You never know how a “First Annual” event is going to go — so many what-ifs thrown into the mix. So it was quite refreshing to see how many folks turned out for the First Annual Sisters Habitat for Humanity 4th of July Picnic in the Park on Sunday. And how rare it is these days to have an event that seems to attract people of all ages, as this one did (see some photos from the event below).
Earlier today I asked event chair Julia Rickards to update me on the bottom line (i.e., how much money did we raise for the Sisters Habitat building efforts?). Since the Central Oregon Association of Realtors donated $1,000 to the event and served as a presenting sponsor, I was especially interested to know how the event fared.
The goal, Rickards said, was to raise about $3,000, and it looks like the various fund-raising endeavors — the fun-run, silent auction of objects created by local artists using recycled materials (some very cool stuff!), ticket donations and event sponsorships — brought in more than $8,000.
Meanwhile, event planners had hoped to draw some 100 participants (since the Fourth fell on a Sunday, estimating numbers was particularly challenging); Rickards thinks that about 300 turned out. Seems there’s still an audience (at least in small-town Sisters) for the simpler things in life, like frisbee throwing,  duckie races, watermelon-spitting contests, patriotic music and homemade apple pie.
Check it out:

Fun for all ages

Frisbee toss

Win a goldfish

The Silent Auction

Free cotton candy

The food queue

Apple pie by the slice

Apple pie judging

Duck races

Live music