Potter to host summer event with something for everyone

Sports, arts, food, bull riding, a car show: the ingredients of a truly unique community gathering planned for next month in Potter.

On Saturday, June 27, those activities – and a few more – will combine to make up the inaugural Potter CarBowl.

Throughout the day, community residents and visitors will be able to participate or take in golf and duckpin bowling tournaments, a car show, a mini bull riding competition and cap it all off with a melodrama theatrical performance.

And of course there'll be food and drinks.

Drew Enevoldsen, a volunteer helping organize the festivities, said a melodrama performed annually in the town was the initial driving force behind the CarBowl.

"It's the main fundraiser we have for our community hall – the historic Legion Hall here in town – and we felt like Potter could use something else that could go along with it, because it's such a fun event," he said. "So, we were looking at our other volunteer organizations in town and we tried to incorporate everyone into one big event."

Potter has a community-run golf course, duckpin bowling alley and active Lion's Club. Each of the various organizations will have a hand in the CarBowl, he said.

"We're just trying to make it a nice event for the public – kind of a way to give back," Enevoldsen said.

Proceeds from the activities will benefit various groups.

"The golf tournament is being put on to help support the golf course, since it's community funded," he explained. "All of the funds raised from the golf tournament will go to golf. The bowling alley is going to have open bowling starting in the morning and then they're going to do a bowling tournament starting around noon."

That money will go toward continued maintenance of the bowling alley and a planned community room addition in the building.

"And the car show and the bull riding is just another way to help out Legion Hall and get more people in the door for the melodrama," he added.

Community support for the event has been tremendous, Enevoldsen said.

"I've never seen the volunteerism jump quite like it has with this, as far as reaching outside of Potter, even, and getting people from Sidney and Kimball willing to help," he said. "I think what helps is it's not one organization that benefits and it's nobody in particular – it's the whole community that benefits from this. And it's not a huge fundraiser, so people won't have their hands sticking out asking for money."

The events that will make up the CarBowl grew as more residents became involved in the planning process.

"One guy said, 'I really like golf – we should do a golf tournament,' and I was like, 'Alright, let's work in a golf tournament in,'" Enevoldsen said. "And then it's like we're doing all this work on the bowling alley, why don't we do something with that?"

He added, the CarBowl will have something for everyone.

"You don't like cars?" he asked. "Well, we've got a rodeo. You're not a car or rodeo guy? We have golf. You're an arts person? We have theater."

Many events will be free and the tournaments that do have registration fees will be reasonable.

"It's well priced," he said. "The melodrama is still only $6 for an adult and $4 for kids."

Those interested in participating in the car show or golf tournament are asked to register by June 1, so that organizers know how many people to expect.

More information about the Potter CarBowl can be found at the event's Facebook page – facebook.com/pottercarbowl – or by emailing [email protected] or calling (308) 879-4451.