Royal City gearing up for SummerFest

ROYAL CITY — The Royal City SummerFest or SummerFiesta this year is set for the weekend of July 10-15. Now is the time to sign up for the various competitions.

If you like to play basketball, soccer or golf or just plain running, SummerFiesta will have something for you. You may register for these activities at www.rcsummerfest.org.

Three-on-three soccer returns this year. It had been on the shelf for seven years, but thanks to Shaquille Ledezma, a former Royal High School soccer player, the popular event resurfaces.

Ledezma has fond memories of playing in the SummerFest 3-in-3 under organizer Jens Jensen, back in the day. Now he wants to make some memories for today’s youths.

The soccer competition will feature eight divisions, including youngsters, teens and adults: boys and girls teams. Sixty percent of the entry fee will benefit the Royal High School soccer program, and forty percent of the entry fee will be for prizes.

This competition will run July 10-13 in the Royal City Park from 4 to 8 p.m. The finals will be played Thursday with a “Movie in the Park” at dusk after the soccer finale. June 30 is the registration deadline.

The second SummerFest Glow Run will be held on Friday night, July 14, beginning at 9:15 p.m. The inaugural glow run last year was well-attended and participants especially enjoyed the evening nature of the event.

All entry fees for this event are donated to the Community Hugs organization founded by the Royal City Police Department. Last Christmas, many families were “hugged”.

Every participant receives a sponsor provided T-shirt. Courtney Andersen and Erin Wildraayer are head glow organizers. There will be prizes for best runners and most glow.

Runners may register the day of the run, Anderson said. However, T-shirts are not guaranteed to be available, and fees are higher than for preregistration.

New RHS head boy’s hoops coach Ray Valle Jr. will oversee the annual 3-on-3 basketball tournament.

“We are excited this year,” said Cara Hoyt, president of the Royal City SummerFest Committee, “because the Drew Gimlin Foundation is loaning us their basketball hoops in order to make this activity available to youngsters.”

The competition will begin at 8 a.m. on Saturday, July 15. It will take a break during the Grand Parade, which begins at 10 a.m., and then resumes after the Parade until its completion.

Every participant will receive an exclusive T-shirt, and prizes will be given to the winners in the age categories.

If you haven’t golfed after sundown, you may want to try it this year. The third annual Royal Golf Course Glow Ball Tournament will be held on July 15.

As usual, the competition will begin with nine holes before dusk. There will be a light meal for the players at halftime, and then they will go nine holes again in the dark.

“Come on out and try this fun event,” Golf Shop Manager Athena Vetterick suggests.

For more information, call the clubhouse at 509-346-2052.