Trending
That was certainly evident during this year's Goose Day season, when our team of "someone shoulds" was alive and well throughout the Juniata River Valley. You know the people I mean, the ones who say, "Someone should do this," and then, instead of waiting for someone else, they step up and make it happen.
This year, local volunteers gave generously of their time, creativity and talents, while businesses came out in full force to participate in, sponsor and support the many Goose Day happenings. And the result was something pretty special.
The Goose Day season got rolling with the annual Goose Day Road Rally, where 31 cars and 118 very enthusiastic and very decked-out riders wound their way through Mifflin County in search of proverbial gosling gold!
Well, perhaps "gold" is a bit of an exaggeration. The winners receive bragging rights, a gift basket and the honor, or perhaps challenge, of planning the following year's rally! But really, the prize isn't the point. It's the adventure, the clues, the costumes, the creativity and, for some teams, the inevitable moment when you realize you may have taken a wrong turn.
I had the privilege of being at the starting point this year, and the costumes and decorated cars were incredible. Some of the participants I met have been taking part in the rally for decades, making it a wonderful Goose Day tradition that has passed from one generation to the next.
Then came Lucky Friday.
Held each year on the Friday before Goose Day, Lucky Friday has become one of the highlights of the entire Goose Day season. The event is the brainchild of Ryan Cherry, co-owner of East End Coffee, and Britney Hall, and they have created something that has quickly become a true hometown tradition.
Downtown Lewistown was transformed into a bustling, all-out community festival. You couldn't walk more than a few feet without running into a neighbor, an old friend or someone you hadn't seen in years. I wasn't the only one who had family traveling in from out of town to enjoy the festivities, and it was wonderful to see so many people returning home to celebrate.
Downtown was alive with the sounds of children laughing, adults catching up, vendors chatting with customers, live music filling the streets, goats bleating and, of course, a goose honking.
And then there were the smells!
The delicious aromas of roasting hot dogs, frying doughnuts, baking pizza and, naturally, cooking goose seemed to follow you everywhere you went. It was the kind of evening that reminded you just how much fun a small town can be when everyone comes together.
As the festival wound down, people began finding their perfect viewing spots and looking toward the sky. The evening concluded with the annual Goose Day Drone Show, sponsored by the Juniata River Valley Visitors Bureau. Thousands gathered to watch the night sky light up, providing a spectacular ending to an already memorable day.
But wait, there's more, Goose Day wasn't finished yet!
Bright and early Saturday morning came the annual Goose Day 5K, now in its 48th year. This year's race was the biggest ever, with 291 finishers. And history was made when Kylee Cubbinson became the first overall female winner of the race.
As I sit here writing this, it is September 29, Goose Day! Our office is buzzing with activity since the Chamber shares space with the Juniata River Valley Visitors Bureau. Visitors from near and far have been stopping in to learn more about this wonderfully quirky holiday and, of course, to pick up Goose Day information and swag.
The Chamber and Visitors Bureau staff are all decked out in our Goose Day shirts, pins and earrings. And this year we have a new prized piece of office décor, a beautifully bedazzled goose with long eyelashes, lovingly created by our co-worker Natali. Because, really, every office needs a glamorous goose.
Lunch will include goose, of course, and later today the celebration will continue with the first ever Red, White and Goose Parade, organized by Mifflin County Commissioner Kevin Kodish.
And just like that, another Goose Day season is nearly in the books. But what I love most about Goose Day isn't the goose. It's the people.
It's the volunteers who give their time. The businesses that open their doors and support the festivities. The organizers who have an idea and turn it into an event. The families who come home. The children who experience these traditions for the first time. The longtime participants who keep coming back year after year. And all of those "someone shoulds" who eventually become the people who actually do something.
That is what makes Goose Day so much more than a quirky regional tradition. It is a celebration of community, creativity, tradition and hometown pride. So, if you missed Goose Day this year, don't worry. There's always next year, because Goose Day is alive and well in the Juniata River Valley, and it is just one more reason I am so proud to call this place home.