Chicken Jamboree takes over Thompson Falls
Biker Bob is front and center ready to strum along with the music on his banjo at the annual Chicken Jamboree in Thompson Falls on Saturday. (Erin Jusseaume photos/ Clark Fork Valley Press)
A group of kids play some games while the chicken cooks during the Chicken Jamboree in Thompson Falls.
Reflections All-Girls School students were busy from the get go at their face painting table during the Chicken Jamboree. (Erin Jusseaume/ Clark Fork Valley Press)
Chicken legs were grilling away at the Chicken Jamboree. (Erin Jusseaume/ Clark Fork Valley Press)
Avery Coleman, left, with Bob Williams at the 2018 Chicken Jamboree in Thompson Falls
Don Burrell kept the grill hot as he cooked hundreds of pounds of chicken for the Chicken Jamboree. (Erin Jusseaume/ Clark Fork Valley Press)
Thompson Falls played host to the annual Chicken Jamboree under a warm summer’s day last Saturday.
Don Burrell once again took the helm at the barbecue with son Steve as the Men’s Prayer Breakfast Group hosted the event in the park along the Clark Fork River.
This year marked its 28th celebration of the picnic cookout for residents and all who wished to attend.
As seen in previous years, the group took donations from those that attended, and will reinvest into the community to help a range of groups and individuals.
The annual event brings in families of all walks of life to sit and enjoy a plate of food while listening to some locals take to the mic on the stage for some home-grown music.
As the event kicked off at 11 a.m., Avery and Roxanne Coleman got the crowd settled as they took to the stage with a few songs as people rolled in.
Setting up chairs under the big park trees, everyone was gunning for the perfect spot to listen to some music, but also have some time to catch up with friends.
The boys of the Wood Creek Academy were also back this year to help with the dishing up of food while the girls from Reflections All-Girls School also set up their popular face painting booth for the kids to enjoy.
As the chicken slowly cooked on the barbecues, adults chilled out the kids gathered together to play some T-A-G in the park, running and laughing as they bided their time before lunch.
ONE MEMBER of the men’s prayer group, Bob Williams, manned a welcome table next to the main gate filled with pens and water bottles donated for the day’s event.
With a small donation bucket for those who wished to give something, attendees were able to grab a souvenir to commemorate the day in the park.
Burrell said this year they had around 520 pounds of chicken donated for the event, with plenty of sides to accompany on the plate.
Thompson Falls’ Bob “Biker Bob” Johnson was set front and center with his banjo and homemade dulcimer — ready to strum along to all the music that would be played that day.
When asked of why he enjoys attending the local event, he said,”I’d rather listen to music than gunshots.”
A big supporter of the event and music, Johnson was looking forward to a day out with fellow Sanders County residents enjoying some great food and music.
Fifty-six local businesses from around Sanders County and the northwest part of the state donated all that was needed for the local group to be able to put on the jamboree.
As a sunny summers’ day set the scene, the annual Chicken Jamboree was once again a big hit with locals near and far coming together to enjoy some great food and music.