By Elizabeth Richardson
Ladies Day on the Friday morning of the 2015 Chelsea Community Fair is my favorite fair event.
Mary Tobin, superintendent, and her volunteers made 2015 another very successful event, and this year’s theme was “Casino Royale” complete with decorations and costumes.
Tobin has been in charge for the past 12 years after she heard in 2003 that Ladies Day would not continue if a superintendent wasn’t found. So, in 2004, she stepped up to the challenge and has been organizing and running it successfully ever since.
“If the good Lord is willing and the creek doesn’t rise I will be here next year,” Tobin said with a smile.
Ladies were lining up more than 1.5 hours before the doors opened. Many said that the line is typically long to get into the free event and that they wanted to be among the first 300 to get the goodie bags, which are stuffed with fun stuff from local merchants.
Other reasons for getting up early and getting in line included: they wanted to get a perfect place to sit, getting there early was part of their fair tradition, and they wanted to put their names in the drawing for one of the 154 door prizes.
Ladies Day is truly a fair tradition. For some, it is good friends getting together for a ladies day out, for others, a multi-generational event.
Emily Trinkle opened Ladies Day 2015 by singing the National Anthem.
Entertainment was provided by Studio 3 Performing Arts Center from Dexter, Amy Gilbert, the 2014 Chelsea Fair Queen, and the 2015 queen candidates, who gave a performance and a fashion show wearing clothing from Vogel’s and Foster’s. In addition, this year’s fashion show included the mothers and/or sisters of the queen and queen candidates.
The highlight of the morning was the naming of the 2015 Homemaker of the Year awards. Winning the Adult Homemaker was Lisa Lahti with 76 items entered and 194 points. In runner-up was Rachel Varblow with 39 entries and 111 points.
The Junior Homemaker of the Year was earned by Katie Wickman with 127 entries and 356 points. Runner-up junior homemaker was Alissa Trinkle, who entered 76 items and finished with 197 points.
Hope to see everyone bright and early at Ladies Day in 2016.
Please enjoy the slideshow below.
