Carnival? Theme park? No, that’s the grounds outside the IBEW Local 48 hall Sunday, July 9, where a newly turfed lot combined with the parking lot was the site of the union’s annual picnic.
Members and their families—an estimated 3,000 people—attended this year’s event, and some said it was better than the union’s pre-pandemic picnics at Oaks Amusement Park. Kids enjoyed the zip line; three mechanical rides; a bounce house, inflatable obstacle course and miniature golf course; and six carnival games.
A dunk tank featuring business manager Garth Bachman raised funds for the Electrical Workers Minority Caucus. Lunch was served by family-owned McKillip’s Catering of St. Paul in a massive tent with seating for 1,000. Raffle prizes ranged from frisbees and family Zoo memberships to Oculus VR sets and 65” TVs.
To get there, members parked at the nearby Carpenters union training center and either walked the half mile between the two, or boarded one of two 55-seat buses that kept in constant rotation.
