Volunteers, fun and food lined up for fest

It started out as a small gathering in Pepin Park for people who wanted something special to do on July 4, but it has grown into a massive community celebration.

Last year, organizer Vince Woodwick recalls being told that there were 20 hamburgers left. He looked up, made a quick count, and realized more than 200 people were still in line.

He rushed off to Gary & Leo’s Fresh Foods, brought more hamburger, and came back to put the cooks to work.

“In all, we fed about 1,700 people last year,” he said.

Vince and his brother, Allen “Woody” Woodwick, are planning on at least that many this year.

But while there will be more people at the festival this year than there were a dozen years ago, there will be the same old-fashioned July Fourth spirit that existed when the first, much-smaller gathering took place.

The Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts will open the festivities at noon with the presentation of colors and the Pledge of Allegiance. Donna Tilleman will sing the national anthem.

“And then people will line up to get the food,” Vince said.

The event is pretty well-organized, Vince said.

“The music is ready to go, the balloon twisters are set, the face painters are ready and the hot dogs and hamburgers are ordered,” he said.

A dozen years ago, the Woodwick brothers came up with the iea for the community picnic.

Vince remembers as a child, downtown Havre was abuzz on the Fourth of July, There were sidewalk sales and all kinds of special attractions. But that faded out as years went by, and there were no special events until the fireworks display at night.

So, the noon picnic was set up, and the brothers went to local businesses looking for donations.

The first couple of years, Vince said, he and Woody put in some of their own money. That hasn’t been needed in recent years.

“This community is so generous,” he said.

There is money left over at the end of the year to start things off for the next year, he said.

Some people donate money, others donate items that are prizes for the raffles.

“The raffle is the way we raise our money,” Vince said.

People who want to volunteer are most welcome, he said.

People are needed to cook, serve and be overall helpers, he said.

People who want to help out can call him at 265-4877.

“Every year I’m worried we’re not going to have enough,” he said. “And then in the morning of July 4, we have too many.”