Pea Soup Days set for second week of June

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You will have to wait an extra week for your helping of pea soup.

But it should be worth the wait.

Somerset Chamber of Commerce’s annual Pea Soup Days is scheduled for June 12, 13 and 14 – one week later than the usual weekend at the end of May/beginning of June.

According to Kathy Land, Chamber president, the change was a long time coming.

“We always wanted to keep it in June and we’ve been trying for the last few years to lock in the date with the carnival,” Land explained. Another community had booked Earl’s Rides Inc. for that weekend, so the carnival rides were not available to Somerset.

“They said the other town didn’t want to do it anymore, so they asked us if we wanted it and of course we said yes,” Land said. “We’ll have a nice big selection of exciting rides.”

The carnival will open Friday, June 12 at 5 p.m. and run through Sunday, June 14. It will be located in Village Park.

Another new event is the Sportsman’s Bar and Grill Medallion Hunt. For a $5 entry fee, people can get new clues at the Sportsman’s each Tuesday and Saturday, starting May 16. The minimum pot will be $250.

“We’ve wanted to do one in the past,” Land said. “Sportsman’s did one for St. Patrick’s Day and it was a success – they were willing and excited to do one for Pea Soup Days.”

Thursday will kick off the festivities with the OSI/Training Room Run starting with a 5:15 p.m. registration, 6 p.m. run.

Friday will open the carnival rides, beer garden, booths, softball tournament and concerts by Rhino and The New Skinny.

Saturday is the main day for the activities. It begins with a pancake breakfast sponsored by the Somerset Fire/Rescue from 7:30-10:30 a.m. A softball tournament begins at 8 a.m. at Village Park. The second annual motorcycle run starts at Century Power Sports in Stillwater, ending at Crossroads Performance on Church Hill Road in Somerset with a motorcycle show from 1-5 p.m. The Stillwater Medical Group will also hold an open house to celebrate its new addition from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. They will offer health screenings, face painting and the first 200 visitors will receive a free health organizer.

The Pea Soup Main Parade starts lining up at 10 a.m. on Sunrise Drive by the schools, with the actual event beginning at 11 a.m. The route is the same as last year, with the parade going down Sunrise Drive, past Spring Street, through downtown Somerset and ending in Veteran’s Park. The Somerset High School Dynamics and choir will perform after the parade, as well as the Lake Country Cloggers.

At noon on Saturday, the carnival rides open as well as the booths, beer garden and Old Town Hall exhibits. Radio station K102 crew will be on hand from 2-4 p.m. The Somerset Fire/Rescue will hold a water fight at 3 p.m. and Wii bowling starts at Rendezvous at 4 p.m. with a $5 entry fee, must be 21 or older to enter.

Saturday evening’s entertainment is provided by a 6 p.m. concert from Playback and a 9 p.m. concert by D’Boys. A fireworks show by Spielbauer Fireworks Co. Inc. is scheduled for dusk at Village Park.

Sunday opens with a pancake breakfast by Somerset Fire/Rescue from 8 a.m.-noon. Also at noon, the carnival rides open as well as the beer garden, booths, softball tournament and face painting. The kiddy pet costume/bike decorating parade starts at 1 p.m., the lineup will be in the parking lot beside Village Hall. The parade ends in Village Park and is followed by a scooter race, diaper dash, duck pond and three-legged race. The Teddy Bear Band will perform at 2 p.m.

All the entertainment and carnival rides are held in Village Park. The Bridge Bible Church will also be accepting donations for the food shelf.

For a complete listing of Pea Soup Days schedule, visit www.somerset-chamber.com.

“We’re always looking for volunteers, even if it is only 15 minutes in a concession stand,” Land said. “To make Pea Soup Days successful for the community, we need community members to help.”

Tags: pea soup days, communities, somerset