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Photograph by Dai Sugano
Lions Club members (from left) Bob Wales, Lions president Bill Frye, and barbecue chairman Roger Mason check out the grills to make sure they're ready for a heavy workout at the annual Town Picnic.
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Town picnic celebrates end of summer
Oak Meadow Park is the setting for annual gathering
By Shari Kaplan
When the end of August rolls around, students' thoughts often linger on what the new school year will bring; parents congratulate themselves on having somehow entertained their kids through another summer; and everyone gives their two cents worth on what the weather--rather unpredictable in recent years--will do this autumn.
But before these seasonal changes, comes one event that is as predictable as bees at a barbecue--the annual Los Gatos Town Picnic, sponsored by the Los Gatos Lions Club. The event takes place on Aug. 29 from noon to 6 p.m. at Oak Meadow Park, its venue for more than three decades. Everyone is welcome.
According to Los Gatos Lion Gloria Le Blanc, the predecessor of this traditional town gathering was a horse show the Lions Club first held in the hilly Harwood Road area in 1957.
"The men handled the horses and the wives set up a barbecue. The men soon realized that the barbecue was the money-maker, not the horse show," Le Blanc recalls.
The picnic continued, minus the equine element, until 1963, when its growing popularity necessitated moving to the larger and more central location of Oak Meadow Park. The picnic is the Lions' biggest fundraiser of the year, benefiting charities the club supports and helping pay for the club's many community service projects in keeping with its motto of "We Serve." Among these projects was building Oak Meadow's bandstand and stationary barbecues and helping fund the park's playground. Most recently, the club donated $6,000 to the Quest drug awareness program at Fisher Middle School.
Children's activities at this year's picnic include carnival games and prizes, face-painting and an AstroJump. Supervising the children's activities are members of the Los Gatos Leos Club, the high school offshoot club sponsored by the Lions. For adults, there's the Corporate Challenge, in which various Los Gatos groups, businesses and organizations vie for victory in events such as three-legged races, volleyball and tug-of-war. Last year, reigning champion C.B. Hannegan's was ousted by the Los Gatos Athletic Club.
The bill of fare includes barbecued chicken--or hot dogs and hamburgers for children, chili, garlic bread, salad and dessert. Beverages are available for an additional purchase. Picnic tickets, which are $10 for adults and $5 for children, may be obtained from any Lions Club member. Each ticket includes a free ride on Oak Meadow Park's Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad or the William E. "Bill" Mason Carousel. For more information, call 356-1266.
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
