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Ostrich fest back again
from: newszap.com
by Alex Pickett, Independent Newspapers
The big birds are back again.
For the eighteenth time, the Ostrich Festival will bring fun, games and, yes, ostriches to Tumbleweed Park for three days March 10-12.
Like past festivals, this year’s Ostrich Festival will feature national and local bands, the popular carnival and a parade through downtown.
What is new, according to Chamber of Commerce spokesperson Katie Stringham, is the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge.
"You’ve probably seen it on ESPN — it’s the dog competitions," she explained.
Dogs from all over the West Coast will race, weave, jump and even dive into water on Saturday, March 11 to claim "top dog."
Local residents and their dogs have a chance to compete, too, on Friday, March 10. Registration begins at 2 p.m. and the local event starts at 4 p.m.
Dogs are not allowed inside the festival on any day.
Residents will have two choices for entertainment all three days. Although musical taste is always "hit or miss," Ms. Stringham said, she is confident residents will enjoy this year’s lineup:
On Friday, March 10, 1980s singer JOAN JETT joins her band the BLACKHEARTS at 8 p.m. on the main stage. On the second stage, affectionately named the "Music Coop," the Michael Pollack Band, the Charlene Tarrango Band and Rhythm FX Band will play 4 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 11 will feature the Village People and the Little River Band starting at 7 p.m. on the main stage. Local performers the Michael Pollack Band and the Charlene Tarrango Band will play 6 p.m.-10:30 p.m.
Organizers dubbed Sunday, March 12 "Fiesta Sunday" and the music will reflect it. Luz Rios and Band plays at 3:30 p.m. on the main stage while Los Guardianes Del Amor and Charo play at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
On Saturday, March 11, the traditional Ostrich Festival Parade will wind down Arizona Avenue from Ray Road to Chicago Street in downtown Chandler.
The parade starts at 10 a.m.
Many of the popular participants will be back again this year, including the mini-car driving El Zaribah Shrine, Chandler High School’s marching bands, San Tan Storm Marching Band and Michael Pollack’s 60-foot train and rock band.
Brown’s Amusements will also be returning to the festival with their carnival rides.
"They put on a first-class carnival," Ms. Stringham added.
To help parents who drop off their teenagers for the carnival, festival organizers created a drop-off zone where parents can leave kids and pick them up again without going through the hassles of parking.
The popular exotic petting zoo, with a new "nursery" section with baby animals, is back too.
Of course, the event would not be the same without the ostriches.
Despite bird flu worries on the other side of the globe, all the favorite ostrich activities — from the races to the burgers — will go on.
"They will be there in full force," Ms. Stringham said about the ostriches.
The ostriches are not just a gimmick either, she explained.
"We’re really trying to reinforce to the folks why we’re doing this," Ms. Stringham said, adding there are hundreds more residents in Chandler this year and may not know the story behind the event. "They just think it is this wacky festival we came up with."
In fact, Chandler’s founder Dr. A.J. Chandler brought the first ostriches to the city in 1914 to start an ostrich farm, according to city historical documents.
Other early residents bought the big birds for their own farms to sell the bird’s popular feathers. Ostrich feather hats were a huge fad at the beginning of the century.
World War I ended the fad and the last known Chandler ostrich farm closed in 1921.
Ms. Stringham expects attendance this year to top last year’s 100,000.
"Obviously, with the freeway, the loop 202, it’s more accessible," she said.
The Chandler Chamber of Commerce organized the first Ostrich Festival in 1989 to celebrate Chandler’s unique history and provide residents a popular family event.
Since then the festival has attracted national attention. The festival served as the backdrop for the 1995 film "Waiting to Exhale" and in a Harlequin romance novel.
In 2003, the festival moved from downtown to its present location at Tumbleweed Park, 2250 S. McQueen Road. It was also the only year without the ostriches. Due to a rare avian disease in Arizona, organizers decided not to bring the birds in.
Interested residents can purchase tickets to the festival now or at the gates, though Ms. Stringham said pre-purchased family packs present a great deal: $69 for two adult tickets, two child tickets and four all-day carnival ride passes.
Pre-sale tickets are available at all East Valley branches of Wells Fargo, participating Chandler schools and the Chandler Chamber of Commerce, 25 S. Arizona Place).
Tickets at the gate will be $7 for adults, $6 for seniors, $5 for children and free for children five-years-old and younger. All day carnival ride passes will be $23 each. Parking will cost $5.
"Once you pay your admission fee, it’s all free," Ms. Stringham said.
For more information, visit www.ostrichfestival.com.
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