C of C Revs for Fall with OHV Rally Labor Day Weekend
With many summer activities waning, Labor Day Weekend not only marks the official end of summer but holds the prospect for fun and excellent entertainment as the Hinsdale Chamber of Commerce hosts the 2nd Annual OHV Rally and Festival Weekend on September 2-4.
Chamber Director Ami Frierson has organized a weekend full of activities to entice and celebrate OHV riders, as well as those who enjoy good food and music. Event registration begins at 9 a.m. Friday morning at the visitors’ center. Frierson states that event registration is optional but does come with benefits. The registration packet contains all the rules and regulations for the OHV riders in town. Additionally, discounts or special offers for the participants to event sponsors and area merchants are included in the registrant’s Goodie Bag. This is the first year for online pre-registration and Frierson reports the program is going well.
Thus far, the Lake City Chamber Director reports 38 Event Sponsors for the OHV event. Sponsorship is available at four various levels ranging from $50
for basic sponsorship increasing through several ‘precious metal’ levels to $500 for Gold Level sponsorship. Event sponsorship comes with a discounted rate if they offer a discount or special offer for the OHV registrant’s Goodie Bags. Frierson states, “Area business owners desiring last minute sponsorships are certainly welcome to sign up and have inclusion in the registration packet Goodie Bag; however, they cannot be included on the Tee shirt or advertising media which are already at the printers.”
Elsewhere in town, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Pioneer Jubilee Women’s Club is hosting what is billed as a “Second-Hand Rose Estate Sale.” The much-anticipated PJWC fund-raiser will be held at 1312 Silver Road at Nancy Zeller’s big green house on the corner of Forest Road and Highway 149. In addition to the many treasures being sold, there will be hotdog booth so shoppers needn’t worry they will expire from hunger while shopping. According to PJWC spokesperson Donna Waller, an individually wrapped, homemade cookie will be awarded with every sale.
New this year on the Rally schedule, according to Frierson, will be the Poker Run ongoing throughout the Rally weekend. At $5 per entry — multiple cards are allowed and encouraged — participants will follow the map to various sponsors in town and choose a playing card at each location. The best “poker hand” wins, with cash prizes paid for the second and third best hands as well. Poker Run hands must be turned in by 6:30 on Sunday evening with winners announced later that evening.
The OHV event really starts hopping in the evening. Friday evening from 6 to 9 p.m. talented local favorites Jeff Heaton and Brian Snow will be providing live entertainment in the Town Park. A cash bar with beer, wine and margaritas will be available. A nacho fundraising booth will be handy for snacks and folks are encouraged to bundle up, grab a blanket and bring chairs to enjoy the free concert under the stars.
If an alternative indoor option is needed, Lake City’s Mountaineer Theatre will offer the family friendly Disney feature “Pete’s Dragon” at 7:30 p.m. all weekend long.
The chamber has pulled out all the stops for the upcoming extravaganza. Beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday morning, event registration continues at the Town Park. Vendors appealing to OHV enthusiasts will be on hand in the Town Park including local Lake City Auto’s Polaris Dealer Jeff Guthmiller; TomCar Representative from Lake City OffRoad, a new local business started by Doug Willette ; Under Armour Dealers, and Stay the Trail and organization which focuses on education and resources for those who love the trail experience.
Saturday evening from 6-9 p.m. a Denver-based bluegrass trio called “Thunder and Rain” will continue the free live entertainment in the park. Beer brats and nachos will be available at the fundraising booth along with the cash bar providing beer, wine and margaritas.
Sunday, September 4, marks the final day of the OHV Event Rally and is packed with activities. A matinee performance of “Pete’s Dragon” will be shown at the Mountaineer Movie Theatre at 1:30 p.m. At 5:30 in the Town Park, a Community BBQ Brisket Dinner is being catered by Sportsman BBQ station. Dinner tickets will be sold for $15 a plate and include not only the bar-b-que, beans and coleslaw, but dessert as well. Frierson recommends purchasing dinner tickets well in advance as dinner is a first come, first served affair and last minute decisions may leave you hungry. There will be cash bar with beer, margaritas and wine at this event, as well.
At 6 o’clock, the Sunday evening, free concert begins featuring the oldies and classic rock band “Case in Point,” who played at this event last fall.
The band will take a break at 8 o’clock for the main event, as the long-awaited raffle drawing is made for the 2016 Polaris RZR, valued at over $10,000. The winning hands of the Poker Run will also be awarded their prizes during the evening.
The Chamber Director reports raffle ticket sales are right on track with last year’s ticket sales at the same time and she expects brisk, additional raffle sales all during the Rally Weekend for the chamber fundraiser.
Frierson says that volunteers are needed to help man the booths at the evening events and for afternoon set up. If interested in pitching in on this worthy event, call the Chamber at 944-2527 or email Ami your availability at chamber@lakecity.com.