Smethport Web — by Linda Muller
This Thursday through Sunday we are going to have a jam-packed four days filled with fun and entertainment right in our own home town – Our NATIONAL WOOLY WILLY WONDERDAZE is about to begin!
The festival is sponsored by the Smethport Area Chamber of Commerce, with active involvement from many Smethport organizations and citizen volunteers. It will highlight the popular magnetic game developed in Smethport by entrepreneur, James Herzog in 1955.
See below our updated schedule. We’ve included additional information about each exciting event and hope that all of you will bring your family and friends to join us for this wonderful celebration of Smethport and our very own Wooly Willy!
Update: There are some items not mentioned in the schedule below. Here are a few that are noteworthy:
— The first 500 children will receive a free Wooly Willy toy!
— Wooly Willy Window Art Contest [Prize: $50 Savings Bond courtesy of the Hamlin Bank and Trust Company] – Check out the downtown Smethport businesses participating with their fun artwork!
— Discover Smethport Quiz: The quiz is available at Costa’s Supermarket, The Country Porch, and the Senior Center. You can also download a copy from our website. The Country Porch is offering the prize, worth $125. The quiz is open to anyone – one entry per person. One winner will be drawn from all winning entries on June 21st at 3:00 pm. The winner need not be present to win. Good luck!
— Over 50 local businesses and organizations have given their support by donating, purchasing trophies, and working to ensure that Smethport’s first annual Wooly Willy Wonderdaze is a success. We will post a section on the website listing those businesses and our most heartfelt thanks to each of them!
— We still need a few citizen volunteers to help with some of the events. If you can spare a few hours or more please contact us!
— Also, make sure you see the note below from Jackie Taylor about one man’s search for Wooly Willy!
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NATIONAL WOOLY WILLY WONDERDAZE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Event Chairman – Jeff Andrulonis
Vendor Chairman – Jackie Taylor
Fireworks Chairman – Christy Andrulonis
Parade Marshal – Nathan Muller
Admission $5.00 – Children 12 and under are FREE
Includes admission for all fours days and you will also receive the Official 2009 Wooly Willy Wonderdaze button.
The admission price helps to cover some of the expenses of the festival [street banner, posters, flyers, print advertising, entertainment, fireworks, etc.] and gives you a keepsake commemorating our first annual Wooly Willy Wonderdaze event!
~~~ THURSDAY JUNE 18TH ~~~
11 am – til ? – Long Branch Saloon (American Legion)
5 pm – Opening Ceremonies on the Courthouse Steps
— Jeff Andrulonis [event chairman] and Bob Wann CEO of Patch Products [manufacturer of Wooly Willy Toys]; Jim Herzog, creator of Wooly Willy; George Tufts and the American Legion Color Guard; National Anthem; And a Wooly Willy Wonderdaze Cake will be served!
5 pm – Carnival Opens / Vendors Open on Hamlin Lake Island
7 pm – “Pennsylvania Mountain Voices” program at McKean County Historical Society / Old Jail Museum
— Commonwealth Speaker Bruce Young. This presentation seeks to evoke through song and music the lives and times of people living and working in nineteenth century Pennsylvania. Banjo, fiddle, guitar and dulcimer music will accompany the songs. The program has a particular emphasis on songs of Central Pennsylvania mining and lumber camps of the nineteenth century and provide a lively window to view, in their own words, the people who wrote them and their lives and times. This event is free and open to the public.
~~~ FRIDAY JUNE 19TH ~~~
11 am – til ? – Long Branch Saloon (American Legion)
5 pm – Carnival Opens / Vendors Open on Hamlin Lake Island
5-10 pm – Backyard Challenge [Family Life Network and the East Smethport United Christian Church]
— On Hamlin Lake Island: Extreme Games Competition for Teenagers! Human Foosball, Tug of War over a moat, and much more – along with free food and beverages!
6-8 pm – Smethport Father/Daughter Dance (Kristin Andrulonis)
— at the Lavender House [Anne Potter’s lovely home] on Green Street ($10 per couple) Includes hors d’oeuvres, beverages and wonderful music to dance the night away!
