Greene's the place to be this Labor Day
GREENE – The tents are already up and ready to go at the Greene Ball Flats in anticipation of one of the village’s longest standing traditions: the annual community-wide Labor Day Picnic. Now in its 91st year, some 10,000 visitors are expected to celebrate the end of summer on Monday at the family-friendly event.
“The community all looks forward to it,” reported Byron Miller, who has been involved with the event for close to 40 years. Miller has spent over a decade as president of the Greene Labor Day Picnic Association, the volunteer-based group which has kept the tradition alive for more than nine decades.
This year, he said, the festivities will kick off much as it has throughout the event’s history – with hose fights downtown at 8 a.m, followed by the annual Labor Day parade which steps off at 10 a.m.
According to Miller, floats will begin lining up by 9:30 a.m. in the Raymond Corporation parking lot. This year’s lineup will include a number of area fire departments, the Greene High School Marching Band, local scouting and community groups, as well as a procession of antique cars and tractors.
The parade will make its way through downtown Greene, ending at the Ball Flats, where the amusement rides, carnival games and food booths will already be in full swing.
The amusement rides, provided by 3-D Amusements, are always popular with local children, according to Miller. And this year they will once again have a chance to ride them on Sunday as well, as they will be open from 1 to 8 p.m. on the day before the picnic.
While these rides typically cater more to younger children, there will be attractions for adults as well, Miller said, including exhibits at the Scout House, and a race car simulator.
Monday’s morning activities will also include a 5K run/walk, now in its third year. Check-in will be open from 8 to 8:45 a.m. at Lion’s Park, with the race beginning promptly at 9 a.m. from that location.
“Anybody can do this,” said Miller, explaining that participants can compete in seven different age groups and are free to either run or walk the 3.1 mile USATF certified course. Registration is $16 the day of the race. The first 100 to register will receive a t-shirt with their entry.
Back again this year at the Ball Flats will be the antique car show, also now in its third year. According to Miller, the event drew more than 100 cars in its inaugural year and has grown each year. He anticipates a still larger turnout this year, although he admits the number of vehicles they attract is largely dependent on the weather.
“If it looks like a nice day, we’ll pack them in like ‘sardines,’” he laughed.
At noon, the Greene Lions Club will hold their 6th Annual Duck Derby on the Chenango River. According to Miller, the remaining tickets for the event will be on sale at the ball flats before the “race” – which involves the release of yellow rubber ducks down the river – begins. First prize is $1,000.
Other events scheduled for throughout the day include bingo, a horse show, antique tractor pull, a dance recital, an Elvis impersonator and live musical performances by Gary Jennings, Hailey and Shawn, Party of Two and Split Rail.
And during it all, visitors will be able to enjoy the numerous game and food booths manned by community and school groups and area churches. All the money raised during the event, through the food sales and game booths, flow to the Labor Day Picnic Association and right back into the community. On average, Miller said, the association donates $6,500 a year on average to local groups throughout the year. This year, $3,500 went to the Joint Recreation Committee and $1,500 to the Boy Scouts to offset the cost of heating the scout building at the Ball Flats. The remainder was distributed to other local groups to support their efforts in the community.
The day-long celebration will come to a close with a fireworks display, which will commence at 8:45 p.m.
“The fireworks are the largest single draw,” Miller said, explaining that people not only pack the Ball Flats for the show, but also park across the Chenango River to watch the aerial display.
Admission to the event will be free, as will all of the day’s entertainment, with the exception of the rides, games and food. Visitors are asked to bring school supplies for the Stuff-a-Bus, which will be distributed to students in the Greene Central School District who are in need of these supplies.
“We’re also encouraging them to bring a non-perishable food item for the Greene Food Pantry,” added Miller. These items can be dropped off at the Stuff-a-Bus as well.
While children and adults of all ages are welcome to attend, the organizers don’t allow pets of any kind. That prohibition includes dogs, as well as more exotic animals, Miller said, which they felt necessary to specify after someone brought their boa constrictor to the event a couple of years ago.
Parking at the Ball Flats itself will be reserved for handicap parking only, Miller said, but there will be plenty of free parking available at the Great American on South Chenango Street. A free shuttle will be available between 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. to ferry event goers from the parking lot to the Ball Flats. Additional parking will be available in the village’s municipal parking areas.
Sunday
1 to 8 p.m. Amusement Rides provided by 3-D Amusements open, Ball Flats
Monday
8 a.m. Hose Fights, Genesee Street
8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Chicken barbecue at Ball Flats, sponsored by Greene Council of Churches
9 a.m. Labor Day 5K run/walk, Lions Park
10 a.m. Labor Day Parade (Line up at 9:30, Raymond)
10 a.m. Amusements, games, car show, food booths, etc. open at Ball Flats
10 a.m. Antique tractor pull
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Car Show
10:30 a.m. Horse Show, Ball Flats
11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Free shuttle from Great American to Ball Flats
11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Bingo
Noon 6th Annual Lions Club Duck Race
3:30 to 8 p.m. Bingo
4:30 p.m. Little League Game featuring Greene Hornets (tentative)
8:45 p.m. Fireworks display
Monday in the Entertainment Tent
11 a.m. to noon Step Up and Dance Recital
Noon to 1:30 p.m. Gary Jennings, country music
2 to 3 p.m. Elvis impersonator
3:15 to 5 p.m. Party of Two
5 to 7 p.m. Hailey and Shawn
7 to 9 p.m. Split Rail, classic rock
“The community all looks forward to it,” reported Byron Miller, who has been involved with the event for close to 40 years. Miller has spent over a decade as president of the Greene Labor Day Picnic Association, the volunteer-based group which has kept the tradition alive for more than nine decades.
