Fun in the sun

The Osceola Jaycee’s sponsored a two day FUN IN THE SUN celebration held in the courtyard during the first week in June. Commencing in 1962 through 1971 the celebration was a fund raising event to promote civic enterprises, and was successful in all ways.

Included in the celebration were city band concerts, homemade ice cream suppers, cook out contests, barbecue beef dinners, free matinee for the kids, greased pig contest, old car smashing concession in the park, pony rides, round and square dances, a Fun in the Sun Queen was selected, entertainment was held on the bandstand in the evenings, and a teen hop was held at the Fairgrounds.

Drawings were held throughout out the two day events for merchandise and even for a week’s vacation at a Lodge in the Lake of the Ozarks. There were outdoor living exhibits, playing equipment set up, also eight carnival rides, boats, campers, motorcycles. A style show with the newest of fashions with local ladies and children modeling clothing and shoes from local stores; The Twins Shop, Skirt and Shirt, Robinson’s Department Store, J.C. Penney, Miller’s Shoes. Side walk Days were held during the tenth annual event with merchants offering a variety of bargains. Booths were set up in the courtyard for patrons to demonstrate their skills at horseshoe pitching and basketball shooting. Exhibits ranged from car dealers and implement dealers as well as a fire truck, Iowa State Highway Patrol car and an ambulance from Burns Ambulance Service.

The Osceola Jaycees completed a project they started in building a new bandstand in the courtyard. Completion of the bandstand accomplished in 1969 with the erection of a roof over the bandstand.