Plumb's Picnic as popular as ever

June 24, 2010
Megan Hart
The Muskegon Chronicle

Bad weather early Wednesday didn’t keep crowds away from the Plumb’s Community Picnic and the beginning of Summer Celebration.

Despite rain Wednesday morning, the line to get into the picnic at 4 p.m. ran to the edge of Heritage Landing.

“Mostly, (I come) with my family to get together ... and be outdoors,” said Leo Aguilera of Muskegon. “I come every year. I think they’ve got more activities going on” than previous years.

Indeed, visitors to the picnic did not lack for things to do. The entertainment included Bozo the Clown, who promised children a one-week trip to Nunica if they could throw plastic balls into a row of six buckets.

“If you get this one, I’ll go one further,” he told one young boy. “I won’t send you to Nunica, I’ll send you to Spring Lake!”

Four barbershop quartets strolled among the picnic benches and families sprawled on the grass. The West Michigan Burnerz juggled, unicycled across grass and lead a children’s hula hoop contest.

Carnival games were also popular.

“It’s crazy here. I never would have thought there would be this many people,” Jessica Harris of Fruitport said as children continued to come to the game she was working as late as 20 minutes before closing.

For some visitors, however, the food tent was the main attraction. The picnic featured potato chips and Doritos, cookies, apples, string cheese, waffle snacks, cups of macaroni salad and potato salad, gelatin, yogurt, hot dogs, soft drinks and water, for 35 cents per item.

“You can feed the whole family,” said Dee Mullins of Muskegon.

Papa John’s pizza, Country Fresh ice cream treats and Swiss ice tea were also available for 35 cents.

Plumb’s human resources director Carol Fethke, who coordinates the volunteers, said the picnic would be held rain or shine, unless there was lightning.

She said the turnout was comparable to previous years, though Plumb’s doesn’t keep track of exact numbers.

Fethke said about 140 volunteers make the picnic run. She said she had volunteered every year for the 18 years she has worked at Plumb’s.

“It’s not for us, it’s for the people,” she said.