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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 2019)
4 // COASTWEEKEND.COM Visual arts, literature, theater, music & more Jake’s birthday extravaganza By PATTY HARDIN FOR COAST WEEKEND E verybody loves a circus, right? Well, this is your chance to join the circus-themed extravaganza that marks Jake the Alligator Man’s 75th birthday, an event celebrated every year for 13 years. “Every year it’s been a different theme,” said Carla Jen- sen, who is in charge of the celebration of the legendary half man half gator’s birthday for the fi rst time. Circus is a theme that’s been done before. Other past themes include fi esta, Elvis, IF YOU GO outer space and under the sea. Jake’s Burlesque Bachelor Party The event kicks of Fri- day evening with Jake’s Bur- Long Beach Elks Lodge, 110 Pacifi c Ave., lesque Bachelor Party at the Long Beach, Wash. Long Beach Elk’s Lodge. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2 Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tick- Must be 21 years or older to attend. ets are $25 or $50 for a couple. Pre-register at bit.ly/2YweaeJ Pre-register here: bit.ly/2Ywe- aeJ. You must be 21 years or All-Day Family-Friendly Entertainment older to attend. Veteran’s Field, 111 3rd St SE, Long Beach, On Saturday from 10 a.m. Wash. to 6 p.m., enjoy a full day 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3 of live music, vendors, a car show, parade, see Jake himself Live music, vendors, car show, Bride of and watch the famous Bride of Jake contest and more. Visit jakethealliga- Jake contest at Veteran’s Field torman.com for details. in Long Beach. A crowd favorite The Bride of Jake Contest is a crowd favorite. There are usually four to eight candidates vying for the honor and are chosen by judges. “In years past the candidates put on a performance,” Jen- sen said. The organizers are not doing a talent portion this year. Candidates can sign up here: bit.ly/313rnxe. Each candidate’s score is based on 50 percent participa- tion, 25 percent costume and 25 percent charisma. “Participation is attending Jake’s Bachelor Party on Fri- day night, walking in Jake’s Cake Parade on Saturday, vot- ing for Bride’s Choice Car Show award and then just being in the crowd, taking photos with people,” Jensen said. The candidates will go on a tour of the town and go rides and do the go-carts together. They may even do a mini-golf photo shoot. Bride candidates are encouraged to dress according to the theme. The car show is part of Jake’s birthday celebration on Saturday, Aug. 3, in Long Beach. Planning the party Planning a birthday celebration of this magnitude takes a lot of advance planning. “We start working on the next year’s celebration almost immediately after the current one is done,” Jensen said. “Six months ahead of time we really kick it into gear.” This year, the group is adding a dog costume to the parade as well as the catered dinner at the Elks Lodge during Jake’s Burlesque Bachelor party. On Saturday, be on the lookout for aerialists, fi re breath- ers, jugglers, a stilt walker and more performing just off- stage and wandering through the crowd at Veteran’s Field. ABOVE Jake, the half man half alligator, on view at Marsh’s Free Museum in Long Beach. “We’re really focusing on making Saturday a family friendly event,” Jensen said. Visit Jake’s home Marsh’s Museum is involved in Jake’s birthday cele- bration this year. This is especially appropriate since it is now Jake’s home. They will have five guided tours of their store on Sat- urday at 12:30,1:30, 2:30, 3:30, and 4:30 p.m., accord- ing to Mandy Marsh, who, along with her cousin Shan- non Ahern, have taken over operations. Marsh’s grandmother, Marian Marsh, and grandfa- ther, Wellington Marsh, bought Jake. Marian will cel- ebrate her 90th birthday on Aug. 1, the same day as Jake’s. “I’m going to make my grandma come down for the 4:30 grand finale tour,” Marsh said. Jake’s popularity extends beyond the boundaries of this corner of the world. “When I first started working here there were people that came in and said they had seen Jake in carny shows and he could answers questions by using his paw,” Bar- bara Duensing, who has worked at Marsh’s for more than 30 years, said. “We’ve had people from the east coast order Jake bumper stickers,” she said. Marsh’s will have a booth at Veteran’s Park. Mandy Marsh and Ahern are judges at the Bride of Jake contest. “Jake is definitely an added bonus to this area,” Ahern said. CW
