Wonderful Weekend, Busy Town

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Lamar offered something to do for almost every taste, whether your interests ranged from the annual Oktoberfest activities,  to the Living History Encampment, to the Lamar Community College Antelope Stampede, or more sedentary fare, such as scanning the titles offered at the fall book fair at the Lamar Library.

Almost perfect weather was on tap on Saturday, along with ice-cold beer at the Oktoberfest.  Folks could wash down a barbecued bratwurst while watching young tumblers from Wild West Athletics contort their bodies on the grass, shop for a bargain from vendors, or view assorted youngsters grab some rare air as they ascended the climbing wall, or reached for the sky on the free trampoline bungee rides.  An assortment of bands performed through the day at the Enchanted Forest and several youngsters (Jillian Cook, Barbie Duenzel, Dylan Vallejos, Gage Payne) displayed their carving handiwork during the pumpkin carving contest.  Each youngster was awarded $25 in Luv Bucks.

Saturday was also a day to travel back in time at the Living History Encampment at the LCC Campus.  The two-day event is put on every two years and depicts lifestyles from times long gone by on the High Plains, yet also very familiar to local residents.  Dozens of elementary school students came in by busload on Friday, as part of their academic curriculum.  They were able to view the way their great-great grandparents lived over one hundred years ago.  Another feature of the wild west was on display at the Prowers County Fairgrounds, as the annual Antelope Stampede Rodeo was hosted by Lamar Community College.  Students from several colleges competed in their particular events Friday through Sunday as they vied for the top spot in their event.

It didn’t take long for book lovers to arrive at the Cultural Events Center on Sunday afternoon for the semi-annual, Friends of Lamar Library Book Sale.  The first weekend in October brings out bargain hunters who roamed the rows of titles, filling their boxes with paperbacks, hardbound editions and video cassettes.  The sale will wrap up on Wednesday with shoppers able to buy the remaining books by the bag.

By Russ Baldwin

Photos by Russ Baldwin and Vincent Gearhart