Raising fun and funds while welcoming spring
By Danielle Abbott
When the Washburn Lions Club was first organized in 1929, it is hard to say if the original creators expected the club to last 80 years. Somewhere between then and now, the club began organizing what would eventually become their largest event of the year; the annual Washburn Lions Carnival. Like every group, club and annual event that stands the test of time, the ongoing success of this carnival is in the hands of not only the active Lions Club members, but also the community. Once again this year, the citizens of Washburn are being called to the annual carnival on March 28. Whether you are an individual or family looking for an enjoyable Saturday afternoon, a group or club looking to raise a little extra money, or a business looking to donate and give back to the community, the Lions Carnival has something to offer everyone. Lions Club first vice president Doug Reiser and second vice president Mike Nelson will team up to co-chair the event and as Nelson explained, the Carnival is returning with everyone’s favorite games, and several new activities. This year’s carnival will include a cake walk by the Washburn Music Boosters, a bean bag toss from the McLean County Resource Center, the Washburn Ambulance will host a cotton candy booth, the sports boosters will sponsor a hoop shoot and the Cub Scouts will man a mini golf activity. Several events will be managed by the local Relay for Life teams including a fish pond, silent auction, bean bag toss, face painting, bear sale and ring the bell. The local Boy Scout troop will provide the soup and BBQ lunch. As with every year, the Lions Club will sponsor the popular bingo event. "That’s always a really popular item," Nelson said, "The bingo tables are always overpacked, we have got a lot of bingo fans in Washburn."
