Everyone is invited to join in the dance around the May Pole at the Molson Mid Summer Festival. The May Pole is a tradition of some of the Nordic countries where many Molson’s early pioneers had their roots. Photos by Gary DeVon

OROVILLE – Molson Midsummer Fest couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day as the sun came out and the only clouds in a bright blue sky were the fluffy white kind that didn’t threaten rain.

“It was a great festival, we had the largest parade ever with all the past Grand Marshals following behind this year’s Grand Marshals. And we had a great turn out of classic and antique vehicles for our car show whoand they made up much of the parade,” said Joyce Forthun, one of the many organizers of last Saturday’s event.

“We had a nice day when we needed it. It had rained up until about 5:30 p.m. on Friday,” she added.

Forthun said that the people really seemed to enjoy going back and forth between the car show near the Old School Museum, where the May Pole Decorating and Dance took place, as well as the kids’ games and horseshoes, and the Grange where there were arts and crafts, music and lots of good food.

This year’s Grand Marshals were sisters Eileen Foch and Mary Louise Loe. They led the parade in a pony-drawn cart owned by Sealja Durkee. The pony and cart were voted the Parade Favorites by round of applause.

In the Walk & Run that started off the day, Hunter Forthun won first place in the Youth Category for the Runners; Kally Ray and Logan Thompson tied for second. In the Adult Category for the Walkers, Sandie and Dan VanHoven took first place in the three-mile walk. In the one-mile walk Ken Cockle was first and Nancy and Everett Hargrove were second.

Joanie Raymond and Daniel Hawkins were first in the horseshoe pitching.

The car show had many fine entries this year. Joe Schell and his red 1948 Diamond T took first place. Kurt Peterson’s brown 1931 Ford Model A Woody was second and Paul and Kathy Yarnell’s yellow 1956 Metropolitan was third.

For Frisbee Golf it was Andy Raymond in first, followed by Hunter Forthun in second and Scott Forthun in third. The team of Tessa Pierce, Wendy Schell and Grace Clark took first place in the Team Challenge, while June Shell, Gracie Emmitt and Kate Quintrall were second and Kris Clark, William Clark and Kate Quintrall were third.

Deena Welborn won the raffle for the painting by Pat Rise, Mary Louise Loe won the quilt by Elva Helm and Sandie Van Hoven had the best guess in the Candy Jar Guess contest.

“We’d like to than the musicians, Grangers and Sitzmark Ski Club and the volunteers, sponsors and all the people that participated in the event,” said Forthun. “And a special thanks to everyone that attended this festive family occasion. It was great to see the old people who have been doing this for awhile now and the new people that have become involved.”