Bigfork beach bash will be a blast

In Bigfork, the month of March makes you think of St. Patrick's Day, springtime, Cowabunga! and the annual Rotary Bigfork Beach Party and Chili Feed.

The fourth annual Bigfork Beach Party and Chili Feed will be held Saturday, March 18, at the Garden Bar and Grill at 5 p.m. For $10 for adults and $5 for students you will feast on chili, cornbread, cole slaw, brownies, soda and beer. Everything is homemade and donated by local businesses and cooks.

The event will benefit the "Salute the Troops" project sponsored by the Bigfork Rotary Club and the VFW. The groups will be mailing appreciation packages to Montana National Guard troops in Iraq. The packages will include chewing gum, handy wipes, stationary, pens, deodorant, playing cards and phone cards for between 50 and 100 troops. Shipping for each box is $8.50. The boxes will be shipped in mid March to arrive in Iraq in time for Easter. Money raised from the chili feed will help pay for this shipment and future packages. It's a nice way to let the soldiers know that we care, we're thinking about them and appreciate their sacrifice.

Thank you to the following sponsors who have generously supported the project so far: Flathead Beverage, Pepsi-Cola Bottling of Kalispell, Flathead Bank, Rocky Mountain Bank, Glacier Bank, Garden Bar & Grill, IGA, Great Northern Foods, Rotary District 5390 of Montana and the VFW.

Don't forget to wear your best beach or Hawaiian attire, and bring your kids. The kids will receive free fun beach items at the door.

At 7 p.m. following the chili feed, "Moo-au Luau," the fifth annual, sell-out talent showcase Cowabunga will be held at the Bigfork Center for the Performing Arts. The showcase will go off on Friday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m., as well.

So if you love good food, want to feel like you're at the beach, appreciate our troops, and love Cowabunga, we'll see you at the Bigfork Beach Party and Chili Feed on Saturday, March 18, at 5 p.m. at the Garden Bar and Grill. Aloha!

For more information call the Bigfork Chamber of Commerce at 837-5888.