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roakerfest 2011 is just a few days away, and if you’d like to do more this year than be a spectator, you’re in luck. Croakerfest offers up a few participatory opportunities…from helping put things in place down by the river to cooking up pies – or parade floats — to racing a small sailboat.

How To Be Part Of Croakerfest, 2011:

CroakerBooth Setter-Uppers and Light Stringers:

On Wednesday, the Croaker booth is to be erected at the corner of Freemason and South Avenue. Light also need to be strung across Lou-Mac Park and garbage cans have to be set out (that’s a crucial part of the Croaker Garbologist chain….) Organizer Candy Bohmert says at least five volunteers are needed for Wednesday’s work which will start around noontime.

On Friday at 8a, the Croakerfest team needs a few folks to help direct the 80 vendors to their spaces in the park. If you can help out, give Candy a call at 675-1411 .

This could be you. From the 2010 Croakerfest Parade

Croakerfest Parade:

We asked Paul Fairbank, the chief elf for the “Christmas in July” Croakerfest parade, how registration was going. He scrunched his face up a bit and paused for dramatic effect before suggesting that it may be time to show off that photo of him from past parade organizing campaigns. The one with the head-hammering-mallets.

Parade Meister and hammer-wielding elf, Paul Fairbank.

It’s not that folks haven’t been registering, it’s just that Paul likes to see a lots and lots of participants. (And the agonizing is part of the theater.) Give Paul a call (and leave a message) at 249-0023, or pop by Village Hardware to sign up. No charge to be in the parade which this year will have Santa as the Grand Marshal and retiring Police Chief Jeff Cassasa being honored as well.

(For those joining us late, the reason we have a “Christmas in July” parade for Croakerfest is because the Spirit of Christmas parade last December got cancelled. Bring out the garland, the fake snow.

This year Paul’s trying to get the various Mini Coopers in the Oriental area to be part of the “Million MIni March.” Same number to call..

Croakerfest Regatta:

This is after the parade. And it’s for adults and kids who sail small boats — Sunfish, FJ, 420 or Optmist. Advanced sailors compete out on the river. The kids in the Optis stay on the creek side of the bridge. Paul Welles says they are encouraging lots of kids to take part. Sailors register between 11:30a and 12:30p on the lawn of Grace Evans’ house at the end of Midyette Street. First race starts at 2p. Awards ceremony and refreshments after the racing. Cost is $5 per boat. More details here at the Oriental Dinghy Club website.

Croakerfest Regatta, 2008 as seen from the bridge.

Fireworks:

Saturday circa 9:30p. Mostly this is a spectator sport but you can have some skin in the game by Sponsoring a Sparkle, which you can do in advance of the big bang show. Right here at the Croakerfestival Website, you can offer up your contribution. And they’ll give you a thank you, on their sponsors page…

Fireworks off of Teach’s Point, with the Oriental Bridge — and its many spectators – silhouetted.

Help Feed The Hungry:

At the parade, you’ll see the folks on the floats tossing out candy to the crowds along the parade route. There is one float though, where you can reciprocate. Pamlico County’s food bank, Fishes and Loaves will have a truck and volunteers in the parade and you can hand them whatever canned goods you can bring to the parade route. (Please, no tossing the cans; they’re not candy….)

Bake-Off:

The Croakerfest gets started on Friday afternoon down at South Avenue and Freemason, right by Lou-Mac Park. The Pamlico Community Band plays, and the Pamlico Chorale sings, and Miss Minnow and Croaker Queen contestants compete. While all that’s going on, judges are taste testing the baked goods. You can get in on that competition. No tiara, but you can go home with a ribbon and bragging rights for a year.

Baking Contest, Cheesecake division from Croakerfest a few years ago. In background, judges await their next sample.

The Croaker Relay is taking a year off. No relay race is planned.

Posted Tuesday June 28, 2011 by Melinda Penkava