- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
Memorial Day weekend: Fun, parades, commemorations ahead
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County’s communities have plenty of fun on tap for the Memorial Day weekend, with parades, fairs, the Avenue of Flags and other events planned for the next three days.
The county’s two main weekend events are in Lakeport and Lower Lake, where annual parades and accompanying activities are planned.
In Lakeport, the daylong celebration takes place on Saturday, beginning with the annual 4-H pancake breakfast at Natural High School on Main Street from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., hosted by the Lakeport Kiwanis.
The Kiwanis also are sponsoring a two-day craft faire at the same location at Natural High School, located on the lakeshore in the 800 block of N. Main Street.
On Saturday, Lakeport’s parade begins at 11 a.m. This year’s parade theme is, “Salute to America’s Heroes.”
The parade route travels from the Lake County Fairgrounds on Martin Street, entering Main at Martin Street and traveling north to Clear Lake Avenue, with the judges’ stand in front of the museum between Second and Third streets, according to the Lake County Chamber of Commerce.
The Lakeport Police Department said Main Street will be closed from Martin Street to Clearlake Avenue and citizens are being asked to use alternate routes of travel during that time. Motorists will not be permitted to cross Main Street from any side street throughout the parade route.
The agency said the intersection of Martin Street and Forbes Street will be controlled by law enforcement and will be closed in all directions to motor vehicles that are not parade participants.
The chamber requests members of the public honor the no parking signs, which will be posted on Main Street from First to Fourth streets, calling for no parking during the hours of 10 a.m. to noon to allow unobstructed views of the parade for spectators.
On Sunday, the main event switches to Lower Lake for Lower Lake Daze, which kicks off with the 11 a.m. parade.
Lower Lake Community Action Group Treasurer Kelley Slater said the parade will last about an hour, traveling down Main Street to Mill Street at the Brick Hall.
“We call it the best little parade around,” Slater said of the annual event, which has taken place for more than 50 years.
Last year’s was the biggest parade so far, but this year’s parade could top it – Slater said they have more applications for entries than they had in 2012.
“It’s going to be a really good parade,” Slater said.
The parade will feature horses, classic cars, a pet parade within the main parade, fire trucks, participants from the town’s renaissance fair – which also is going on all weekend – and more, she said.
This year’s grand marshals are Sheila and Bill Bening. Slater said Sheila Bening is the past Lower Lake Community Action Group president, and both she and her husband are very active in the community.
Slater said the parade awards will be presented at 2 p.m.
Following the parade, activities will shift to Russel Rustici Park, where there will be vendors, food, live music by the group “Without A Net” and children’s entertainment, including a jump house and trackless train, Slater said.
Slater said the day’s old time barbecue dinner, at $7 per person, will feature ribs, chicken, beans and rolls.
Separately, Lower Lake High School’s sport boosters will be selling barbecued oysters, she said.
Activities in the park will continue from noon to 3 p.m., she said.
Proceeds from the Sunday celebration will go to the Lower Lake Community Action Group’s scholarship fund, Slater said.
The group is getting set to give out $8,000 in scholarships to local students over the next few weeks.
“We had a good time giving away money this year,” which goes to deserving young people on their way to college, Slater said.
“Come and have a good time,” she added.
On Monday, Memorial Day, Avenue of the Flags will be set up Hartley Cemetery outside of Lakeport, Lower Lake Cemetery, Kelseyville Cemetery and Upper Lake Cemetery, according to Dean Gotham, president of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 951.
Installation of flags and flagpoles begins at 7 a.m., weather permitting, with the flags coming down at 4 p.m., he said.
All community volunteers who want to help with the avenues around the county are welcome, according to Gotham.
Other events taking place this weekend include those listed below.
Saturday
– Fifth annual Lake Renaissance Festival, 16175 Main St. in Lower Lake. The Tuscan Village is transformed into a turn-of-the-17th-century town filled with folk from all over Renaissance Europe and beyond: Italian nobles, Scottish lairds, pirates, gypsies, pick-pockets and rogues of every description. There will be food, drink and entertainment.
– Third annual Memorial Motorcycle Fun Run, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Meet for a tree planting at 10 a.m. across from Blue Fish Cove on Highway 20 in Clearlake Oaks, with kickstands up for a run around the lake at 11 a.m. The event is sponsored by the Roughnecks Motorcycle Club, Redwood Chapter, comprised of firefighters, paramedics, law enforcement, military and public service members. All motorcyclist enthusiasts and chase vehicles are welcome. The $25 donation goes towards our crisis fund. For further information, contact Keith Leffler 707-350-0383.
– Lower Lake High School and Konocti Unified School District Drama Department present “Fame, the Musical” in the high school multipurpose room at 7:30 p.m. Cost of admission is $8 students, $9 senior citizens and $10 adults. Presale tickets will be discounted $2. For more information contact Tracy Lahr at 707-994-6471.
Sunday
– Lake County Corvette Club hosts the Corvettes-only Show & Shine next to Library Park in downtown Lakeport, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
– Fifth annual Lake Renaissance Festival, 16175 Main St. in Lower Lake. The Tuscan Village is transformed into a turn-of-the-17th-century town filled with folk from all over Renaissance Europe and beyond: Italian nobles, Scottish lairds, pirates, gypsies, pick-pockets and rogues of every description. There will be food, drink and entertainment.
– Featherbed Railroad, 2870 Lakeshore Blvd. in Nice, will host an open event featuring the work of Lake County artist Jim Colling from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., with music by Michael Barrish. A $15 donation includes wine tasting and appetizer pairing, and goes to support local charities. For more information call Featherbed Railroad at 707-274-8378 or visit www.featherbedrailroad.com .
– Lower Lake High School and Konocti Unified School District Drama Department present “Fame, the Musical” in the high school multipurpose room at 2 p.m. Cost of admission is $8 students, $9 senior citizens and $10 adults. Presale tickets will be discounted $2. For more information contact Tracy Lahr at 707-994-6471.
– “Lake County Live!” performance takes place from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Soper-Reese Community Theatre, 275 S. Main St., Lakeport. The audience is asked to be seated by 5:45 p.m.; they’re also invited to stay after the show for additional performances by the featured musicians. Show creator and host Doug Rhoades hosts a lineup of local musicians as well as original sketches and comedy including the “Ladies of the Lake.” Lake County Live! airs live on Lake County Community Radio KPFZ at 88.1 FM and is also streamed live on the Internet via www.kpfz.org . Tickets cost $5 and are available at the door and and online at www.soperreesetheatre.com .
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