The 116th Annual Rhododendron Festival took place in Florence on May 20-21, 2023. As always, the Florence Elks Lodge participated in grand style with their chicken barbeque, Ladies of Elks Pie and Bake Sale, the Past Exalted Rulers Rhody breakfast, and our always popular parade float.
More than 100 volunteers worked these events over the course of the weekend. For the barbeque, we smoked and cooked 1000 pounds of chicken halves and served them with baked beans and
potato salad. The pancake, eggs and sausage breakfast was free to all fire and police personnel, as well as the Rhododendron Court (made up of students from the local schools). The bake sale sold out of homemade pies within 30 minutes. Our parade float – which won the Grand Marshalls Award - had 6 motorcycles perched on top of a 40ft flatbed trailer that was covered in cedar branches and rhododendron flowers. Local veterans - Gary Covert - Navy, Ed Bevertsen - Navy,  Richard Lewis - Marines, Phil Olsen - Army, Bill Beluza - Air Force, sat on 5 of those bikes while one
bike was left without a rider representing our POW/MIAs. Thanks to Brien Mill for piloting our float & Oregon Coast Marine Construction for providing the trailer every year!
  Proceeds from these events help support and build our charity funds so we can continue to give back to the wonderful community we live in.
THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE VOLUNTEERS & SUPPORTERS OF THIS WONDERFUL FUNDRAISER WEEKEND!