The Buena Park Noon Lions Club of District 4-L4 held its “Silverado Days Grants Luncheon” recently at the Knott’s Berry Farm Hotel; handing out money made during the annual three-day Silverado Days event held at William Peak Park. All money made during the event is given to local non-profits, schools, the library, etc., to those who fill out a request for a Lions’ Grants. There were lots of new happenings at Silverado Days in 2015, which draws more than 60,000 people to the festival sponsored by the City of Buena Park and administered by the Buena Park Noon Lions Club.
The Buena Park Noon Lions Club of District 4-L4 held its “Silverado Days Grants Luncheon” recently at the Knott’s Berry Farm Hotel; handing out money made during the annual three-day Silverado Days event held at William Peak Park. All money made during the event is given to local non-profits, schools, the library, etc., to those who fill out a request for a Lions’ Grants. There were lots of new happenings at Silverado Days in 2015, which draws more than 60,000 people to the festival sponsored by the City of Buena Park and administered by the Buena Park Noon Lions Club. Local businesses join the Booster Club to help offset the festival costs, which further enables the Lions to have more money for local charities. Joining the Booster Club is easy and costs $75 for individuals and $150 for businesses; checks may be sent to Booster Club Chair Kathy La Pierre at P.O. Box 6782, Buena Park, CA 90622. Also, different organizations and individuals purchase the use of one of the 16 food booths, 20 games booths, 90 arts and crafts booths, along with the 30 carnival rides. Silverado Days is growing each year and has new and fun adventures that includes a car show, the World Amateur Arm Wrestling Championship, an amateur and professional horseshoe contest, pie-eating contest, hog calling; a baby contest, men’s leg’s contest, a mutt show and a fiery chili cook-off event. Also, a 5K Fun Run and Walk was add once again to raise additional monies for charity. The Johnsonville Big Taste Grill – not your average backyard barbecue – that has been on the road since 1995 and was back at Silverado Days, helping to raise even more money to give back to the community in the form of Silverado Days Grants. The Big Taste Grill is 20-feet tall, 65-feet long and 6-feet in diameter; just to park it, a space of 20-by-90 feet is needed, and happy to be supplied by the Lions. Johnsonville created the original Big Taste Grill in 1995 to celebrate its company’s 50th anniversary. The Big Taste Grill operates at special events like community festivals, major sporting events and retail locations all over the country. It’s unique, and therefore attracts a lot of attention, being able to cook and serve 2,500 “brats” an hour, while benefiting non-profit organizations in the communities they visit. Johnsonville donates it proceeds of brat sales to a local charity at each event it serves; the only thing it asks is that the local community it’s benefiting for charity, provides volunteers to man the Big Taste Grill to cook and serve the brats. Buena Park Coordinating Council were the hosts for the barbeque, with proceeds going to feed the hungry of Buena Park. The Big Taste Grill program has raised more than $3.5 million for a variety of charities nationwide, many of them local community organizations such as Silverado Days. Silverado Days is food and fun for the entire family. Silverado Days 2016 is set for William Peak Park, Friday through Sunday, Oct. 14, 15 and 16, 7225 El Dorado Dr., in Buena Park – opening at 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 14 and continue through Sunday evening October 16, when there is the drawing at 9 p.m. sharp on the Main Stage for a 2016 car or truck (vehicle to be determined). Tickets for the car/truck may be purchased at the Lions booth near the Food Court at Silverado Days or see any Lions member beforehand; especially during the annual Summer Concerts at Boisseranc Park off of Dale Street, north of La Palma Avenue. There’s free non-stop entertainment on the Main Stage each day of Silverado and plenty of non-profit food booths surrounding the stage where food may be purchased while enjoying the entertainment. Lions hold a Pancake Breakfast Sunday morning at 7 a.m. and Silverado Sam AKA Lion Don McCay, former City Council member, is always on hand to pass out Silverado Days badges to the youngsters, as he’s the Silverado Days mascot, dressed in full western attire; look for him, to receive a free badge. It’s an event for the youngsters as well as the young-at-heart. For information, visit www.silveradodays.com. Pat Donnelly is general chair of Silverado Days
