Lions Club hosts 30th Community Day

(7/1) In spite of a heat advisory that predicted temperatures in the upper 90s to low 100s, crowds turned out to enjoy the festivities at the 30th Emmitsburg Lions Club Community Day. The increased turnout was due in part to a severe thunderstorm that roared through the area Friday night, bringing with it “cooler” temperatures.

This year’s event marked the first time that an array of other sponsors became involved and supported the event, including the Town of Emmitsburg, the Frederick County Fire & Rescue Museum, the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, and the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office.

The event was officially kicked-off with breakfast served at the Vigilant Hose Company firehouse, followed by a variety of events and activities beginning at 10 a.m. and stretching into the evening hours.

While the heat drove many to the community pool, which was opened for free during the event, the traditional games such as tug-of-war, egg tossing, three-leg races, balloon tossing, water melon eating, and fishing rod casting competitions were packed with participants, each eager to earn the trophy that awaited the winner.

But as any true citizen of Emmitsburg knows, it wasn’t until the action began in the horseshoe tossing pits that the day’s events really got going. With the retirement of long time champion Richard Valentine, the title of “Best Shoe Thrower” was up for grabs for the first time in everyone’s memory. The action in the pits was hot all day long, with every ringer bringing cheers from the crowd and wild howls of laughter.

All the while, the lines at the Lions Club tent for the Club’s barbeque chicken dinners never seemed to end. By 3 p.m. all the dinners were sold out, bringing a broad smile to face of Lions Club President Cliff Sweeney.

Entertainment was provided throughout the day by a number of performers.
The Fire & Rescue Museum volunteers manned an old hand-pumped cart and demonstrated how fires were put out in the 1800s.

The Seton Shrine set up information tents on their grounds to showcase the history of the Daughters of Charity‘s Civil War heritage. County deputies hosted a seven-mile bicycle ride, while the town sponsored a Civil War encampment and demonstration.

Early evening residents were treated to a parade down Main Street, the centerpiece of which was the display of the Vigilant Hose Company’s equipment, which was polished like a mirror and glistened in the sunlight.

The day was capped by a grand fireworks display, which brought a standing ovation for the Lions Club’s members in recognition of all their efforts from the gathered crowd.