It's a big year for the annual Oz-Stravaganza! festival.
It's been 75 years since the "The Wizard of Oz" classic movie debuted in theaters and 100 years since L. Frank Baum published "Tik-Tok of Oz" within the Oz canon. On top of that, Chittenango's All Things Oz Museum has moved into a new donated space.
"It's much larger than the other [location] and we're working around the clock," said Oz-Stravaganza! co-director Colleen Zimmer. "People have been so generous. A brand new furnace and bathroom were donated to us too."
Zimmer and co-director Barbara Evans will officially open the museum on June 4 just in time for the Oz-Stravaganza! festival which takes place June 6, 7 and 8. The theme of this year's festival is "Timeless Oz."
The Grand Marshal for the festival this year is Roger Baum, great grandson of L. Frank Baum. The animated film "Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return" was released nationwide on May 9 and was based on Roger's own book "Dorothy of Oz."
It's time for the United States to take Oz back.
In 2010, 446 children from a U.K. Brighton primary school set a world record for the most costumed "Wizard of Oz" characters gathered in one place.
Oz-Stravaganza! organizers plan to break that record on Saturday. Roughly 20,000 people attend the festival across the entire weekend, with the highest concentration of visitors on Saturday.
So the goal is realistic, as long people follow the (extensive) rules.
"Their rules are very, very strict," said Zimmer. "There's a lot of paperwork, a lot of rules and you have to follow everything exactly."
Costumes must be complete - not just masks or ruby slippers for example - and must be recognizable as an Oz character from the classic movie. No costumes from "The Wiz," "Wicked" or any of Baum's other books will be accepted.
Judy Garland's hometown of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, will also compete to break the world record during their annual Wizard of Oz festival June 10-15.
Where:
Chittenango High School Football Field at 150 Genesee St. (Route 5), Chittenango.
When:
Gathering time starts at 10 a.m. and everyone must on the field before 11:30 a.m. the record attempt and group photo is scheduled for 12-12:05 p.m.
How much:
$5 per person dressed in costumes (regardless of age) The $5 covers fees to hire videographers and photographers to document (and essentially prove) the world record. Leftover money will go to the museum.
Margaret Pelligrini, the darling of Oz-Stravaganza!, passed away in August of last year. She played a "Flower Pot" Munchkin in the 1939 film production of "The Wizard of Oz."
Pelligrini attended almost every year of the festival and was named Grand Marshal of the 2013 Oz-Stravaganza! parade. Though she suffered a stroke and couldn't make it last year, but organizers decided she would remain as grand marshal.
"It's very, very sad for us," Zimmer said. "You know what, it's been 75 years since that movie. Simple math will tell you they're not going to last forever."
"The Wizard of Oz" original actors (L to R): Karl Slover, who was the First Trumpeter, Margaret Pellegrini, who portrayed a "sleepyhead" flower pot Munchkin, and Jerry Maren, the Lollipop Guild Munchkin that handed Dorothy the lollipop.
Pellegrini was among the youngest of the 124 actors who played Munchkins in the movie. In the 36 years of Oz-Stravaganza!, nine of the original Munchkins have visited as guests of honor: Meinhardt Raabe (the coroner of the Munchkins), Margaret Pelligrini, Fern Formica, Jerry Maren, Clarence Swenson, Karl Slover, Lewis Croft, Ruth Duccini and Mickey Carroll.
Jerry Maren, 94, is the last living Munchkin after Ruth Robinson Duccini, the last surviving female actress from the original cast, died in January.
Maren played a member of the Lollipop Guild and handed the lollipop to Dorothy in the movie. He attended Oz-Stravaganza! for about 20 of the 36 years but stopped attending after his wife passed away. He resides in California.
Sign in honor of L. Frank Baum on Rt. 5 as you enter Chittenango.
Caren Marsh Doll, the stand-in for Judy Garland as Dorothy, has also been a frequent visitor to Oz-Stravaganza! She attended last year, but at 95, she can't handle the flight from California to New York anymore, Zimmer said. Marsh Doll was the Grand Marshal of the festival's parade in 2011.
"She's devastated," Zimmer said. "But she has to listen to her body."
Attending the festival this year is "Munchkin by Marriage" Myrna Swensen, wife of Munchkin soldier Clarence Swensen. Swensen was originally cast in the movie, but had to bow out for an emergency appendectomy.
Several child actors were also cast as Munchkins in "The Wizard of Oz.." At least one of them, Priscilla Montgomery Clark, (b. 1929) is still alive and living in California.
