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Year of Anniversaries

Posted September 03, 2014 11:00 pm

By Pete Spitler The Herald Tribune

CHESTER -- The annual Popeye Picnic is nearly upon us, but with a full schedule of events, choosing what to do and see could become a problem for the first-time attendee.

Now in its 35th year, the Popeye Picnic attracts an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 people a year, according to its organizers. The three-day event begins Friday and is always held the first weekend after Labor Day.

Debbie Brooks, co-owner of Spinach Can Collectibles and Popeye Picnic chairwoman, has been busy preparing for this weekend's event.

This year is also the 20th anniversary of Spinach Can Collectibles, the 25th anniversary of the Popeye Fan Club, the 95th anniversary of the debut of Thimble Theatre and Olive Oyl, and the 85th anniversary of the debut of Popeye and Sea Hag.

"When I have people call or come in and they have a choice of what day to come, I tell them 'Saturday,'" Brooks said. "The parade is that day at 11:30 (a.m.), the Car Cruise is only on Saturday, the Flea Market is only on Saturday and the inflatables are on Saturday and Sunday, but it's good to come on a Saturday."

The 2014 Popeye Picnic schedule can be found inside this this week's issue of the Randolph County Herald Tribune or online at www.popeyepicnic.com. The theme for this year is "Popeye Gets An Edjamication."

Most of it is free

First-time attendees to the Popeye Picnic will find that a vast majority of the events have free admission. That also includes free parking and entertainment.

The carnival rides will cost money (10 tickets for $20), as well as a few other events scattered through the weekend, but sponsorships help with the Popeye Picnic costs.

"I tell everybody, 'Don't expect a St. Louis parade,'" Brooks said. "It's a small-town festival, but at least it's been going on for 35 years.

"Look at how many that are not going on now."

Brooks said Picnic organizers would bring back the fireworks display if they could get someone to sponsor them.

"You're looking at $2,500 for 10 minutes," Brooks said. "I don't see spending that kind of money when we could put it into something else like the petting zoo."

Brooks said the petting zoo costs about the same amount of money, but the difference is the petting zoo is a two-day event on Saturday and Sunday.

O.G. Wotasnozzle makes his debut

One of the traditions of the Popeye Picnic has been the unveiling of a new character on the Popeye and Friends Character Trail.

This year, it is Prof. O.G. Wotasnozzle, who debuted on May 8, 1932 as part of a spin-off complimentary cartoon called a "topper" and involved the adventures of John and Myrtle Sappo.

Wotasnozzle, an eccentric inventor and self-described genius, rented one of the rooms in the Sappo residence.

The plot of the comic involved the testing of Wotasnozzle's inventions, which usually ended up in disaster.

Wotasnozzle will be unveiled at his permanent home in front of Chester High School, 1901 Swanwick St., at 1 p.m. on Saturday, following the conclusion of the Popeye Picnic Parade.

"The excitement I have about this character is that he didn't stop inventing," said Mike McClure, a member of the Popeye Character Trail committee in previous comments to the Herald Tribune. "Even if (the invention) didn't work, kept trying and he's an inspiration in that regard."

Have a plan

Events begin at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, 7:30 a.m. on Saturday and 7:30 a.m. on Sunday and run all day each day during the length of the Picnic.

Many of the events and showcases overlap, which will force the first-time attendee to choose what to see.

"We try to keep (the events) where there's a little bit of time between them, but you have to pick and choose what you want to do," Brooks said. "Maybe go to one for a little bit and then go on to the next one if you can."

Brooks said she will see very little of the Picnic, as she will be helping manage Spinach Can Collectibles during the event.

"I'm in the store most of the time, except for the dinner on Saturday night," Brooks said, referencing the Popeye Fan Club and Public Banquet at the VFW Hall. "Then I have someone running the store for me."

Park at your own risk

The Chester Police Department will close the 1000 block of State Street at 4 p.m. Friday for the festivities and it will remain closed until midnight Monday morning. Detours will be in place during that time.

"From Swanwick Street to Opdyke Street is completely shut down," said Chester Police Chief Ryan Coffey. "Parking is restricted in some areas, in particular East Stacey Street.

"Parking is also restricted on Servant Street by the First United Methodist Church."

Coffey said parking for the Picnic is typically in residential areas around the fairgrounds.

"There's a high probability of walking because all the potential parking lots are taken up with fairground activities," Coffey said.

Temporary one-way traffic will also be on George and Henry streets and coal truck traffic will be shut down during the duration of the Picnic.

Coffey said a number of officers will be on the ground at all times providing security.

"We're not reinventing the wheel," Coffey said. "The system we have in place the last several years seems to be working and we'll be doing the same things we've done in the past in terms of security detail."

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