ages, Bain said, a point hard to argue given the results: 2009’s Colony Day — with much the same activities — brought in the festival’s largest crowd ever.
Bain is optimistic that attendance will be strong this time around as well, particularly with Saturday’s forecast for pristine weather conditions.
“I think we’ve found a little something for everybody,” Bain said.
With that in mind, organizers turned to the classic movie “Forrest Gump” for this year’s theme, “Colony Life is Like a Box of Chocolates” — that is, most folks aren’t sure what treasures they are going to find.
THE EVENTS kick off bright and early Saturday with a Lion’s Club breakfast at 7 o’clock, followed by a 7:30 fun walk.
The fun walkers will stroll around town while answering an assortment of trivia questions about Colony’s past, present and future.
Classic automobiles of all shapes and sizes — usually around 50 — will arrive at midmorning for a daylong display.
A pedal pull and quilt show start at 9, followed by kids games, races and a Kansas Old-time Fiddlers, Pickers and Singers concert at 9:30.
Culinary arts take center stage at 10 o’clock, with a chili and salsa contest followed by a pie baking contest.
Weldon and Wilma Goodell will serve as grand marshals for a parade at 11.
The volleyball tournament starts at 11:30. The number of teams won’t be known until that morning, Bain said. “We’ll probably get new teams that show up the day of the tournament,” she said. “The more the merrier.”
Inflatable attractions — admission is free of charge — open at noon, at the same time a pony pull commences.
ALSO AT noon is a pie and basket auction, one of the Colony Day committee’s largest fundraisers of the year.
Local merchants and residents have donated items to fill at least 15 gift baskets, Bain said.
“And like the volleyball tournament, we won’t know what we have until that morning, because people will still be bringing things in,” Bain said.
“But the main thing we need for the auction is bidders. We appreciate all the baskets that are donated but we greatly appreciate people coming and bidding on each basket.
Proceeds will fund the 2011 Colony Day celebration.
On top of the auctions is a round of drawings for dozens of prizes, such as a two-day, one-night stay at Great Wolf Lodge in Kansas City and a handmade quilt. T-shirts, visors, hats and an Indian Creek Township history book will be sold, and several vendors will have booths set up to show off their wares.
THE AFTERNOON features a cake walk at 1 p.m., ice cream social at 2 and awards for the car show at 2:30. The car judged best of show will receive $200, with other plaques in the offering.
The Starfire drill team will show off its dancing skills at 3:30.
Garnett State Savings Bank’s Colony Branch will sponsor an evening meal at 5, with music provided by the Christian Church praise and worship group.
A talent show wraps up the day’s activities at 6.
