Lakewood SummerFest
Havanna Solheim, daughter of Rachael Solheim of Lakewood got her choice of cakes from Lion member Fae Crabill after winning one of the Lakewood First Lions Club’s Cake Walks. Photo by Ed Kane, Freelance Graphics.
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Under an ever-changing weather system over 50 vendors promoted everything from traditional crafts and food treats to organizational good deeds and community needs to a fair-going audience that altered in size according to the weather and time of day. Vendors that provided fun things for the younger crowds seemed to do better than crafts and organizations, and food vendors all had considerable lines. Music from a widely varied venue kept the spirit lively and the attendees moving about the newly renovated fields.
While too early for numbers to get crunched it appears the festival had not matured enough yet to have captured the desired crowds, but the spirit and the vendor numbers were high. SummerFest again proved worth the effort and deserves continued support as the word spreads. There was a good representation from other communities as out-of-town friends joined locals in an afternoon of food and frolic.
As music filled the fields and Cheerleading teams tossed teammates high in the air politicians pressed flesh and community service organizations vied for a place in the minds and hearts of passing citizens. At the Lakewood First Lions Club Cake-Walk booth children and adults alike pranced and danced in a circle of numbered blocks to the beat of boom-box music and the clapping, high-stepping enthusiastic encouragement of Lions member Lakewood Police Chief Larry Saunders. At the end of the music all motion froze as participants stopped in their tracks and waited with excited anticipation for the winning block number to be called.
During the day both the Lakewood Historical Society and Lakewood First Lions Club had drawings for exotic vacations in luxurious condos in Hawaii and Mazatlan, Mexico. Both were won by Lakewood residents.
The event also included a car show that attracted about 50 vintage autos. Several baseball games on the adjoining fields added to the day's activities.
The playground and picnic tables were packed throughout the day and the "clown train" carried visitors around the widespread setting.
In addition to these activities, on the grounds of Western State Hospital, across the street from the park, the historic Fort Steilacoom facilities were open to the public and a ham radio club set up a day-long exercise.
All in all, Lakewood Parks and recreation Department's sponsored outing was a fun-filled, family-friendly day of activities culminating the day in the Comcast-sponsored showing of Charlotte's Web on a temporary outdoor screen.
Story and photos by Ed Kane, Freelance Graphics and Dave Sclair
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