(Photos by Laura Mancuso, Illinois Valley News)
There was a celebration to remember at Jubilee Park for the city of Cave Junction’s 75th birthday June 10. Local performer Rosie Wittman led the crowd in singing the “Happy Birthday” song after a giant cake was brought out near the stage. Then after a slight pause, the crowd of families and children started shouting, “Cut the cake! Cut the cake!” Next, Main Street Cave Junction volunteer Roscoe Grimes charged the cake with a large chainsaw and surprised the locals with a spray of cake going everywhere.
“I have never seen anything like this,” said Jeff Stiles of Oregon Caves Chevron.
After the cake was cut to pieces and fell to the ground, the children rushed forward to eat the pieces. Then a variety of free cupcakes made by Trillium bakery were passed out to everyone in the park.
Besides Wittman there were other musical guests donating their time such as Yancy, Dale and Sharon Hopper, Jarett Moore and DJ GalaXsee and Oddspells. In between musical performances, there were storytellers reminding us about Cave Junction’s history.
But that’s not all, folks crowded around to watch a good old fashioned pie eating contest with MC Ben Filip from Bruno’s Cavern giving a play-by-play of the action. Children and adults competed in eating Trillium-baked, mixed-berry pies with their hands behind their backs. In the end, Roscoe Grimes AKA Chainsaw Guy won the contest and walked away with a handmade ribbon from MSCJ President Amy Lusson, Pepto Bismol and a gift certificate to Wild Herbs Apothecary.
Another favorite of the day was Chicken Poop Bingo. Participants got to pick their numbers and wait for the little hen to do her dooty to pick out a prize. Other games included cornhole, balloon pop, sack races and tug-of-war.
Special thanks to the hard working team of Main Street Cave Junction Board for making this happen – President Lusson, Vice President Rhino Prince, Treasurer Monique Allen, Secretary Laura Mancuso, I.V. Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Megan Pugh, IVCanDo Executive Director Lindsey B. Jones, Cave Junction Mayor Meadow Martell, Ben Filip, Wild River’s Bertha Miller, Dan Mancuso, Jubilee Park hosts, volunteers Roscoe Grimes and Lou Peterson, Trillium Bakery and the Illinois Valley News.