Community relishes Elks’ July Fourth picnic
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
PATRIOTIC PINWHEEL — Four-year-old Duke Waskovich, left, and his 2-year-old brother, Wyatt, of Presque Isle, put their huffing and puffing abilities to the test to turn a pinwheel at last week’s July Fourth Community Celebration at Riverside Park that was hosted by the Presque Isle Elks Lodge 1954.
By Scott Mitchell Johnson
PRESQUE ISLE — Intermittent showers didn’t keep community members from attending the Presque Isle Elks Lodge 1954’s July Fourth Community Celebration at Riverside Park.
MORE THAN 2,000 PEOPLE attended the Presque Isle Elks Lodge 1954’s July Fourth Community Celebration at Riverside Park. 
Lodge members and volunteers served grilled hot dogs, hamburgers, soft drinks, potato chips, ice cream and more to the public, all free of charge. In addition to the free picnic, the seventh annual event included boat rides on the Presque Isle Stream, two bounce houses, a car show on Riverside Drive and musical entertainment in the park gazebo.
“Despite some rain, it went very well. Attendance was actually up with over 2,000 people attending at one time or another,” said Alan Harding, esteemed loyal knight and co-chair of the holiday outing. “I think attendance grows each year because people become more familiar with the event, are more comfortable with it, and know that it is, in fact, a great family event particularly for families with children.
“There are a number of things that will entertain the children,” he said, “but also for the adult community. There are opportunities to socialize with people that they haven’t seen for a while in a very comfortable and relaxed setting. As people become more familiar and comfortable with the event, they’re more inclined to attend.”
Lodge members and volunteers served grilled hot dogs, hamburgers, soft drinks, potato chips, ice cream and more to the public, all free of charge.
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
CHARLI CASAVANT, 4, and her 2-year-old brother, Cruze, of Presque Isle, were among the many children who enjoyed snow cones at this year’s July Fourth picnic at Riverside Park. 
Hosted by the local Elks lodge, the picnic also included hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, ice cream, watermelon, cotton candy and soda. To help show her patriotic style, Charli dressed herself for the occasion.
“We served 1,400 hamburgers, 1,360 hot dogs, 680 bags of potato chips, 1,632 cans of soda, 240 bottles of water, 13 watermelons,” said Harding, “as well as ice cream, cotton candy and snow cones. There was no shortage of food on hand or consumed.”
In addition to the free picnic, the seventh annual event included boat rides on the Presque Isle Stream, two bounce houses, a car show on Riverside Drive and musical entertainment in the park gazebo.
“I had a woman tell me the following day that her niece hadn’t stopped talking about having had an opportunity to steer the boat,” said Harding, who made “countless” trips up the Presque Isle Stream. “I wasn’t certain if people would want to take a boat ride in either a shower or sprinkles. The first ride that we attempted the rain started to come down somewhat and I asked the people in the boat if they wanted to continue going or turn around and they unanimously wanted to keep going. They were up for the adventure.
“What made the experience memorable for me was the children and their responses to the opportunity to be in the boat,” he said. “The 2-year-olds would want to continually press the horn, while the 8- and 9-year-olds would want to show up their siblings with their ability to navigate the stream.”
Harding said the only component to the day’s events that was impacted by the weather was the car show.
“Show car owners are reluctant to take those out on wet roads. Once the roads dried up, a few more cars did appear, but some who were intent on participating in the show didn’t attend just because the show was to be from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and until 11:30 a.m. or later the roads were wet,” he said. “Nevertheless, there was a good collection of cars for people to look at … everything from a 1947 Ford pickup to 2012 Dodge Challenger.”
PROVING THAT EVEN CHILDREN can multi-task, 3-year-old Caleb Pelkey of Mars Hill enjoys his snow cone while also playing a beanbag toss game 
at the seventh annual July Fourth Community Celebration held at Riverside Park in Presque Isle.
About 30 Elks and another 20 volunteers worked together to put on the community celebration.
“For example, the musicians — for the most part — are non-lodge members who show up every year to provide live entertainment,” said Harding. “Other non-members helped with food service, so it’s a great community collaboration.”
Harding said the July Fourth picnic is a great way to identify prospective new members.
“One of the best ways for people to become familiar with the Elks and to decide to join the organization is by attending and participating in these events,” he said. “This is one of the leading means to identifying potential new members. When people come to one of these events and see what we’re all about, oftentimes they ask questions and express an interest in becoming an Elk.”
The Elks have already reserved Riverside Park for next year’s festivities.
“At the end of the day there were a lot of smiling faces that left the park, and a lot of weary, but satisfied, Elks,” said Harding. “We’re looking forward to next year’s event.”
