Party in the Park Presented by When: Friday, May 30 - Sunday, June 1, 2008 Where: Art 634 Building (Friday) and Ella Sharp Park (Saturday and Sunday) Click to open a Party in the Park Event Map for details on where all activities are taking place in Sharp Park. The Jackson County Rose Festival started in 1958. To celebrate their 50th anniversary, the Rose Festival Board wanted to bring back the events that took place during the inaugural event. Although they may not be exactly the same as the 1958 events, most of the events listed below took place at the first Rose Festival at Ella Sharp Park. To email specific contacts, click on their name if they are highlighted in blue. Activities on Friday, May 30 Dance Party - 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. at the Art 634 Building on N. Mechanic Chairpersons, Kim Lennox from Lennox Studios and Margaret Riggle from Art 634 This event will feature musical entertainment and food in an outdoor setting at the Art 634 Building. It is a replacement of sorts for the Rose Festival Ball that used to take place in the early years. The businesses and organizations which call the Art 634 Building their home will coordinate the event and give the community the opportunity to experience Jackson's Center for the Creative Spirit. contact Kim Lennox or Margaret Riggle. Activities on Saturday, May 31 Rose Festival Strongman Presented by Powerhouse 24 Strong Sponsor - Celestian Water 1:00 p.m. at the Miniature Golf/Pool area in Ella Sharp Park Chairperson, John Darling Jackson has never hosted this type of an event and it's promising to be a large attraction to the Rose Festival's list of events for the weekend. In past years, the Rose Festival hosted Mr. Rose City, a body building competition, but this is something totally different. The North American Strongman competition will be a part of the Party in the Park weekend and on Saturday, May 31 will offer not only avid competitors from outside the area a chance to compete, but local amateurs as well. For more information on the NAS, North America's premier governing body for amateur strongman athletes, go to their website at www.nastrongmaninc.com or you can also check out Motor City Fitness. Entry form and competition details can be found below. For questions, contact John Darling or call 517-914-3313. Click to open a NAS Entry Form Click to open NAS Competition Details and Rules Activities on Sunday, June 1 All Party in the Park activities on Sunday are from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Chicken BBQ Chairperson, Brant Russell, JPS Food Service Director The Chicken BBQ will be ready at 2:30 p.m. in the field by Carter's Corner with seating at the pavilion. Dinners will cost $6.50 each and will include a chicken half, cole slaw, corn on the cob, a dinner roll and a bottle of water. Businesses can purchase and pay for lunch tickets in advance. 1,000 dinners for the public will be prepared and additional dinners prepared for the number of tickets sold. Dinners available through 6:15 p.m. or until sold out. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Jackson County Rose Festival. Please email Liz Niles for details on lunch tickets. Family-style Entertainment Chairperson, Kim Hastings, Jackson School of the Arts This family-style entertainment is pure family. Bring your lawnchairs and blankets!! The current list of entertainment scheduled is: Performances by the Rose Queen and her Court Jackson Youth Symphony Orchestra Burnin’ Man (local Reggae Band) Jackson School of the Arts Dance Students There is more to be scheduled. The stage will be located near Carter's Corner (around softball diamond #4) so the guests enjoying dinner can eat and relax with some entertainment too! The Rose Festival is looking for sponsors to help pay for rental expenses. Those interested in either supporting the stage entertainment or participating in the event should contact Kim Hastings for more details. Softball Tournament of the Roses Chairperson, Mark Raczkowski, East Jackson High School Sponsored in part by Cooperstown Softball Complex The Softball Tournament of the Roses kicks off on Saturday, May 31 at Cooperstown with preliminary rounds. The semi/finals will take place at Sharp Park diamonds immediately following the parade on Sunday, June 1. There are plans for Men's, Women's and Co-ed divisions. The Rose Festival is currently looking for sponsors to help offset the expenses of trophies and prizes. A portion of the proceeds from this event will benefit the Jackson County Rose Festival. If you are interested in sponsoring the event, contact Liz Niles. Click to open a Softball Tourney Team Registration Form Click to open Tournament Information Flyer If you have any questions regarding the rules or registration, email Mark Raczkowski. Museum & Kids Activities Chairpersons, Amy Wellington, Ella Sharp Museum and Marla Sanford, A1FCU This area will offer interactive and hands-on activities which will be both educational and fun. Activities happening courtesy of Ella Sharp Museum: Craft area featuring a "make and take" craft of tissue paper roses and other hands on activities promoting the Museum's Summer'S Cool program Hillside Farm Lane buildings and the Museum galleries will be open to the public free of charge 1st floor Hillside Farm House tours for a $1.00 donation Free popcorn and cotton candy and kid's moonwalk courtesy of American 1 Federal Credit Union Free Face Painting courtesy of Child Evangelism Fellowship Coloring Contest courtesy of Jackson Masonic Lodge #17 If you would like to support this area of the festival, contact either Amy Wellington or Marla Sanford. Photo Contest Chairperson, Kim Lennox, Lennox Studios In 1958, this photo contest was focused around the rose gardens at Ella Sharp Park. Over the years the festival has shifted dates and can no longer incorporate this theme into the photo contest, but there is still going to be an organized contest with different categories and divisions. Winners will be announced at the Party in the Park on the entertainment stage. Proceeds from this event will benefit the Rose Festival. The Rose Festival is looking for sponsors for this event to help with the expenses of prizes. If you would like to support this area of the festival, contact Liz Niles. Click to open a Photo Entry Form Click to open Photo Contest Flyer for more details Peter F. Hurst Planetarium Open to the public Bernie Hadwin operated the Hurst Planetarium for a decade. In memory of Bernie, the planetarium started the annual Bernie Hadwin Startalk with the inaugural event held last summer. The Planetarium will be presenting the 2nd annual Bernie Hadwin Memorial Startalk during the activities at the Party in the Park on Sunday Every half hour will highlight things that you can see in the summer sky. The first talk will begin at 2:30 p.m. and last talk is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. There is no fee to attend, but donations for the planetarium will be accepted at the door. Sharp Park Mini Golf Course The mini golf course will be open and instead of paying to play, participants are asked to support future Rose Festival events with a donation. For general information about the Rose Parade or Party in the Park, contact Liz Niles, Parade/Party in the Park Event Director.