~~~ SATURDAY JUNE 20TH ~~~
9:30 am – Walk For Doc – In Memory of Doctor Bowman (Sally Newton, Potato Creek Trail Association)
— Held rain or shine. Meet at the Old County Home, near Sena Kean Manor on Rt. 6
10 am – Carnival Opens / Vendors Open on Hamlin Lake Island
10 am – Alumni Softball Game (Dr. Kane) at the Softball Field
— Greats from the past vs. the Lady Hubbers of today
11 am – til ? – Long Branch Saloon (American Legion)
8 pm** – Midnight – Street Dance with Ravenz (Les Jordan)
— Dance to 50’s and 60’s music on Main Street in downtown Smethport
9 pm – Fireworks (Smethport Fire Dept. / Christy Andrulonis)
— Zambelli Fireworks: Proudly known as the “First Family of Fireworks,” Zambelli, based in New Castle, PA, is one of the oldest and largest American fireworks companies. Zambelli’s booming fireworks displays have been seen at Fourth of July events across the nation including the National Mall in Washington, DC, and on New Years Eve at Times Square in New York City.
** Street Dance continues after Fireworks
~~~ FATHERS DAY – SUNDAY JUNE 21ST ~~~
10 am – Carnival Opens / Vendors Open on Hamlin Lake Island
7 am – Cars arrive for Car Show (Gary Hoy – Street of Dreams)
8 am – Church Service at Hamlin Park (Smethport Ministerium)
10 am – 4 pm – Fathers Day Car Show open to public (Gary Hoy, Street of Dreams – Nathan Muller)
— Antiques, Classic, Street Rods and Special Interest cars and trucks.
12 noon – 2 pm – Karaoke Contest (Gary Hoy / Nathan Muller)
— On Hamlin Lake Island near the car show
12 noon – 3 pm – Kayaking/Canoeing on Hamlin Lake (Jim Herzog)
— Have fun on Hamlin Lake – Try out the hand-made wooden kayaks made by Corky Hull!
2 pm – Duck Race – Hamlin Lake Park (Sponsored by Smethport Rotary Club)
— Meet up on the Foot Bridge
3 pm – Trophies Awarded to Car Show Participants
— Sponsored by local businesses and organizations.
4 pm – Main Street Parade and Parade of Cars (Nathan Muller – Parade Marshal)
— Smethport Fire Department’s antique fire truck will lead the parade, followed by the antique and classic cars. The parade will also include several floats, Miss McKean County Fair Queen, Smethport Corvettes, Tornadoes Cheerleaders, and much more!
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ONE MAN’S SEARCH FOR WOOLY WILLY
From: Jackie @ Country Porch Cafe
Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 4:40 PM
To: Nathan Muller
Nathan,
I had a phone call this afternoon from Mr. and Mrs. Hawley of Lebanon, PA. They have been desperately searching for a place to purchase a “Wooly Willy” toy for their granddaughter. They remember having them for their son when he was little and it was a great toy to have for a long car trip. Mr. and Mrs. Hawley’s son is leaving for Iraq and so he’ll be traveling from Pennsylvania to Georgia very soon.
The Hawley’s asked if I knew of any store in our area that sold the toy. I informed them that I sell the toy here at The Country Porch. Mr. Hawley had gotten on the internet and did a search and found the “Wooly Willy” mentioned on a site where the phone number to The Country Porch was listed (I believe that website was www.Smethportpa.org)
I told them I would be happy to ship the toy to them. He then put his wife on the phone and I explained that they also make “Hairdo Harriet” and she thought that it would be perfect for her little granddaughter. I told Mrs. Hawley that it was so funny that they had phoned when just this very weekend we are holding our “National Wooly Willy Wonderdaze” event. She asked me why none of the stores in her area sells them? I wasn’t sure I could answer that question but that I’d be happy to ship out the toy to her tomorrow. They were ecstatic to have found the toy for their granddaughter.
