ORIGINALLY WRITTEN
The 650 residents of Florence are preparing for their annual Labor Day Celebration planned for Sept. 3-5.
The Labor Day Committee has hired a variety of entertainment this year and promises something for everyone during the three-day event.
On Saturday, the Florence Public Library will sponsor its annual breakfast and book sale. This year, though, the event will be in Veterans Park for greater visibility.
The annual city-wide garage sale will begin Saturday morning. The event is free and a map of participating sites will be available.
Saturday events continue with a poker run at 1 p.m. and the soap box derby for kids at 3 p.m.
Rounding off the day will be a barbecue supper in Veterans Park sponsored by the Masonic Lodge. A melodrama, “D.K. Molar, the Devious Dentist,” will be presented on the main stage downtown.
Sunday has been planned as a day of worship, family and fellowship. A community church service will begin at 11 a.m. in Veterans Park. It will be followed by a potluck dinner. Meat and drinks will be provided, but participants are asked to bring a side dish and table service. This event is sponsored by Morningstar Ranch.
Starting at 2:30 p.m., children in the community are invited to decorate their bicycles for the parade on Monday. Decorating supplies will be provided for no charge.
The Christian Church and Methodist Church of Florence will be hosting a gospel concert Sunday evening that will feature “Brothers and Sisters” from Goessel. An ice cream social will follow at the American Legion.
A fireworks show is planned for Marion County Lake at dusk.
The annual parade will kick off Monday’s schedule, beginning at 11 a.m. The parade will be followed by games for kids, a karaoke contest, car show, cow-chip bingo, kid’s ranch rodeo and “muttin bustin,'” Judy Coder and the Pride of the Prairie Band, Robinn Lange the hypnotist and Nashville recording artist Gary Nichols.
In addition, planners are organizing an amateur barbecue cook-off contest, a fine-arts show and a mountain-man rendezvous.
“We have invited some wonderful food vendors, so plan on coming early,” said Mayor Sue Klassen. “Bring your lawn chair and enjoy the whole day in Florence.”
