Bronson Day marks history

Saturday, May 19, 2012

BRONSON, Kan. -- Forty years of a traditional community gathering will be celebrated during the annual Bronson Day Saturday, May 26, at the City Park.

Event co-organizer Alan Stewart said there have been a few events added to this year's celebration, which include a horseshoe pitch, barbecue dinner, a parade, kids' games and more. There is no admission charge for the celebration, which is sponsored by the Bronson Ruritan Club and Bronson Day Committee.

This year's theme is "Swing'n Into the Future." Stewart said the idea came about from new swing sets recently donated to the town for its playground in the community park.

"We want to do some more work (in the park), but we have those new swing sets now," he said.

The day kicks off at 9 a.m. with a free children's identification project, the Kansas Child Identification Program, available from 9 a.m. to noon at the Community Building. The event is sponsored by the Bourbon Masonic Lodge No. 268.

The service includes fingerprints, a DNA cheek swab, a digital still photo and a video imaged interview. It is provided to give parents the proper items to have ready at a moment's notice that could help save a child's life.

Parents must be present to complete a parental permission form, which is the only information retained by the organization.

New events to Bronson Day this year include a baby stroll and contest that will be open to babies up to 1 year old. Prizes will be awarded. The babies will participate in the parade, which is set to begin at 11 a.m. Parents who sign their baby up for the event will receive $10, Stewart said.

Another new feature is an Ugliest Pickup Contest, in which the most unattractive entry will win $50, and the second-place finisher will win $25. Stewart said the vehicles must run and will be included in the parade with a variety of other floats, antique cars and tractors, and decorated bicycles. Cash prizes will be awarded to the best entries in these categories as well.

Each child who enters the parade will receive 50 cents and decorated bicycles will receive $1 each. Grand marshals for the parade are Larry and Linda Neville. There will be a $15 fee for each float entered in the parade.

A third new event is a three-point shoot-out scheduled for 4 p.m. Participants may compete for $2 per person.

The barbecue dinner, including a pulled pork sandwich, corn, coleslaw and tea or lemonade, will be catered by the Bronson Chicken Shack. Cost per meal is $6 for adults and $4 for children. The Bronson Library will sell pie and soda separately.

Games for kids of various ages, which begin at 1:30 p.m., will include foot races, a ring toss, a free throw shoot, a sand scratch and an egg toss. Stewart said these events typically get the most attention during the celebration.

A drawing for prizes donated by area merchants begins at 2:30 p.m. Following this event, the Bronson Ruritan Club will conduct a drawing for cash prizes of $100, $50 and $25.

"About everyone who comes wins something," Stewart said.

The celebration will also include arts and crafts booths, a horseshoe pitch for cash prizes at 9:30 a.m., a pet contest at 10 a.m., a turtle race at 11:30 a.m. and a cake walk at 1 p.m. at the tennis court.

Stewart said Bronson Day has been a community tradition in the town for four decades and he has been involved with organizing the event for several years. The fete is always held the Saturday before Memorial Day. "I remember the governor of Kansas was in one of the early parades several years ago. I was probably in high school," he recalled. "It's been the same format all these years."

For more information, call Stewart at (620) 939-4906, or Terry Johnston at 939-4993.

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