Lakeside Community Fair set for July 14

Lakeside is going to be bustling with activity on July 14 for the 23rd annual Lakeside Community Fair.

The fair is held each year to raise funds for non-profit organizations serving the west shore area such as QRU, the Somers Rural Fire Department, ALERT, Lakeside Food Bank, Samaritan House, the West Shore Library and other non-profits.

Festivities kick off at 7 a.m. with a pancake breakfast at Lakeside Chapel. Pancakes will be served until 10 a.m., which is fortunate because runners will need to fuel up for the 5K race at Volunteer Park.

Registration for the 5k race opens at 7:45 a.m. and the race begins at 9 a.m.

Arts and crafts booths will be set up at Lakeside Elementary School throughout the day along with a bake sale.

Line-up for the parade is also at the elementary school at 10 a.m. and the parade will start at 11 a.m.

Other events at LES include a kid’s watermelon-eating contest at 1 p.m. and a “split the pot” drawing at 2:30 p.m. The duck race will be held at Tamarack Brewery at 4 p.m.

The majority of the volunteers for the fair are Lakeside Community Club members and the rest are community members who want to help out LCC with their cause.

“This truly is a community effort,” LCC President Kay Hopkins said. “Without everyone’s participation we wouldn’t have the success we have been able to achieve over the years.”

There will also be a silent auction at LES from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. One of the major items up for auction is a 16-foot Sport Boat and Motor along with several collectables and antiques.

Last year’s silent auction and gift certificates raised a total of $14,000, “attic treasures” sales generated $5,500 of that total. All of the items were donated and re-purposed. Overall, the fair raised $25,000 last year.

The goal for this year is to raise just as much as last year through the fair since the gross income for the LCC was $32,000 for last year.

Items were donated from businesses and individuals in Kalispell, Somers, Lakeside, Rollins, Dayton, and Polson.

“It’s pretty amazing when you consider that most of that income is from used items that people donate,” Hopkins said.

Hopkins said one of the highlights from previous fairs is selecting a grand marshall to recognize for their volunteer-work throughout the community.

“The other highlight is just the incredible generosity of our neighborhoods, they truly make the fair,” Hopkins said.

The LCC and all the organizations to benefit from the fair are 501-C3 non-profit, which means all donations are tax deductable and go toward helping fellow residents of the west shore.

For more information or to get involved with the fair, contact Kay Hopkins at 844-3425, or to make a donation call 857-3363. Vendors seeking booth space at the fair can contact Dody Shermetta at 857-2116. Or, visit their website at www.lakeside-community-mt.com.