BY DICK METZGAR
Staff Writer
JACKSON — There will be a definite country western flavor to Saturday’s Jackson Day celebration at John F. John-son Jr. Memorial Park, Kierych Memor-ial Drive, off Cooks Bridge Road and Manhattan Street.
As the theme of this year’s event — “How the West was Fun” — and the nature of the live entertainment indicates, spectators will be able to enjoy a western flavor at the festivities.
The fun will begin with a Jackson Day parade at noon and continue until about 9 p.m. when the celebration will conclude with a fireworks display.
The rain date is Sunday.
Lineup for the parade is scheduled for 11 a.m. at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4703 on Magnolia Drive. The parade route will travel on Bennetts Mill Road to Cooks Bridge Road leading into the park. Roads will be closed for the parade.
Early activities such as pony rides and a petting zoo will open in the park at 11 a.m. and continue all day.
The township has celebrated Jackson Day annually since 1976.
“This is our biggest event of the year,” said Linda Nardo, administrative clerk of the Department of Recreation. “It attracts thousands of people each year because of the live entertainment that is featured throughout the day. We attract people from Jackson and surrounding communities.”
The theme for this year’s festivities was the brainstorm of Anne Alberta, the director of recreation and chairwoman of Jackson Day, according to Nardo.
“We have been thinking about having a western setting for the event for several years,” Nardo said. “Our director came up with the theme and the entertainment we have scheduled is in line with that theme.”
Opening ceremonies will take place at Johnson Park following the parade, featuring the Holman Theatre Co. with special harmony renditions of “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “God Bless the USA,” and the Jackson Civic Chorus singing “Home on the Range” and “This Land is Your Land.”
The Jackson Day craft exhibit and sale will open at noon and conclude at 6 p.m. Drop-off time for entries into the “Finger Lickin’ Chili Contest” is 1:30 p.m., with judging to be held at 2 p.m.
Scheduled for 2:30 p.m. is the first show of “The Shenanigans,” a country and western comedy re-enactment troop, which will perform a unique comedy wild west shootout. The group will also perform at 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Rides for adults and children — the adult obstacle course, giant inflatable slide, balloon typhoon, junior challenge obstacle course, inflatable shooting gallery, bounce and slide funhouse and bouncy boxing will open at 11 a.m. and close at 6 p.m. Special games for the disabled will start at 9 a.m.
On stage all day will be Renegade Rich and Debbie offering line dancing lessons to prepare participants for some of the best country and western sounds in the area, according to the event’s organizers.
From 4:30-6 p.m., two-step, country waltz or stomp to “Slick City,” and as the sun sets in the west, listen or dance to the Neil Scott Johnson Band from 7-9 p.m. An old-fashioned fireworks display will close the festivities at dusk.
“Our theme this year has stirred quite a lot of interest and enthusiasm within our committee and the participating public to depict the theme in every way from entertainment booths to the live entertainment,” organizers said.
Food, game and information vendors will be set up to help visitors enjoy the western-style food and entertainment.
“There will be 115 vendors participating,” Nardo added.