A record-breaking crowd filled Holley Park on Saturday, July 26, for the second and final day of the annual La Center Our Days Steamboat Celebration, this year with a renaissance-theme.
Mayor Tom Strobehn, who helped organize the event, said the turnout exceeded expectations.
“We're breaking record numbers, to be honest with you,” he said. “I think the parade had the most people we've ever seen that attended it last night. I think today we're seeing record numbers of people coming out.”
A major highlight was the large participation in this year’s car show, which crammed Holley Park’s three ballfields. Melynda Downing, who ran the car show, confirmed that 275 cars were registered, smashing last year’s total of 207.
“I’d like it to hit 350 (next year) … I know if I say that to (Melynda) she’s going to club me over the head, but I think she can do it. She’s been an amazing addition.”
The day kicked off with the pet-friendly 5K Fun Run at 8 a.m., followed by the popular car show at 10 a.m. across the baseball fields. Nearby, children lined up for inflatable jousting, foam axe throwing and a bow-and-arrow range, all operated by Bounce N Battle and tied into the renaissance theme.
At the heart of the park, a new main stage stood surrounded by lawn chairs and tents. Strobehn said the central stage was a personal project two years in the making.
“The stage itself was a passion of mine for the last couple of years,” he said. “I think that when you put an event on there should always be a focus … and it's centralized on the stage, right?”
The stage hosted a musical cake walk, the Beautiful Baby Contest and two live music sets in the afternoon. Eventgoers also browsed dozens of vendor booths, participated in bingo inside the Wheel Clubhouse and sampled food and drinks from vendors and the Lions Club.
The 50/50 raffle drawing held on stage closed the day’s main events.
The mayor said he sees room for improvement and plans to help enhance next year’s event with clearer communication and better coordination.
“We want to have coordinated shirts so people know who to ask, what organizers and, and, you know, any type of questions,” he said. “The other thing is radios … We only have four radios … This way we can all communicate on what's happening.”
Strobehn also praised the event’s evolution and those who helped it grow.
“It always starts somewhere, and it starts with a certain group of people, and then another group of people come in and some people don't like change, but the change happens and it makes it better, right?” he said. “Those people that have started this and have worked on this, they aren't ever going to be forgotten.”
