<p>One of the featured attractions at the Lavender Festival were the quilts on display. They were created by Colleen Winfrey, Judy Robinson and Danice McBee.</p>

Saturday was a big, busy and fun day for the Hermiston community, as Funfest, the Classic Car Show and the Lavender Festival took over the town.

Events kicked off at 7 a.m. with the Columbia Corridor Corredores (CCC) Trail Run at McNary Beach Park along the Columbia River. Runners competed in the 10-mile, 25K and 25K relay events. In the 10-mile, Sara McDonald came in first (time of 1 hours, 22 minutes, 37 seconds) for the women and Adrian Perez won the men’s division (1:11:22). The 25K men’s victor was Hermiston cross-country coach Jake Puzey (1:37:58), and Cynthia Morris, from Cove, Ore., headed the women’s event (2:19:53). The 25K relay was won by the CCC team (1:32:56).

Back in Hermiston, children brought their favorite teddy bear for a big-stage show-and-tell at the Teddy Bear Parade down Main Street.

Vendors lined the streets and served food and sold novelty items, while games like mini-golf, rubber ducky diving, rock climbing and limbo entertained attendees. Zumba, DJ Warren Smith, the Cloggers Dance Troupe and other performances were also part of the event.

Captain Harry Lewis from the Discovery Channel’s Deadliest Catch television show was in attendance. He told stories of his time on the F/V Incentive boat, shared pictures and played sweet melodies with his harmonica.

One of the day’s highlights came in late morning when the Outlaw Dragsters started up their engines of their lawn mowers. Yes, part of Main Street was transformed into a drag strip, and the mower owners showed off the power under the hood.

“It’s all about the adrenaline rush,” said 6-year dragster veteran Bill Loftin, from New Plymouth, Idaho.

For 11 weekends between April and September, the Outlaw Dragsters Club tours around the Pacific Northwest, putting on non-profit races for different communities. The $750 performance fee they ask for is to cover a $1 million insurance policy for the club. After all, this kind of lawn mowing can be dangerous. All the drivers wear protective helmets and suits in case of an accident.

“It’s strictly a hobby, though.” Loftin said.

The lawn mowers aren’t the traditional grass cutters, however. Instead of stock engines, the racers drop snowmobile motors into their mowers. Loftin, who brought two to Funfest, said one of his mowers took about four and a half months to build from scratch, all of which he does himself.

“It has to be 50 percent of a lawn mower,” Loftin said, referring to the building regulations. “I built it out of spare parts.”

And with bigger motors comes bigger sound much bigger sound. The ear-piercing rev of the engines forced many members of the crowd to plug their ears. If one didn’t know better, they’d think these were real dragsters.

The 100-foot club racing record is 1.4 seconds, Loftin said. Unfortunately, no records fell Saturday, but the racers provided entertainment for everybody. Loftin said he enjoys racing in Hermiston because it provides the biggest crowds.

At 11:30 a.m., it was hot dog eating time, as six contestants took their places on stage. The rules were simple: the participant to eat the most hot dogs in five minutes wins. Eleven hot dogs later, Tri-Cities’ Scott Engbring raised his hands in victory.

“I have to go try those sausages now,” a not-so-full Engbring said following the contest.

Funfest 2011 concluded with performances from a steel drum band, the Compesinos de mi Choacan Mariachi Band and Dancers and David Florea and the Bureau.

Happening all day in McKenzie Park was the Classic Car Show, where dozens of pristine automobiles were on display. Also present was Caroline McGowan, making her first public appearance as Miss Oregon.

Across town, Jim and Sheri Konningrud opened up their Purple Ridge Lavender Farm home to the public for a Lavender Festival on Saturday and Sunday. The event featured a quilt display, live music, fresh lemonade, wine, art and of course, lavender. The flowers were a perfect backdrop for the laid-back setting.

Many people turned out to be a part of what was just the second year of the festival’s existence. Jordawn Wambeke, the event’s coordinator, said they made an extra effort to bring in more attractions within the actual festival this year, which helped boost admissions.

“We rolled everything into one a little piece of everything,” Wambeke said.

Last year, approximately 450 people attended Lavender Festival. This year, more than 550 people were at the event. All admission fees and funds went to support Martha’s House, the soon-to-be-constructed family homeless shelter. Dave Hughes, Agape House Executive Director, estimated the event brought in between $4,000 and $5,000.

Hughes said over half of the attendees were from outside the Hermiston area, many from Tri-Cities.

Jack Bellinger provided a nearby field for parking, and a shuttle was arranged to move people back and forth between Funfest and the Lavender Festival on Saturday. Wambeke said a lot of the event’s success should be credited to everyone who volunteered to help put the event on, and that the biggest thanks goes to the Konningrud’s for their gracious offer to open their lavender property for everyone to enjoy.