WESTVILLE — Another fun-filled weekend is planned in Westville as extensive Labor Day festivities are set.

This year marks the 98th Labor Day parade for Westville that will begin at 11:30 a.m. on the holiday and will have the theme of, “Honoring those who labor, protect and serve.”

Westville Lions Club parade chairman Gary Delhaye said three awards are given out to parade entrants, of which more than 100 enter each year.

A new event for the celebration weekend is the bike decorating contest, sponsored by Avenue Broadband, with four age groups, including a senior division for those ages 39 and older. Judging of bikes takes place at the Westville Public Library at 11 a.m. on Labor Day and prizes are awarded for each division.

A friendly face from the Lions Club’s past also will return to the Labor Day weekend, a symbol of the club.

“The Lions Club gold lion will make an appearance after being missing or after a hiatus,” Delhaye said. “He’ll be an addition to the parade.”

Delhaye said the paper mache lion once was a fixture in the park during Labor Day festivities, but hasn’t been there for probably 20 years. He said some of the older residents in the community asked that it return and it has been repaired and restored.

Children will be entertained with carnival rides running every day of the festival, Thursday through Monday. Also, Delhaye said the fire safe house, sponsored by the I & I Firefighters also will be popular with the younger crowd.

“We’re happy to offer a carnival again this year,” Delhaye said. “The fire safe house makes a return this year after an ab-sence.”

Raffles, the Big Wheel prize game, a flea market and food vendors will all be prevalent throughout the weekend at Zamberletti Park.

Another highlight will be the fireworks display at 9 p.m. Aug. 31 at the Westville High School football field, with a rain date of Labor Day.

Across from the park, parallel festivities at St. Mary’s will be occurring during the Labor Day weekend.

“We’re happy again to team up with St. Mary’s as a coordinated effort,” Delhaye said.

Mary Ann Hughes, co-chair of the St. Mary’s Labor Day efforts, said it will offer many of the same events this year.

An international food festival on Saturday will feature Italian, Polish, German, Chinese, American, Lithuanian and Mexican foods. Hughes said the event is set with decorative tents and a polka band playing in the outer tent for festival goers to roam in and out of with their food tickets.

“It’s ethnic and all homemade,” Hughes said.

On that same evening is the silent auction where theme baskets created by St. Mary’s students, parents and friends are put up for sale.

A hog roast on Labor Day will feature pulled pork sandwiches, with sides. Music will be playing all weekend under the St. Mary’s tent, including during Margaritaville on Aug. 31 that will feature Jimmy Buffet music for three hours and then other music until 10 p.m.

Hughes said the biggest event may be the raffle drawing on Labor Day with a $25,000 top prize and many more cash prizes as well. She said this is one of the biggest fundraisers for St. Mary’s. Tickets may be purchased in advance or at the event for $35 per ticket or $100 for three tickets.

“It’s (proceeds) are kept exclusively for the maintenance and upkeep of the school and church,” said Hughes. “It’s a great way for our parish to come together for our school.”

This year the grand marshal for the Westville Labor Day parade is Penny Holycross and the honorary marshal is Ken Konsis. Nominations for marshals are made by Lions Club members and then the finalists are selected by a voting process.

Delhaye said the Labor Day weekend is a great event for all, because it is family oriented and is always a good time.

“It allows people to come back home and meet old friends,” Delhaye said. “It’s a homecoming of sorts.”



WESTVILLE LABOR DAY CELEBRATION

Thursday, Aug. 28

6-10 p.m. — Carnival open

Friday

6-10 p.m. — Carnival open, bracelet night

Saturday

Flea market, carnival all day

11 a.m.-2 p.m. — Carnival open for bracelet day

5-9 p.m. — Raffle at the park

5:30-8:30 p.m. — International Food Festival at St. Mary’s Catholic School gym

6-9 p.m. — Silent auction at St. Mary’s

Sunday

4-10 p.m. — Food service at St. Mary’s with Schlarman High School cheerleaders

5-7 p.m. — Fire safe house sponsored by the I & I Firefighters

5-9 p.m. — Big Wheel; Raffle at the park

6-9 p.m. — Somethin’ “D” Frent disc jockey

7-10 p.m. — Tons O Fun band at St. Mary’s

9 p.m. — Fireworks at Westville High School (rain date is Monday, Sept. 1)

Monday

11 a.m. — Bicycle decorating contest, ages 5-7, 8-10, 11-13 and senior division, 39 and older

11:30 a.m. — 98th annual Labor Day parade honoring those who labor, protect and serve

1-9 p.m. — Big Wheel

1-8 p.m. — Raffle at the park with drawing at 8 p.m.

Noon-7 p.m. — Hog roast at St. Mary’s’8:30 p.m. — Gas card drawing at the park



FOR MORE INFORMATION

Anyone who is still interested in submitting an entry into the Westville Labor Day parade may contact Gary Delhaye at 267-7099.