CELORON - Along with enjoying quality cooked barbecue ribs, people who visit the 2012 Celoron Rib-fest will also be able to soak a police officer, a teacher or the village mayor with water.
The Celoron Rib-fest will kick off at 3 p.m. Wednesday, June 6, and continue until 11 p.m. Saturday, June 9, at Lucille Ball Memorial Park. This is the fifth rib-fest that will be held along Chautauqua Lake in Celoron, with it being the third year village officials have produced and operated the event.
One new event this year is the ''Big Kauna Soaker,'' with village residents positioning themselves to get wet. John Kenney, Celoron mayor, said the activity will be similar to a dunk tank, but instead of people falling into water, it will fall on them. The mayor said an exact schedule, with hours and participants, had not been finalized yet. However, he said he will be participating in the ''Big Kauna Soaker'' booth from 6 to 7 p.m. Friday with an Ellicott police officer. Also, from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Southwestern Central School District teachers and Ellicott police officers are scheduled to be in the booth.
A large majority of the money raised by the event goes to community organizations, whose members volunteer their time to help host the event.
''I would say 90 percent of the proceeds are given to nonprofit organizations,'' Keeney said. ''The village only takes money to pay for the use of facilities and to pay utility bills.''
Keeney said last year's festival was very successful and believes that will continue this year thanks to the village's rib-fest committee. The group includes two village trustees Scott Schrecengost and Norman Mattison and volunteers from the Celoron Hose Company No. 1, the Chautauqua Lake Fishing Association and the Lakewood-Celoron Moose Club.
''I'm surprised by the amount of time and work the committee puts in because there is a lot that needs to be done. They put a lot of time in on this and their efforts are all volunteer,'' he said.
Keeney said the village also receives help from organizations like the Civil Air Patrol, the Chautauqua Children's Safety Education Village and students from Southwestern Central School District. Keeney said not only do community organization members volunteer their time, but also village residents who just want to lend a helping hand.
''Volunteerism through community organizations is infectious throughout the village,'' Keeney said. ''People (not associated with a community groups) come into the office to volunteer. We desperately need community volunteers and we have them. We are very blessed.''
Rib vendors returning this year will be Sgt. Oink's BBQ, My Happy Place, Smokin' Joe's Hog Wild Barbecue, Bulldog Barbeque of Jamestown and Wells Hog Wild BBQ Co. of Warren, Pa.
There will also be vendor booths that will sell chicken, pizza, fries, blooming onions, funnel cakes, candy apples, cotton candy and chocolate-covered strawberries. There will also be soda pop, lemonade and ice water available. The ribfest also includes a beer and wine slushies tent, where people can enjoy their meal by the lake while enjoying an adult beverage.
Harley Davidson of Jamestown will sponsor bike night Friday, with special parking along the boulevard at Lucille Ball Memorial Park all day. The Celoron Rib-Fest will feature classic cars. On Wednesday evening, Celoron will host a cruise-in at the lakefront. Saturday will feature a formal Classic Car Show on the ball diamond with more than 100 cars from the 50s and 60s.
Live music at Desi Arnaz Bandshell will be performed Wednesday 6 to 9 p.m. by Total Chaos; Thursday 6 to 9 p.m. by Willow Creek; Friday 5 to 7:45 p.m. by Derek Davis & The Tasty Groove and 8 to 11 p.m. by Smokehouse; and Saturday 1 to 4 p.m. by Happy Days, 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. by Pressure Sensitive and 8 to 11 p.m. by Synergy.
The Celoron Rib-fest has not forgotten the children. There will be a larger-than-ever ''Kids Zone.'' Children of any age can get their face painted, ride the train and experience the bounce houses and slide. There will also be a bungee run on Friday and Saturday.
The Celoron Rib-fest will be held from 3 to 10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For more information, visit www.celoronribfest.com.
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