2014 Garland Days’ theme: ‘Kids, Kids, Kids’
Contributed Article
GARLAND — Garland Grange, a family-friendly, community organization for more than 140 years, is gearing up for another tradition: Garland Days.
The Garland Grange has done its part each year to make the annual town-wide celebration a success. This year is no exception.
The theme for Garland Days this year is “Kids, Kids, Kids,” and it takes place Sept. 4-7 with a variety of family-friendly activities happening at the hall.
Thursday night is the pie judging contest at the Grange hall. This year’s categories are fruit, cream, nut/meat and a separate kids’ category. Anyone can drop off their completed pie by 5:30 p.m. and the judging starts at 6. All pie entries are used the following night at the Historical Society pie and ice cream social. Contestants are asked to put their name legibly on the bottom of the pie plate if they want to have it returned.
While many Garland Days events are traditional, sometimes things have to be moved around to make it interesting.
When the fire department announced that they were moving their annual chicken barbecue to August due to the Maine Firefighters Convention being the same weekend as Garland Days, the Grange stepped up to organize another meal.
The Garland Recreation Department will put on a spaghetti dinner on Friday night at the Grange Hall from 5-7 p.m., and this led to some other changes.
The Garland Historical Society pie and ice cream social will be outside the Grange hall with music by MMMM until 6:30 p.m.
Friday night, upstairs at the Grange hall, the Garland Grange has invited the H.J. Crosby Community Band to play, starting at 6:30 p.m.
Formerly known as the Dexter Community Band, this group of musicians puts on a great show. Admission is by donation. This concert will be part of their “British Invasion” summer series.
On Saturday and Sunday, Garland Grange is busy with American Legion beano from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and 12-4 p.m. on Sunday. Grange members will have lunch on sale, including hot dogs, soda and desserts.
Saturday night is the traditional baked bean supper from 5-7 p.m. with the main course of the traditional menu plus hot dogs, macaroni and cheese, homemade bread and desserts. Dessert traditionally includes any pies not served at the pie and ice cream social on the previous night. The all-you-can-eat price is $7 for adults, $3 for children ages 5-12 and free for youngsters under age 5. Proceeds of all Garland Grange suppers benefit the new heating system fund.
Following the supper, there will be a family contra dance upstairs from 7-9 p.m. This is family friendly, and you don’t even need to know how to dance because it is taught. Admission is $5 per person or $12 per family. The caller for the dance is John McIntyre, and the live music is performed by Some Reel People. For more information about the contra dance, call 277-3961 or 924-3925.
Sunday morning starts with the Garland Grange breakfast served from 7-10 a.m. Again, this is all you eat and it includes eggs cooked to order, bacon, sausage, toast, hash browns, juice and coffee. Price is $7 per person, $3 for children ages 5-12 and free for kids under age 5.
For more information about these events, call 924-3504. For more information about all other Garland Days happenings, call 924-5679 or visit Garland Grange No. 76 on Facebook.