Ronan celebrates community
Summer Goddard
Timothy Nanai and Sika Ulutoa, YWAM Tribal Waves, left and center, unwrap a pig that was roasted the night before the celebration as Life for the Nations pastor Chad Hoffman looks on.
Summer Goddard
Ronan’s Bockman Park was the site of a community celebration last week.
Summer Goddard
Remington Smith practices his basketball dunk skills in the bouncy house
Summer Goddard
Jae Matt points to the lucky winner of the prize winning ticket she pulled at the Ronan Celebration.
Summer Goddard
Mackenzie Charlo gets a sno cone during the June 26 Ronan Celebration.
Summer Goddard
Summer Goddard
Summer Goddard
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A celebration of community and all that makes Ronan a unique place to live, brought Ronan residents, along with friends from neighboring and distant cities, together to Bockman Park last week for food, music and games.
“It started off as a way to celebrate this beautiful town and great park,” said local YWAM Tribal Waves Director of Operations Timothy Nanai.
He added that the initial event was planned as a way to bring people back together after the COVID pandemic’s required social distancing ended. The event has continued every year with an estimated 400-500 people attending this year’s third annual Ronan Celebration.
Organized by The Lighthouse, Spirit of God and Life for the Nations churches, the event is sponsored by Ronan’s business community. Free hot dogs, sno cones, popcorn, games such as cornhole and inflatable bounce houses for children were offered to all who attended the family friendly event.
Tickets for prizes were given to attending children who, when their winning ticket number was called, shared in a microphone what they liked best about Ronan.
Nine-year-old Kashius Matt said he likes the city’s park best. His younger sister, Jae, said she likes the “fun stuff there is to do sometimes – like bounce houses” as she gestured toward the colorful inflated castle and slide set up nearby. Several more children responded that they like Ronan sports best.
A woman who lives close to park brought her two young children to the event when her daughter looked out the window of their house and saw the bounce house in the park. Having attended last year as well, the woman said she appreciates family friendly community activities.
Held from noon to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, June 26, the Ronan Celebration also featured live music played by local musicians on the Anderson Broadcasting stage and culminated with a whole pig roast evening meal.
