A four-day Memorial Day celebration in Oconto Falls will feature the customary favorites, such as carnival rides, fireworks, a softball tournament and parade, but behind the scenes, change is brewing.
The Oconto Falls Booster Club, longtime sponsors of the holiday tradition, will coordinate the celebration for the last time.
According to booster club member Chad Trudell, the organization will transition into Panther Pride over the next year. He said both organizations work to improve outdoor facilities for athletes in the Oconto Falls School District and share many of the same members.
Funds earned at this year’s event at Memorial Field will be used to build a $1.1 million football stadium and nine-lane track, proposed to the east of the district office. Panther Pride representatives designed the complex and asked the Oconto Falls School Board to place the project on a proposed August referendum.
“We’re trying to do our part to push for a referendum,” Trudell said. “We can’t raise enough on our own to do the project.”
The booster club contributed $15,000 for the development of two softball fields at Oconto Falls High School, used for the first time this spring, and continues to raise funds for sports improvements.
With the change in organizers, the Memorial Day celebration is also expected to change its focus over the next several years by phasing out the softball tournament and replacing it with a Little League tournament.
“That’s our big push for the future, to turn the weekend over to the kids,” Trudell said.
The Memorial Day weekend celebration begins Friday night with carnival rides provided by Christman Amusement and a modified softball tournament, which continues Saturday and Sunday. Fireworks are planned at dusk Saturday, and individuals are invited to bring a lawn chair to Memorial Field to view the show.
Sunday’s feature is a bean bag tournament at 4 p.m. for two-person teams.
Several events are planned for Memorial Day, including a car show and parade on Main Street. At the pingpong drop after the parade, children can compete to win bikes and other prizes.
Community organizations will sell food and refreshments all weekend.
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