This year, he said, the festivities will kick off much as it has throughout the event’s history – with hose fights downtown at 8 a.m, followed by the annual Labor Day parade which steps off at 10 a.m.
According to Miller, floats will begin lining up by 9:30 a.m. in the Raymond Corporation parking lot. This year’s lineup will include a number of area fire departments, the Greene High School Marching Band, local scouting and community groups, as well as a procession of antique cars and tractors.
The parade will make its way through downtown Greene, ending at the Ball Flats, where the amusement rides, carnival games and food booths will already be in full swing.
The amusement rides, provided by 3-D Amusements, are always popular with local children, according to Miller. And this year they will once again have a chance to ride them on Sunday as well, as they will be open from 1 to 8 p.m. on the day before the picnic.
While these rides typically cater more to younger children, there will be attractions for adults as well, Miller said, including exhibits at the Scout House, and a race car simulator.
Monday’s morning activities will also include a 5K run/walk, now in its third year. Check-in will be open from 8 to 8:45 a.m. at Lion’s Park, with the race beginning promptly at 9 a.m. from that location.
“Anybody can do this,” said Miller, explaining that participants can compete in seven different age groups and are free to either run or walk the 3.1 mile USATF certified course. Registration is $16 the day of the race. The first 100 to register will receive a t-shirt with their entry.
Back again this year at the Ball Flats will be the antique car show, also now in its third year. According to Miller, the event drew more than 100 cars in its inaugural year and has grown each year. He anticipates a still larger turnout this year, although he admits the number of vehicles they attract is largely dependent on the weather.
“If it looks like a nice day, we’ll pack them in like ‘sardines,’” he laughed.
At noon, the Greene Lions Club will hold their 6th Annual Duck Derby on the Chenango River. According to Miller, the remaining tickets for the event will be on sale at the ball flats before the “race” – which involves the release of yellow rubber ducks down the river – begins. First prize is $1,000.
Other events scheduled for throughout the day include bingo, a horse show, antique tractor pull, a dance recital, an Elvis impersonator and live musical performances by Gary Jennings, Hailey and Shawn, Party of Two and Split Rail.
And during it all, visitors will be able to enjoy the numerous game and food booths manned by community and school groups and area churches. All the money raised during the event, through the food sales and game booths, flow to the Labor Day Picnic Association and right back into the community. On average, Miller said, the association donates $6,500 a year on average to local groups throughout the year. This year, $3,500 went to the Joint Recreation Committee and $1,500 to the Boy Scouts to offset the cost of heating the scout building at the Ball Flats. The remainder was distributed to other local groups to support their efforts in the community.
The day-long celebration will come to a close with a fireworks display, which will commence at 8:45 p.m.
“The fireworks are the largest single draw,” Miller said, explaining that people not only pack the Ball Flats for the show, but also park across the Chenango River to watch the aerial display.
Admission to the event will be free, as will all of the day’s entertainment, with the exception of the rides, games and food. Visitors are asked to bring school supplies for the Stuff-a-Bus, which will be distributed to students in the Greene Central School District who are in need of these supplies.
“We’re also encouraging them to bring a non-perishable food item for the Greene Food Pantry,” added Miller. These items can be dropped off at the Stuff-a-Bus as well.
While children and adults of all ages are welcome to attend, the organizers don’t allow pets of any kind. That prohibition includes dogs, as well as more exotic animals, Miller said, which they felt necessary to specify after someone brought their boa constrictor to the event a couple of years ago.
Parking at the Ball Flats itself will be reserved for handicap parking only, Miller said, but there will be plenty of free parking available at the Great American on South Chenango Street. A free shuttle will be available between 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. to ferry event goers from the parking lot to the Ball Flats. Additional parking will be available in the village’s municipal parking areas.
Sunday
1 to 8 p.m. Amusement Rides provided by 3-D Amusements open, Ball Flats
Monday
8 a.m. Hose Fights, Genesee Street
8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Chicken barbecue at Ball Flats, sponsored by Greene Council of Churches
9 a.m. Labor Day 5K run/walk, Lions Park
10 a.m. Labor Day Parade (Line up at 9:30, Raymond)
10 a.m. Amusements, games, car show, food booths, etc. open at Ball Flats
10 a.m. Antique tractor pull
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Car Show
10:30 a.m. Horse Show, Ball Flats
11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Free shuttle from Great American to Ball Flats
11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Bingo
Noon 6th Annual Lions Club Duck Race
3:30 to 8 p.m. Bingo
4:30 p.m. Little League Game featuring Greene Hornets (tentative)
8:45 p.m. Fireworks display
Monday in the Entertainment Tent
11 a.m. to noon Step Up and Dance Recital
Noon to 1:30 p.m. Gary Jennings, country music
2 to 3 p.m. Elvis impersonator
3:15 to 5 p.m. Party of Two
5 to 7 p.m. Hailey and Shawn
7 to 9 p.m. Split Rail, classic rock
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