Getting the park and school grounds ready for the Caledonian Games and festival is an annual marathon for the Caledonian Association members. Family and medical situations among the group's already small number created an even smaller pool of workers, but a few weekend volunteers with great timing helped us make it all happen.
The work in the park began at 6:30 a.m. Friday morning when Kayla Durfee and son Justin arrived, followed by Colleen Bagdon. Their goal was to remove dust, branches, leaves and other debris from the pavilion, main stage, gazebo, walkways and food court, plus wash tables and chairs that had been stored since the previous year and set them around the park where they would be needed the following day. They were joined by Debbie Patton with her daughter Megan and Tim Albert with two teenage volunteers.
Meanwhile, Nick Seltmann and Justin Durfee, with the help of volunteers Ethan Wallis and Nick’s brother Ben, were busy setting up dance platforms, positioning the storyteller’s backdrop, and constructing the sheepdog enclosure fence. Low-hanging branches were trimmed, and in-ground sprinklers were flagged to prevent accidents. Nick and Travis Glover, the new grounds supervisor for the school district, met to make sure the overnight camping area facilities were unlocked and ready for athletes and pipe band members when they arrived. Vendors and clans began arriving on Friday afternoon to set up their booths.
Because we were all working outdoors, none of us knew that due to wildfires in the area, Athena's power had been shut off early that afternoon. The power interruption triggered the school district's security lockdown program, so no one knew the school's facilities were inaccessible until campers began to arrive late that afternoon. After few frantic hours, Travis and Nick figured out a way to get the doors open, and things returned to normal.
Early Saturday morning the parade crew got set up in front of the high school and began to check in all 42 registered entries as they arrived. Volunteer Ethan Wallis took care of setting up the sound system and table for the parade announcer and judges. Alan Wernsing and his crew of athletes and judges raised the "parachute" and set up the athletic equipment in the high school's practice athletic field across the street from the food court.
A full day of events followed the parade, including the first ever Caledonian Weekend Vehicle Show on Main Street, organized by Loren Stroud and Troy McGee, during the afternoon.
After the festival closed at 5:00 p.m., the work of the previous day took place once again, only this time in reverse. All pieces of equipment were returned to their various places of storage. Nearly everything was back in its accustomed place within a few hours, and only the athletic games had yet to be completed and “put to bed,” along with the faithful group of Caledonian members and volunteers who had worked together so well to bring the excitement of a regional festival to our community.
A HUGE thank you is extended to everyone who helped in any way with the parade, in the park and food court, and in the athletic field and camping area to make the 2024 Athena Caledonian Games a resounding success!
Comments