Pelican Festival Returns Sept. 29-30

The 23rd Annual Pelican Festival hosted by the Grand Lake Association will be held on September 29 & 30. This festival celebrates the return of the migratory American White Pelican as it stops on Grand Lake to feed and rest before it continues its journey from Canada to the coasts of Mexico for the winter.

The festival is designed to include something for the young and young-at-heart; from the varied activities of the Kids’ Zone to the Art and Craft Faire for the adults. Some of the craft and food vendors are returning from previous years as they so enjoy the Grand Lake community. And rather than the old-fashioned carnival rides, we’re doing something different this year for today’s kids--interactive games.

Outside the Grove Civic Center there will be a 24’ rock climbing wall, the Gravitron Space Simulator which will have them experiencing the sensation of weightlessness, an airborne adventure parachute, a bungee run where runners race side-by-side while harnessed to a bungee cord, the moon bounce, a 22 foot slide, 40 foot obstacle course and a jousting arena.

Also new this year will be on stage performances featuring Magician Chris Capstone. Capstone will be performing an old fashioned family vaudeville magic show. Festival goers can catch his show several times a day both Friday and Saturday when he is sure to captivate the crowd.

For the second year in a row, the Delaware County Sheriff’s Department will be setting up in the Kids Zone their all important program of Child Identification. They will be taking fingerprints and a current photo so parents will have an up-to-date visual identification record of their child. These records are invaluable in the event of a lost or missing child. Sheriff Jay Blackfox and his department want to help keep our kids safe and this is one way they work toward that goal. Department clowns will be present to entertain and hand out balloons.

And as a special outreach to our service men and woman, The Blue Star Mothers, Grand Lake Chapter 13 will be set up with paper and art supplies as well as pre-addressed boxes so attendees to the Festival can make a card or write a thank you which will be forwarded to these outstanding individuals far from home.

The Grove Civic Center on Main Street in Grove is the location for these activities and admission to the Faire and stage shows are free.

For bird watchers and wildlife lovers who want to see these awesome birds; during the festival the Grand Lake Audubon Society provides low cost pelican viewing tours or will provide you with a map showing locations where the birds have been spotted. The American White Pelican is one of the largest living birds. Adults weigh between 10 and 17 pounds with a wingspan of 8 to 9 ½ feet. And, again this year, Wildlife Photographer Robert C. Livesay will be presenting a digital slide show entitled “The Secret Life of Pelicans” several times on both days.

On Saturday at 10 a.m. the parade kicks off in Grove. The parade draws viewers who line up along Main & Third Streets to watch all the entrants pass by. This year the parade theme is the same as the mission statement for the Grand Lake Association, “to preserve, protect and promote Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees.” Monetary prizes are awarded for first, second and third place floats. Everyone is invited to participate in the parade and can base their float on any one of the three words, just call for an entry form.

The inside hours of the Pelican Festival are Friday, September 29 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday, the 30th 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; outside will remain open until 9 p.m. both days. For more information, you can contact the Grand Lake Association at 1-866-LUV-GRAND or visit us via our website http://www.grandlakefun.com/.

This 23rd Annual Pelican Festival is sponsored the members of the Grand Lake Association as well as the City of Grove, the Bank of Grove and Grand Bank.