CLEARLAKE >> Sunday’s Power to the Youth event was knocked down by Rocky in August and just when it got back on its feet, along came another opponent: the ongoing Valley Fire.
Despite being dealt a second blow, the event organizers refused to go down with the count and the pro-youth festival battled back to a win with the fifth annual Power to the Youth outreach event in Clearlake’s Austin Park.
The event was originally scheduled for August 1 but organizers decided to postpone it at the last minute due to the Rocky Fire. Sunday’s rescheduled date was threatened by the Valley Fire but thanks to Mother Nature and a division of firefighters, it occurred under warm and smoke-free skies.
About 500 people attended the outreach event, about half of last year’s number, and there were fewer vendors, both attributed to the Valley Fire that has devastated parts of Lake County, including Cobb, Middletown and Hidden Valley Lake.
“We were not sure how many people would come to enjoy this,” said outreach organizer Bruno Sabatier. “But it’s a way for them to forget about all the hardships they are going through.”
Sabatier admitted to having a “real feeling of deja vu” when faced with the prospect of again rescheduling the event after the Valley fire started Sept. 12 in Cobb. “We would have cancelled it rather than postpone it again because this is suppose to be a summer event.”
New to the event this year were horse rides and a mechanical bull along with a second music stage in the skate park to complement the main stage.
Angelina Fagundo of Clearlake brought her twin daughters to the youth outreach and said it was refreshing compared to recent smoke- and ash-filled days.
“We’ve been staying in the house, with all the fires,” she said. “It’s good to get the kids outside and in the fresh air. They love being out and about on this beautiful day.”
The festival supports the Lake Community Pride Foundation, a nonprofit group that is responsible for the Safe House, a local teen shelter for homeless or troubled youth. The foundation also supports the student performing arts programs at Lower Lake High School.
Activities Sunday included BMX bike, skateboard and scooter competitions in the skate park along with basketball and flag football games.Scooters have become the latest rage and as many of them were at the skate park as skateboards and BMX bikes. Most were ridden by younger kids.
“I came out to be with all my friends,” said BMXer R. J. Hudson, 27, of Clearlake. “This is an awesome event.”
His sentiments were echoed by fellow BMX rider Austin Hummil, 20, of Clearlake. “I’m out here BMXing and having fun with my buddies. I know everybody here.”
The two newcomers to this year’s event, horse rides and a mechanical bull, were popular all day, with steady lines of children — and an occasional adult — waiting to climb aboard.
Eight-year-old Nathaniel Sherman of Kelseyville rode a horse at the event for only the second time in his life, although he admitted to not remembering the first time.
As to why he’s riding one again, he said, “I like horses and I don’t get the opportunity to ride them very often.”
There were several dozen booths at the youth outreach event, including ones featuring cotton candy, face painting, arts and crafts and health care and social service organizations.
This year’s musical acts included As All Else Fails, Death and Taxes, Dawn of Delirium, James Taylor, Fetti Rich, Masta Slash Beatz, Ojeezus Tha Gawd and the rap duo of Dennis Vajraca and Oscar Frias.
