This Memorial Day weekend not only is the best time to sort through yard and garage sales, but a boatload of events occurring should attract both locals and tourists: music line-ups at many venues, the Art Alliance’s annual Plein Air Art Festival, the Associates’ Chairs for Charity fundraiser, the Rotary’s annual apple pancake breakfast, the Legion’s annual BBQ, the Nature Center’s annual Wildflower Show, the Stratford Players’ performance and the Friends’ semi-annual book sale, to name a few.
If you have no plans this weekend, look to the Arts and Entertainment Calendar on B1 and all the advertising in the TC this week.
In addition to those events above, Dave and Loie Butterfield invite you to the groundbreaking ceremony of the Idyllwild Community Center, and the dedication and flag raising in honor of veterans and first responders at Idypark. Both of these generous community supporters, along with Shane Stewart, gave us a town park, and have worked tirelessly to make sure our little village benefits from a community center.
Last but not least, the American Legion Post 800 opens its doors to everyone at 11 a.m. Monday for the reason we enjoy a three-day holiday the last May of every year — to remember those who have died fighting to protect our country.
Ironically, in May 1949, the American Legion held a Memorial Day service at what was called “the Legion flagpole” in the village. A small parade preceded the event.
Considering that the Butterfields will have the American Legion Honor Guard at the Idypark event, I think it would be great if the Legion, in future years, brought the Memorial Day ceremony to Idypark each year so more people would attend — including our visitors — and honor the reason we have this three-day weekend. A free lunch following, which the Legion always generously offers, wouldn’t be necessary. People can fan out to the local restaurants afterward, or go home and fire up their own barbecues.
Also, in 1949, the Town Crier reported that Memorial Day was so jammed that “people were sleeping in their cars.” Considering that Idyllwild has been “found,” as we’ve noticed over the past few years, that could occur this year, too. Not only are we seeing increased snow visitors, but weekends, in general, seem to be swarming with flatlanders.
So, a Memorial Day ceremony at Idypark, I think, would be greatly appreciated by tourists. Post 800 is off the beaten path, afterall, and folk forget the reason why they get to enjoy the barbecues and other events we offer this weekend that tends to start off the summer.
Much is happening in our little town, thanks to innovative and far-thinking folk who have found a reason to build their nests in and around Idyllwild.
For one thing, a noisy downtown restaurant is no longer a bone of contention in the center of town. And that means folk turn their attention to other things — much of which is focused on water and trash rates rising. Keep the letters coming!
Becky Clark, Editor
