|
Sunday,
October 21st, was warm and windy for the start of our annual
Fall Fun Fest. The fishing derby was first with lots of serious
anglers determined to catch the longest fish, or settle for
the shortest fish, or the most fish. Teams lined the ponds
seeking just the right spot. By the way, the longest fish
was 26"!
Click here
to jump to the photos of Fall Fun Fest 2007!
While the Derby was going on,
our Hot Doggers, Richard and Janice DeMayo, Diane Rash, and
Marilyn Lee, were serving up grilled hot dogs ready for lunch
with the other major Fun Fest food groups of chips and cookies.
It was all so good many came back for seconds. The hay rides
around the neighborhood and to the pumpkin patch started
next and were driven by Steve Rash. It took several rides
to deliver everyone to the Monarch View pumpkin patch. Every
kid returned with their own pumpkin plus hay stuck in their
clothes.
Meanwhile, in the pool parking lot, Jeremy Flowers, our
new Activities Director, with the help of his wife, Becky,
and Jenny Brennan were setting up for the first game of the
day, the Pumpkin Toss. Lots of participants lined up in two
rows to toss a pumpkin back and forth. After each toss the
line took a big step back. If you didn’t catch the pumpkin
and it smashed on the concrete then you were out. Slightly
cracked pumpkins could officially be tossed until they finally
fell apart or were smashed. We had enough smashed pumpkins
to make quite a few pies!
The next game was the Candy Balloon Relay. Candy was inserted
into a balloon and then inflated. Each participant was given
a balloon and then they formed two lines. When the game started
the first kids raced to a hay bale, turned, and sat on the
balloon until POP. Then they had to pick up the candy before
racing back to the line. Some kids were just too light to
pop the balloon on the first try. Chris Hargraves and Kevin
Brennan gave a hidden assist with a sharp object. At that
point it didn’t matter how it popped, just so it did.
The third game required some control and coordination. Two
relay teams formed in their respective lines. The object
was to walk, in a controlled manner, resisting the urge to
run, to the hay bale at the end with a mini pumpkin balanced
on their head. No hands allowed. One enterprising young man
took off his ball cap, turned it upside down on his head
and then placed the pumpkin in the upturned bill of the hat.
Clever, but overruled by Jeremy “The Enforcer” Flowers. The
game commenced with surprisingly few dropped pumpkins.
A Grave Walk, which was actually a modified cake walk, was
next. Approximately 16 people stood in a circle, each one
on a headstone. When the music started the circle of contestants
started to move, stepping from one headstone to another,
all the while wondering when the music would stop. When it
did, everyone claimed their headstone hoping that their number
would be called. The winner of each round had their choice
of baked goodies.
Pumpkin Bowling was the next event of the afternoon. Bowling
alleys of hay bales were set up with the pins being 2 liter
bottles of soda. A pumpkin that is used for a bowling ball
may be kind of round but that doesn’t mean that it will necessarily
roll straight. The bowling was spirited but not exactly professional.
The next event was a Pumpkin Pie Eating contest. We had
lots of pies cut into equal-sized pieces for any contestant
that wasn’t full of hot dogs. This was a new event this year
and I’m sure it was both dramatic and messy. I’m just sorry
I didn’t get any pictures of this event! At the end of the
day each child was given a goody bag. We weren’t able to
get a final count on how many actually made it home uneaten.
While this event was financed by a portion of our homeowner’s
dues, it only pays for the food and supplies it doesn’t make
a great event happen. Without our super volunteers we could
not and would not have so much fun. Thanks to all who planned,
helped, and cleaned up!
The evening event was the Haunted Hayride. Older kids and
fearless adults were taken on a memorable ride. Our volunteer
scarers probably had has much fun as the scarees. All except
one that is.
Thanks again to all that helped. If you missed this event
this year, then join us next year!
Fall
Fun Fest Photos
Click
on any image and a larger image will appear. While the
larger image is visible you can navigate through the photos
by clicking on the right or left edges of the photo (for
next or previous). Please be paitent while this page loads — there
are a lot of pictures to display.
Back to top of page. |