Friday, June 6, 2014
All Things Oz Museum & Baum's Bazaar Gift Shop Hours
(Noon- 5 p.m., 219 Genesee St. Chittenango)
1-9 p.m. -- Oz-Stravaganza! Park Opens. Some crafter/vendor booths opening and more to open on Saturday.
2-7 p.m. -- Information Booth, Greater Sullivan Area Chamber of Commerce. Be sure to pick up a Land of Oz Passport at the All Things Oz Museum or at the information booth in Oz park. Complete your passport and win prizes.
4 p.m. -- Amusement Rides open in Oz-Stravaganza! Park. Ride specials available.
5 p.m. -- Chicken Barbeque in the parking lot of the American Legion, Legion Drive, Chittenango.
4-5:30 p.m. -- Special Oz Guests and Author's Alley Signing,
Oz-Stravaganza! Park. Come meet current Oz authors and illustrators along with Special Oz Guests.
4-7 p.m. -- Silent Auction at Glinda's Royal Tent located in Oz-Stravaganza! Park, Downtown Chittenango. Includes Oz, Non-Oz items, local and national items, gift certificates & more. Be sure to get raffle tickets for the handmade Oz Quilt.
5-7 p.m. -- Postal Cancellation, Oz-Stravaganza! Park. Postal cancellations offered by the Chittenango Postal Service. Friday's Cancellation is "Timeless Oz" designed by Autumn J. Evans Osinski. Special Oz-Stravaganza! envelopes will be available for cancellation. Cancellations make great gifts and collector items, send your mail from "The Land of Oz."
6-8:30 p.m. -- Friday Night Program, Oz-Stravaganza! Park, Downtown Chittenango
6:30-9:30 p.m. -- Prequel to Fireworks, Community Recognition Park, Legion Drive. Live music before the fireworks at 6:30 p.m. with The Rugburns and Spectrum. Enjoy a chicken barbeque while listening to the music.
6:30 p.m. -- Hot Air Balloon lift-off, Sullivan Park, Lake Street. Weather permitting and reservations are required. Spectators welcome. Call Dwight Cramer at 315-761-8201 for reservations.
9:30 p.m. -- The "Ozsome" Oz Fireworks, Community Recognition Park, Legion Drive, Chittenango. Food and drinks will be available.
Saturday, June 7, 2014
2 p.m. -- The Oz Parade
Sunday, June 8, 2014
All Things Oz Museum & Baum's Bazaar Gift Shop Hours (11 a.m.- 4 p.m., 219 Genesee St. Chittenango.
10 a.m. -- Oz-Stravaganza! Park Opens.
10 a.m.-4 p.m. -- History Display. Glinda's Royal Tent, Oz-Stravaganza! Park. Includes Chittenango, Baum and Oz History.
10 a.m.-4 p.m. -- Oz-Stravaganza! Park features continuous live entertainment on the main stage, games, vendors/crafters, Oz souvenirs and memorabilia, food, drinks and children activities. Special Guests in Glinda's Royal Tent.
11 a.m.-12 p.m. -- Meet and greet with Ryan Jay at the "All Things Oz Museum "
11 a.m. -- Royal Historian of Oz Writing Contest Awards. Ceremony on the main stage in Oz-Stravaganza! Park. Winning stories will be read by Special Oz Guests.
11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. -- Silent Auction in Glinda's Royal Tent, Oz-Stravaganza! Park. Includes Oz, Non-Oz items, local and national items, gift certificates and more.
Noon--Amusement Rides Open, Oz-Stravaganza! Park. Ride specials available.
12 p.m. -- Coloring Contest Awards. Ceremony in Oz-Stravaganza! Park.
12:30-3 p.m. -- Author's Alley Tent, Oz-Stravaganza! Park. Meet with renowned Oz authors and illustrators, (Tom Hutchison, Gwendolyn Tennille, Ron Baxley, Jr., James C. Wallace II, Kenneth L. Doane II, Ethan Tarshish, and Dick Mickelson). They will have their books available for sale and signing.
1-3 p.m. -- Autographs with Special Oz Guests, Glinda's Royal Tent, Oz-Stravaganza! Park. Meet and Greet with Munchkin by Marriage, Myrna Swensen, Bob and Clare Baum, Roger and Charlene Baum, John Fricke, Christianna Rickard, Ryan Jay, Paul Miles Schneider, Jonathan Shirshekan, Aaron Harburg.
3:30 p.m. -- Grand Finale, main stage at Oz-Stravaganza! Park.