Sonia Sippach wins the 10 and over category in the Bubble Gum Blowing Contest as others competing look on. Photo by Mel Toadvine

Friday night’s opening of the 38th annual Lehigh Acres Spring Festival was probably the largest night ever in all the years of the festival. The park was full of cars and between 1,500 and 2,000 people turned out.

“It was one of our greatest opening nights,” said Debbie Jackson, a member of the Festival Committee. “I think it is because we moved some of the youth events to the first night and that brought out a lot of people.”

Chief among the events was the ever popular Bubble Blowing Contest that drew youngsters to compete in two categories five to 10 and from 11 and above.

Vicki Culver, another member of the Festival Committee, emceed the bubble blowing event, challenging the youngsters “to blow, blow hard.” The crowd cheered as the youngsters chews fast and hard to start blowing.

Unlike previous years when the contest was held on Saturday mornings when it was often windy, this year’s event has no winds, but it will still hard for some to get the gum soft enough to blow a bubble.

Edward Dancer, 11, of Lehigh, glances around the largest bubble he blew in the Bubble Gum Blowing Contest. He won in his category. Photo by Mel Toadvine

But right off, Sonia Sippach, 10, of Lehigh blew the first bubble, followed by Edward Dancer, 13.

And they kept blowing and blowing and after four or five minutes, judges declared them as the winners of their class.

In the five to 10 class, the winners were Sonia Sippach, 10, first; Erin Sparks, 10, second; and Kayla Morris, 10, third. In the 11 and over, the winner was Edward Dancer, 13. Each won gift certificates to Gifts for the Holidays shop on Homestead Rd.

The Friday night opening ceremony began with the introduction of sponsors of the event. Jackson said sponsors makes the festival possible.

There was a dance school presentation that drew wild applause from moms and dads and grandparents and just about everybody else.

Bubble Gum Blowing Contest. Vicki Culver, who emceed the bubble blowing contest, hands out winning certificates and a gift certificate to her gift shop, to winners of the 5 to 10 category. The winners were Sonia Sippach, Erin Sparks, and Kayla Morris. Photo by Mel Toadvine

The midway rides and food vendors were doing a brisk business and hundreds were strolling through that part of the festival at Veterans Park.

It was also the first night of the Spring Idol Contests.

On Saturday, toddlers raced to the finish on the outside stage and people brought their pets to be judge and there was more entertainment in the late afternoon and evening including three concerts. The park was filled with thousands of people throughout the day and evening.

The festival continued all week with more entertainment, contests and more activities and each night the Junior and Adult Spring Idol Contest was held with eliminations. Pageants were held and people clapped to southern gospel music. Lehigh residents were treated earlier this week with a gala fireworks display over the park, something held over from last Fourth of July when bad weather canceled the fireworks.

The festival continues for the rest of this week concluding with a parade on

Debbie Jackson

Saturday and a full day of activities at Veterans Park.