>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

COOLING OFF: Expect fun and games, and lots of free food, at Celebrate La Grande Sept. 7. (File photo).

LA GRANDE

September is just around the corner and the autumn bite is in the air. That means it's almost time for La Grande's annual block party, Celebrate La Grande.

What does it take to prepare for the Sept. 7 event? Some 1,500 hot dogs, buns and servings of ice cream have been ordered, and will be given away for free. The grills are scrubbed and ready to brown those dogs.

The Pepsi trailer, meanwhile, will soon be stocked with over 1,000 servings of soft drinks. Three thousand sets of rubber gloves, multiple cases of ketchup and mustard and 2,000 paper napkins are on the shopping list.

DiLyn Larsen-Hill will spend Labor Day weekend slicing, dicing, chopping and mixing ingredients for five gallons of the ever-popular sauerkraut relish. As event founder and committee chair, she has already compiled a list of more than 50 volunteers (many of them community leaders) who will take their turn at the grill, pop stand or bun serving table.

City employees are cleaning and primping Max Square, and hauling in tables and chairs.

The vintage fire trucks are being filled with gas and dusted so they are ready to haul happy children of all ages on rides around downtown.

Square dancers are practicing their spins and musicians are selecting their songs.

Twenty-two agencies and nonprofit organizations are making posters and preparing information booths so they can tell residents all about their special interest or role in the community.

All of this activity is under way in order to prepare for just three hours of frenzied celebration of what makes La Grande the best hometown around.

So mark your calendar for Sept. 7 and join in the fun at Max Square, corner of Adams and Fourth, beside the new library.

Get to know your law enforcement and fire protection officers, your city and county officials, your neighbors and business people. In its 11th year, this is one big party you won't want to miss.