To those who want to participate in a world-record attempt for largest picnic, lawn/seats will be available, but the time to reserve tables has passed.
The picnic, to be held Sunday, Sept. 7 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Pickerington Central High School, will be the last major event in the yearlong celebration of Violet Township’s bicentennial.
Santa Cruz, Spain currently holds the world record for largest picnic with 8,000 people. As of press time, more than 100 tables with seating for eight had been reserved, said Peggy Portier, Violet Township Bicentennial Committee chairperson.
Tickets for lawn seats will be available at the event for $5 per person with children 5 and younger admitted for free. The ticket provides for admission only, participants need to bring their own food and table settings.
Ticket sales will be used to determine attendance.
"Everyone who reserves a seat will have a ticket, which they will need to have to get into the picnic grounds," Portier said.
The event will feature performances by both Pickerington high school bands, the steel drum band from Canal Winchester High School and Blessid Union of Soul.
Blessid Union of Soul is a pop-rock band that reached the top 10 on the Billboard charts with songs "I Believe" and "Hey Leonardo (She Likes Me for Me)" during the ’90s.
For children there will be a bouncy house, llamas, a scavenger hunt, face painting and a clown. Root beer floats will be sold for $1.
Several contests will be judged including best decorated table, a baking competition and a beard and mustache contest.
At the Lion’s Club Labor Day parade and picnic, local barbers and hairstylists will select the category winners for the beard and mustache competition, and the overall winner will be selected at the picnic by a vote of the attendees. The categories are The Lincoln, The Worden, The Buffalo Bill, and The Wyatt Earp.
Those who plan to compete in the baking contest need to bring their entry to the tent in the picnic area before 4 p.m. Baking dishes must be labeled with the entrant’s name and phone number and be accompanied by the recipe printed on a 3-inch by 5-inch note card.
The quantities that contestants must provide for each category are one pie, one cake or six cupcakes, six cookies, or one loaf of bread.
The winning recipes will be posted on the bicentennial Web site at www.violetbicentennial.com.
Those who plan to compete in the table-decorating contest must have their tables ready to judge by 4:30 p.m. No canopies will be permitted.
Picnic organizers are also asking attendees to bring canned food donations for the PCMA Food Pantry of Pickerington.
