Sean C. Morgan
Sportsman’s Holiday plans are moving forward, although the annual Sweet Home event will not have a Sportsman’s Holiday Court.
Festival organizer Debbie Walvatne and the parade committee are addressing that issue by inviting all former princesses and queens to join together on a single float for the parade.
Walvatne is seeking a trailer to carry the float and volunteers to help decorate it.
They’ve got some ideas brewing to take it a step further if possible.
“We will not have a court this year,” Walvatne said. “Wendy (Smith) has retired, and no one has stepped up to fill her shoes. We’re not letting it die. We just don’t have a court.”
In the meantime, the parade committee has named the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 585 this year’s grand marshal.
The committee was discussing who would be grand marshal, said member Sue Olson, when another member, Don Gonzalez, thought of Ric Olson, her husband. Someone else suggested that maybe the whole group should receive the honor.
Gonzalez had based that on what he personally had seen VVA Chapter 585 accomplish over the past year. VVA members helped Gonzalez pour a new burnout pit for the upcoming Sweet Home Sweet Ride car show, a fund-raising event for the Kiwanis group and its programs, in addition to other recent accomplishments.
This year’s festival theme is “The Sights and Sounds of the ’20s.”
Without a coronation and Chips ‘n’ Splinters show, part of the annual court activities, Shirley Austin is leading a a group to produce “The Switcheroo Review,” a musical variety show featuring iconic performers – portrayed by a member of the opposite sex.
The Switcheroo Review begins at 7:30 p.m. on July 10 in the Sweet Home High School auditorium, 1641 Long St. Food will be available outside the auditorium before the show, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The event is part of a fund-raising effort by the Sweet Home Auditorium Remodel Committee, which is repairing and making improvements to the high school auditorium.
Work completed so far includes painting, repairs and new curtains. Remaining projects include new lighting, sound, additional curtain replacement and additional painting.
Admission is $10. Children under 12 get in for $5.
On Saturday, July 11, the parade begins at 11 a.m.
The Logger Olympics follow at 1 p.m. at the Sweet Home Events Center, 4001 Long St.
The Sweet Home Singing Christmas Tree arts and crafts fair runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in front of the high school.
The Sweet Home Volunteer Firefighters Association will provide a fireworks display over Foster Lake after the sun goes down.
For more information or to get involved, contact Walvatne at (541) 570-2218.