The 80th annual Lebanon Firemen’s Picnic will be held Friday, July 27 through Sunday, July 29 at Lebanon Fireman’s Park, County Highway R, Lebanon.
Sports Tournaments
Festivities will begin Friday with the softball and co-ed volleyball tournaments, which will be held throughout the weekend. There will also be a bean bag tournament Friday and Saturday with registration at 5:30 p.m. Friday. To register, contact Kevin Muche at (920) 342-0626. Anyone interested in having a volleyball team can contact Ben Tietz at (920)925-3145, while those interested in the softball tournament can contact Nic Demetropoulos at (920)925-3316.
Music Sponsors
All musical entertainment for the weekend is free, with no cover charges for the bands. Area businesses helping co-sponsor the music entertainment this year are United Electric, Greeb Excavating, Klecker’s Heating and Air Conditioning, Mossy Oak Realtors, Tietz Taxidermy, and Lebby’s Pizza, United Septic and Drain, and Town & Country Bank. There will also be free shuttle buses from Watertown and the Lebanon Fire Station.
Friday Night Activities
Friday night activities begin with fish fry baskets being served 4 to 9 p.m., with music by the Jolly Time Dutchmen 4 to 8 p.m. The band Cerfus Project will take the main stage at 8:30 p.m. The five piece band, Cerfus Project makes a return appearance to the picnic this year. Their sets include music from the 1980‘s through today. Cerfus Project first performed as a group in 2005, but their band members have opened up for national acts such as Alice Cooper, Moody Blues, 38 Special and Eddie Money to name a few. They have played at Summer Fest on the Briggs and Stratton Stage, and they have played at the State Fair.
Saturday Activities
The two man horseshoe tournaments will begin at noon on Saturday. Anyone interested in participating can contact Brent Boyd at (920)925-3459.
The Lebanon Lions will host bingo again this year on Saturday from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Also on Saturday, a free sweet corn roast will begin at 2 p.m. and will be served until gone. Beginning at 4 p.m. there will be live music by Crossfire, a country rock band featuring musicians from all over southeastern Wisconsin, with 4 guitar players and 3 lead vocalists, the group offers an exciting variety of music & styles. Crossfire will be making its first appearance at the Lebanon Firemen’s Picnic and has played at area county fairs and will be performing this year at the Wisconsin State Fair.
The country/ rock show band, Cross County Junction, which has musicians from five different counties is a new band to the Lebanon Firemen’s Picnic. This band will take to the main stage Saturday at 8:30 p.m. and play until 12:30 a.m. The six-piece band has a solid rhythm section along with three vocals that cover a wide range of country artists from Carrie Underwood to Jason Aldean. They have played in Minnesota and at the CMA festival in Nashville, along with playing at the legendary Wild Horse Saloon and back up for country artists such as Cowboy Troy and the Road Hammers.
At 8:00 p.m., on Saturday, the Lebanon Whitetails will be hosting the Ashippun Mudcats in a Rock River League game at the park.
Sunday Activities
Sunday’s activities will begin at 10 a.m. with an outdoor worship service. Envelopes will be provided for the church offering, on which participants may designate the offering to go to their own local church or they can have their offering given to a worthy cause designated by the fire department. One may also bring their own church envelope with the church’s name listed on it and the fire department will forward the offering to the congregation.
The picnic will be serving a chicken and ham dinner from 11 a.m. until gone. The menu includes cream-style or regular chicken, ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, vegetables, coleslaw, fruit, buns, milk, coffee and homemade desserts. The dinner again this year will be catered by Turner Hall. Tickets for the dinner are $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 2-10, under 2 are free.
The Lebanon Band, in its 121st season, will perform from 1-3 p.m. and The Goodtime Dutchmen will close out the day with polka music from 3 to 7 p.m.
Raffle Ticket Info
There will also be a raffle held in conjunction with the Lebanon Firemen’s Picnic. Tickets for the raffle may be purchased at the Town and Country Bank in Lebanon or Watertown, from R-Station, Lebanon or from any fire department member before the picnic and at the headquarters stand during the picnic. Donations also to the Lebanon Fire Department can be made at the headquarters stand.
Shuttle Bus Pick Up Points and Schedule
The free shuttle bus from Watertown to Lebanon will run from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Stops for the bus will be Main and Washington streets at the top of every hour, First and Main streets 10 minutes after every hour, and Fourth and Madison streets 20 minutes after every hour, and the Lebanon Fire Station at the bottom of the hour. Those helping sponsor the bus this year include River City Distributing-Bud Light, Ott Schweitzer Distributing-Miller, Thirsty Rhino, and Yangers.
Food, Refreshments, Carnival Game Info
There will be hamburgers, cheeseburgers, hot dogs, brats, french fries, onion rings, beer, wine coolers, soda and bottled water, plus the picnic will be serving Lebanon’s very own Lebby’s pizza.
The Lebanon Luckies 4-H Club will operate the ice cream stand and games below the band shell serving Schwann’s ice cream, Tietz Family Farms popcorn, nachos, glow necklaces, LED lights and offering old-fashioned carnival games, including fish pond, duck pond, dice toss, soda ring toss, ring toss and ping pong throw.
Volunteers Needed
The annual picnic is a fund-raiser for the Lebanon Volunteer Fire
Department. This year is the Lebanon Fire Department’s 81st year of service. Money raised goes towards training costs, equipment purchases and expenses. Volunteers are needed to help in various stands. If any individuals or organizations would like to volunteer, donate, or need more information, call (920) 925-3145. Information about the picnic can be found at www.lebanondodgewi.gov.