Lakeside ready for annual fair on Saturday

Typically, the third Saturday of July is the busiest day of the summer, and with a lineup of events like those planned for this weekend, it is sure to be one of the busiest yet.

However, events like the Standing Arrow Pow Wow in Elmo, the Discovery Regatta benefit in Somers for the Discovery Developmental Center and the Somers Street Dance will have to compete with one of the West Shore's most popular events of the summer: the West Shore Community Fair.

The fair means big news and big money for the West Shore communities, since the event has generated more than $120,000 in the last four years, which has been funneled into organizations like the ALERT helicopter, the QRU, West Shore Food Bank, Somers and Rollins fire departments, CASA, Abbie Shelter, Samaritan House, the West Shore Library, Northwest Health Care, Lakeside-Somers patrol car and more through grants from the West Shore Community Club.

This year, the club is celebrating 100 years of women serving the community in one form or another. For that very reason, club president Joyce Greve chose the theme, "Experience the West Shore spirit & celebrate 100 years of service."

Two of the community's long-time residents, Lucille Ritter and Sylvia Murphy, will team up as this year's grand marshals for the annual fair parade, which seems fitting since Ritter can still recall the very first community fair. When the idea first took shape, more than three decades ago, the fair was held at the Lakeside Chapel, across the street from the present location at the elementary school.

Back then, the fair consisted of produce sales, peanut brittle sales, pecans and Attic Treasures, some of which continue to be a part of the fair to this day.

"I was the pecan lady," Ritter said. "I was in charge of the pecan sales, and pecans sales were kind of popular for a while."

Ritter still remembers when former club member Mary Fisher gave her the address of a place where she could buy the pecans. The fair, she said, grew into the grand event it is today because of the hard work and commitment of all the women who got behind it, and they got behind it in order to help the community with the money they raised.

"Both the club and the fair grew to be bigger than what any of us could have imagined," Ritter said.

On Saturday, the fair will launch many of its events 9 a.m. However, the Lakeside Chapel youth group will host a pancake breakfast beginning at 7 a.m.

Although breakfast will be served until 10 a.m., you'll either want to get there early or go easy on the pancakes if you plan on taking part in the annual 5K Run/Walk that begins at 9 a.m. in the parking lot of Flathead Bank. If you're a runner, walker or stroller - yes, strollers are allowed - you'll want to arrive early to register, unless you were smart enough to register in advance.

If you're not interested or ambitious enough to do a 5K, rest assured that just about everything in this fair starts at 9 a.m., so there'll be no shortage of things to do, including perusing arts and crafts booths, bargain hunting for used jewelry in the jewelry sale, looking for treasures in the Attic Treasures displays or outbidding your rivals in the silent auction.

Traditionally, collectors and bargain hunters line up at the doors to get the best deals or snatch up that must-have item that they just can't let slip through their fingers.

This year's Silent Auction merchandise will include items like a season ski pass for Blacktail Mountain's next season, an Iron garden sculpture from Osprey Nest Antiques

Iron garden sculpture from Osprey Nest Antiques, a Michael Jackson "Thriller" album, Elvis Presley memorabilia, a paddle boat, a beautiful dining room table and chairs set, a portable air conditioner, and gift certificate for everything from restaurants to hardware stores, from a pampering at Ambiance Day Spa to a $2,500 Honeywell Vista home security system and 1-year monitoring from Federal Protection of Montana.

As usual, the bake sale will feature homemade delicacies throughout the day, and coffee, pie and ice cream will be served from 10 a.m. on. The food court should open about an hour later to serve hamburgers, grilled brats, Taverrite sausages, tacos in a bag, soft drinks and more.

The parade, with Ritter and Murphy getting some much-deserved recognition and a few moments in the spotlight, is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. However, entries will begin lining up at 9:30 a.m., in front of the Lakeside Business Center on Bierney Creek Road.

Organizers are inviting children of all ages to line up and join the parade procession.

"We would like to have more classic cars, motorcycles, children, bicycles and whatever we can get," parade chairwoman Fran Ruby said. "Anyone who would like to walk, ride or pedal up Adams Street, we want to welcome them to be in our parade."

To date, entries include classic cars, community groups, red hatters, horses, floats and musical accompaniment.

Of course, the fair wouldn't be complete without the annual watermelon eating contest and an impressive lineup of young people eager to consume watermelons at record speeds. Sign-up begins at 11:30 a.m., and the contest gets underway at 1 p.m. Also, ticket sales for Split the Pot will continue until the drawing, at 3 p.m.

And don't forget to drop by the West Shore library, where the annual used book sale will be taking place from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. The sale will feature a variety gently used books, ranging from classics to contemporary best sellers, both fiction and non-fiction, including children's literature and an assortment of audiobooks.

In a nut shell, the fair promises to be a fun day for the entire family, as well as for collectors, bargain shoppers, curiosity browsers, antique car aficionados and children of all ages-don't forget to pick up a helium balloon, courtesy of the Lakeside QRU.

"Our volunteers have done a fantastic job of organizing the fair, this year," club president Joyce Greve said. "It is going to be the best ever. We have more arts and crafts participation than we've had in years. There is entertainment for every age and the fair would be a fun and relaxing place to bring your family and friends."

Due to the busy schedule, the annual duck races will be held at the Tamarack Alehouse and Grill, one week after the fair, on Saturday, July 25 at 3 p.m.