by Jody Spear and Kelly Meyer –
MASON CITY – The Seventh Annual Cannonball Day celebration was held Saturday in East Park. The Rotary Cannonball has been at the park since 1959 and is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the locomotive formerly known as the M&StL 457.
The celebration and events, which included live music, family fun and barbecued chicken, were sponsored by Hy-Vee and the Mason City Evenings Lion Club.
Towards the end of the celebration, an auction was held for a blanket/quilt that was returned to be auctioned off again by last years auction winner. Last year the blanket went for $1000, with the money going to the upkeep of the 457, by the Friends of the 457. This year however, the blanket only brought in a $100 bid. (See video, below.)
The annual Evening Lion’s Club Chicken Dinner went well. By 7:00 pm, they were down to half a chicken. The dinner included 1/2 chicken, baked beans, cole slaw, bun, cookie and bottled water for only $8.00. The Lion workers, after working all day in the hot sun, still had smiles on their faces as they continued to take orders in the drive thru/curb side serve. “Thank you and Have a good day, and enjoy the chicken dinner,” they told everybody.
The Mason City’s Evening Lions Club support Leader Dogs for the Blind and Iowa Kidsight (Vision screening for infants and children).
httpv://youtu.be/NQrCzzqpDFE
1 thought on “East Park’s Annual Cannonball Days a Big Hit”
Had a great time with the Grand boys and Mikey. The chicken was awesome and the music was great. Had a lot of fun stuff for the kids to do. I love it that the tickets were only a buck a piece!! This event seems to get better and better every year. Thanks everyone for your hard work.