Jul 6, 2018
The Oakfield Betterment Committee says the details have been worked out and Labor Daze will return to its roots this year — Triangle Park.
“The location is back in the center of town. For the last 10 years, it was at the park off of Drake Street,” said committee President Jamie Linsley. “People have been clamoring to have it back at Triangle Park. It wasn’t the same. I think the setup is better. We have 25 vendors so far, but would like more and are extending the deadline to register to July 31.”
Oakfield’s Labor Daze is set for Sept. 1 to 3, starting with the Oakfield 5K Run/Walk at 9 a.m. Sept. 1 and ending with fireworks at 9 p.m. Sept. 3.
“Everyone can see everyone. It’s kind of a last hurrah before everyone goes back to school,” she said.
Go to https://register-this.com/?raceid=20180901OAKF to register for the run/walk. The cost to register is $25 and the deadline is Aug. 29.
The theme for the event, the committee said, is “Red, White and Blue!”
Partial proceeds being are being donated to Warrior House of Western New York helping veterans in the Western New York area. Medals will be given for each gender/age group.
Among the events during the three-day celebration is the Arts & Crafts Show.
The show will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both Sept. 2 and 3. Vendors will be set up on pavement on each side of Drake Street/Route 262 between North Pearl Street and the driveway for Little League Park.
Anyone wanting to apply to be an arts and crafts vendor must pay a $60 fee for a booth for two days. He or she must also buy a basket or $25 gift card for the basket raffle. The $60 fee is required in order to reserve a booth in advance.
The committee voter registration information letter said: “Gift baskets or gift cards will be collected Sunday morning (Sept. 2) before setting up your stand. The event is first-come, first-served. We do have the right to deny any application if space is not available. In that case, your check will be returned.” Interested vendors are asked to submit applications online at http://docs.google.com/forms/d/1hrgJmVWB3HfkXypBB_3XC4cO1Yw84OTSqbsoeASuRUo/editand they should mail the $60 fee, insurance certificate and descriptions and/or photos of the items they intend to sell to Oakfield Betterment Committee, PO Box 2, Oakfield, NY 14125.
Another highlight will be the Classic Car Show, set for 1 to 4 p.m. Sept. 2 near Triangle Park. People will be encouraged to vote for the best cars. Dash plaques will be given to those who bring the first 50 cars to the show. Anyone who brings a car to the show may need to park on the grass. For more information on the car show, email Tim Nickels at timnick4755@hotmail.com. A GoFundMe account set up for “Labor Daze Revival at Triangle Park” had $1,454 in donations as of noon Thursday. The goal is to raise $10,000.
“Betterment is currently seeking corporate sponsors as well as donations to our GoFundMe drive,” Linsley said. “For the GoFundMe, we would appreciate any amount and every bit helps.”
At the committee’s meeting in June, Linsley and committee member Joel D’Alba mentioned working with the Town of Oakfield on road closure permits so the Labor Daze Parade can take place Sept. 3.
“For road closures actually going through the town, we have to apply for a permit with the Department of Transportation and that has to be done with the town,” D’Alba said. He said Town Highway Superintendent Alan Dennis submitted it to the state.
Linsley said, “The town and village have both been very helpful to us in getting DOT permits, providing updates to the power supply in Triangle Park and refurbishing our landmark gazebo in Triangle Park.”
D’Alba said donations may be mailed to the Oakfield Betterment Committee.
On the committee’s website, oakfieldbetterment.com, the committee said local community gatherings and carnivals are disappearing due to “restrictive” laws, lack of funding and the difficulty of maintaining a volunteer base.
“The Oakfield Betterment Committee is dedicated to making sure that our local event continues to be a tradition for our town. In fact, we are proud of the fact that we are expanding the celebration as well as the volunteer base,” the committee said on its website. “The 2018 celebration will consist of first-rate live entertainment, children’s activities, car show, parade, fireworks, arts-and-crafts vendors, and food vendors.
“Non-profit groups from Oakfield and surrounding areas are invited to operate food and beverage stands and various games other fundraisers at the event free of charge, making this celebration an important part of our local nonprofit organizations’ fundraising,” committee members said. For more information, go to oakfieldbetterment.com.
Labor Daze Schedule
Sept. 1
• 9 a.m., Oakfield 5K Run or Walk
• 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Kiddie Fun Daze
• 10 a.m.-4 p.m., D&J Music Factory
• noon-2 p.m., Zoomobile
• 12:30 p.m., magician and face painter
• 4 p.m. Koko & the Mooncrickets
• 7 p.m., Skycoasters
Sept. 2
• 10 a.m. Home Grown Gospel
• 11 a.m. church service;
• noon, Jim Candytree
• 1 p.m., Brothers McClurg
• 2:45 p.m., Old Hippies
• 5 p.m., Dark Horse
• 7 p.m., Genesee Ted
Sept. 3
•10 a.m., parade
• 11:30 a.m., local marching bands
• noon, Ghost Riders
• 2:30 p.m., The Who Dats
• 5:30 p.m., Rock Soulgers
• 9 p.m. fireworks
