Wakefield's annual picnic fills Eddy Park

WAKEFIELD - Despite the threat of thunderstorms, a community picnic in honor of July 4 went off without a hitch on Sunday, drawing a large crowd of people who enjoyed the entirety of Eddy Park.

There was plenty of delicious picnic fare, as well as organized activities ranging from kiddy fun to bingo to live music by several bands or musicians. The Wakefield Volunteer Fire Department also offered a display.

In the John Siira pavilion, Dave and Bobbi Sue Daignault of Coon Rapids, Minnesota, and the Zeltinger family of West Fargo, North Dakota, were dancing up a storm to live music by Flashback.

Suzanne Zeltinger said that her mom, the former Bobbi Sue Negri, grew up in this area.

People needing a break also could opt to just lounge on the beach, where dozens of children played in the water while their parents supervised from the sidelines. Other kids played volleyball or spent time on playground equipment.

Saylor Dunbar, 3, lived up to her name by enjoying time throwing rocks into Sunday Lake as her dad, Darren Dunbar of Marenisco, stood nearby.

Down the shoreline, Tom Adelman of Katy, Texas, napped on the grass until his grandson, Luke Scarberry, 8, wanted his attention. They are from Texas, but Adelman's wife, the former Mabel Zelinski, was born in Wakefield.

Mayor Dale White, who was strolling through the park, seemed pleased that the weather had worked in favor of another successful event.

On Sunday morning, the Wakefield-Marenisco Volleyball Pancake Breakfast was held at VFW Post 9084, which also sponsored a beanball tournament in the afternoon.

A spectacular "Lightning on the Lake" fireworks extravaganza also wowed the crowd late Sunday night.

More activities, including parades, were expected on Monday.