By Kathryn Reed

“It’s a stroll in the park.”

That’s how Chris Hawken, No. 2 guy with South Lake Tahoe Park’s and Recreation Department, described Saturday’s annual Bijou Bash. And it’s exactly what it looked like.

Kids learn about recycling at the South Tahoe Refuse table on Sept. 11. Photos/Kathryn Reed

With nearly 3,000 people meandering through Bijou Community Park, which was closed off to vehicle traffic, it was one of those Tahoe Saturday’s to bask in the sun, mingle with friends, watch kids scamper about, munch on food from local restaurants, and visit a variety of informational booths.

Tahoe Mountain Milers started things off with a poker run with 30 participants.

Anthony Davis kept things rolling as he emceed the event and had people grooving to the music in between the various stage acts. Demonstrations from Miss Marcia’s dancers to karate to gymnastics brought out hundreds to watch.

At the other end of the park, near the entrance, kids scampered on the big equipment the city brought out. Lots of kids visited the firefighters based on the number of plastic red fire hats being worn all over.

Kristopher Fisher, 10 was all smiles as he climbed into the cab of the Kodiak snowblower with its 1,000 horsepower engine and 1,470 pounds of torque.

In between the areas gymnasts practiced in the stretch of lawn that was put in by park staff last year. Children played on the permanent equipment installed this year as well as on and in the bouncy house apparatuses brought in for the bash.

Exact attendance numbers are hard to calculate because not everyone walks in the main entrance. And with it being free, no tickets are sold. About 2,700 attended last year and it’s anticipated about 300 more came this year. It helped that there wasn’t a downpour this year.

People even showed up before the 11am start time, clearly redefining Tahoe time.