MARKLEVILLE — The crowds showed up to celebrate a rebooted Markleville Jamboree this past weekend, enjoying many of the event’s regular annual attractions, along with some new ones.
“It was an awesome event — the town worked real hard to bring it back after COVID,” said Hayley Leibovitz, who attended with her husband, three children — Rocko, 11; Keeno, 6; and Rizzo, 5 — and other family members.
Leibovitz said she was happy the event was back, not only because it’s a family-friendly event with lots to do, but also because it had become a tradition for her family, 10 years running.
And, she said cheerfully, “It was larger than ever.”
Co-organizer Dianna Smith’s view of the event meshed with Leibovitz’s assessment.
“We had a really good turnout — it was busy all weekend,” Smith said on Monday.
The three-day event featured Friday highlights of opening ceremonies and the Markleville Police Department vs. Adams Township Fire Department softball game (police won, 29-24); a parade, various contests and live entertainment on Saturday; and a community church service and tractor pull on Sunday. Various food options and vendor booths were available much of the time.
New this year was an art show, with Payton Fox’s painting of a dog winning first place. Serene Darr and Virginia King won second and third places, respectively.
Also new was a pet prince/princess competition: Maggie the dog owned by Zeke Wiford was voted princess, and Guinea pigs Chip and Chomp owned by Ellie and Olive Scott were voted princes.
Five duos competed in an egg-eating contest, with each team having a peeler and an eater. The winners were Heaven and Kenzie VanDuyn, with Heaven eating eight eggs in the three-minute time allotment. Wayne Fox (peeling) and Jacarion Bryant (eating) placed second with seven eggs.
An offering during the Sunday service — involving East Christian, North Christian and Bright Point churches — raised more than $2,300 for MPD’s Sneaky Santa Project at Christmastime.
“This is an awesome blessing to our department as we do struggle to find funds for our Sneaky Santa Project at Christmas!” Chief Tim Basey posted on the department Facebook page on Monday. “Thank you to our three churches and our church leaders!”