Woodside School District

 

The 102nd May Day Festival is THIS SATURDAY, May 4. We are looking forward to another memorable year! Please read the following details carefully to ensure your day is fun-filled.

 

 

Parking is limited; please plan accordingly. Parking is available in the public spaces at Independence Hall, and street parking is available on Cañada and Whiskey Hill. There is no public parking at the school; those spaces are reserved for First Aid and specific parade participants. Walking, biking, and carpooling are encouraged. Woodside Road, Hwy 84, closes from Cañada to Kings Mountain Road at 8:30am. 

PURCHASE FOOD: Wednesday, May 1, is the deadline to purchase Buck's BBQ meal tickets. There are several meals to choose from (smash cheeseburgers, hotdogs, beet and apple salad, and veggie chili), and the proceeds will support the 7th-grade Operetta fund. You can have delicious, professionally cooked food served by earnest 7th graders. It's all happening right next to the Carnival and your support is appreciated, but the only way to guarantee you eat is to BUY NOW and pick up your meal tickets at Will Call on Saturday at the event.

 

PARADE: The parade starts at 10am and has several options for kids to participate: 

MAYPOLE DANCE: 3rd Grade Maypole Dancers - you are all invited to join the parade at the very end to help advertise your Maypole Dance following the parade. Follow your room parents' instructions, enjoy the parade from the sidelines, and then join in at the very end. 

 

The Amphitheater Program will follow the parade and start approximately at 11am. In addition to highlighting our Kindercourt and Maypole dancers, we are pleased to honor two teachers from Woodside Elementary as Deputy Parade Marshals: Ellen Bertine and Kathy Jones. Read more about them here, and come to the amphitheater to show your support.

 

CARNIVAL: The Carnival starts at 11:30am. Please purchase wristbands for all participating children. Children can earn tickets by playing the carnival games. The tickets can be exchanged for prizes in the Prize Room (Teachers' Lounge). There will be signs, which the students have been busy decorating during recess. Come and enjoy! We also have lots of students signed up to help run the booths, face paint, etc. We need enough adult supervision to keep things running smoothly; please check the signup and consider helping. Your help is appreciated and needed. 

 

8th-grade DUNK TANK—Back by popular demand; we have a dunk tank to send our graduating class out with a splash. Parents, please remind your participating children to bring a towel and change of clothes and to time their dunking so they don't miss their volunteer commitments. :) We still need parents to help ensure this station stays friendly and safe. PLEASE SIGN UP TO HELP HERE. 

 

The BBQ, hosted by Buck's Restaurant and the 7th grade, opens at 12pm. Please take a moment to order now. 

 

There are a thousand moving parts to the May Day Festival. We're in this together, so if you see a need at the event, please fill it. We welcome your help! Any questions? Reach out to WoodsideMayDay@yahoo.com

 

 

*****  PARADE ENTRIES: Please, fill out this form with your entry details by March 20. *****

 

As in past years, the Sheriff’s Department will close Woodside Road (Highway 84) between Cañada Rd. and Kings Mountain Rd. at 8:30 a.m.  Early arrival is encouraged.

 

7:30 am — Fun Run sign-ups sponsored by the Woodside Recreation Committee (REGISTER HERE)

8:00 am — Pancake Breakfast at the Woodside Village Church

8:30 am — Parade check-in outside the school office/Fun Run beings

8:30 am — Woodside Road, Hwy 84, closes from Cañada to Kings Mountain Road.

 

Beginning at 10am, our parade starts at Woodside Elementary. This year’s theme is “Discover the Magic” and entries include our 8th-grade operetta performers, the Mounted Patrol, marching bands and everything in between. We are pleased to announce Scott and Kathi Dancer as our Parade Grand Marshals. This honor is given to citizens who demonstrate enduring service to our community. The Dancers have a long history of service in Woodside, especially to Woodside’s equestrian community. It is our pleasure to recognize their combined contributions to our town.

 

Following tradition, the Deputy Marshals are selected from Woodside Elementary School's dedicated teachers and staff. This year, we are pleased to honor Kathy Jones and Ellen Bertine, who have served our school for decades—their consistency and dedication to quality education foster optimism and enthusiasm in our school community. 

 

Immediately following the parade we invite everyone to join us at the Woodside School Amphitheater for the traditional Maypole dance performed by the 3rd-grade students, under the direction of Courtney Chandler and Beth Dameron. We will also hear from Mayor Jennifer Wall, honor our Parade Grand and Deputy Marshals and reveal the recipient of the Elward Thomas Citizen of the Year Award. In the tradition of Mr. Thomas, the Citizen of the Year award honors a Woodside resident who has made a sustained and significant contribution to Woodside School and specifically to the education and well-being of our children. 

 

Our hometown Carnival boasts classic carnival table games, cotton candy, a giant inflatable obstacle course, face painting, and so much more. Come throw a ball to soak a graduating 8th-grader at the dunk tank or try your hand swinging the hammer to ring the bell on the high striker. Wristbands for full access to the Carnival are $25, which can either be purchased online starting in April or at the event.

 

Buck’s restaurant and the 7th-grade class are hosting a mouth-watering BBQ lunch of smashburgers, hotdogs and salad. Proceeds from the food sales will help the 7th-graders fund their operetta performance next year.  Food presales begin online in April.

 

Questions? Contact Rachel Ream rachel.ream@gmail.com.