March gladness

Here comes the Pow Wow Festival, two days of good, clean fun.

By LORRIE LYKINS
Published March 4, 2007

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SEMINOLE - Seminole's 39th annual Pow Wow Festival kicks off Friday night with the semi-finals of Seminole Sings, the city's version of American Idol.

This is the third year the singing competition has been held in conjunction with the two-day festival, which draws about 10,000 people and is the city's largest annual event.

At 7 p.m. Friday, the top singers will vie for spots in the March 16 finals.

The carnival midway will be at the Holland G. Mangum Recreation Complex, 9100 113th St. N.

It will be open from 5 to 11 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday.

Opening ceremonies are scheduled for 6:45 p.m. Friday.

Other Friday events include the All Children's Charity Auction, an exhibit of classic cars and street rods, and live music.

On Saturday, the Pow Wow Parade begins at 10 a.m. and will proceed along 113th Street from Park Boulevard to 102nd Avenue.

The festival wraps up Saturday with fireworks at 9:50 p.m.

The festival was started as a fundraiser in 1967 by the fire department and the Seminole High School Warhawks Booster Club.

The goal was to raise $1,600 to complete construction of the high school's athletic stadium.

The city gets sponsorships for the event, so other than staff time and facility wear and tear, there is no cost to the city, said Jim Sheets, Seminole recreation director.

The festival generates about $2,000 in profit, he said.

By the numbers

1 ambulances standing by just in case

12 clowns that will appear in Saturday's parade

30 volunteers it takes to run the event

75 parade entries

 

200 cases of sodas consumed over two days

200 city staff hours devoted to the festival

400 traffic cones that will be used

1,000 parade participants

10,000 folks who usually attend the two-day festival

What's happening when?

For a complete schedule of activities on Friday and Saturday, visit the city's Web site: http://24.73.64.154/powwowfestival/index.htm.