John Estevane (right) tries Lety Aguilar's recipe for "blazing testicles" Saturday during the fifth annual Testicle Festival in Ocotillo. (CHELCEY ADAMI PHOTO) |
OCOTILLO – If the name of the Testicle Festival caught your attention, then it did the trick, organizers said.
The event is an annual fundraiser hosted by the Desert Volunteers of Ocotillo Optimist Club benefiting area children and was held Saturday at the Lazy Lizard Saloon. This is the fifth year for the club to have the event.
“This is a unique area with unique demographics,” Optimist Club President Kathleen Thayer explained. “The event is geared to fun-loving adults. We try to raise funds in other ways, but this is a fun way to do it.”
The Testicle Festival and a Roadkill Stew Cook-off are the Club’s two main annual fundraisers.
“One hundred percent of the proceeds go right back into the community,” Thayer said. “We always have a great time with these things. We’re doing a great thing for kids and having a great time.”
Testicle Festival visitors appeared to be having a good time Saturday as they tried menu items such as the “giant lizard testicles” which tasted like meatballs and “lizard droppings” which tasted like beans.
Last year bull testicles were brought as a delicacy item, but unfortunately they couldn’t provide them this year, Optimist Club Member Joyce Estevane said.
Prizes were raffled and the grand prize being Honda generator.
All event food and raffle prizes were donated and about a dozen volunteers worked the event Saturday.
The club provides backpacks with school supplies as well as haircuts for area children and is working on raising money to put in a playground, Optimist Club board member Lee Buckingham said.
The club hosts an annual Christmas party with gifts for children up to 14-years-old and a Thanksgiving dinner.
The Desert Volunteers of Ocotillo Optimist Club also provides a graduate incentive program which encourages area students to receive their high school diploma and a continuing education program.
Call Lee Buckingham at 858-414-9356 for more information about the Desert Volunteers of Ocotillo Optimist Club.
Staff Writer Chelcey Adami can be reached at 760-337-3452 or cadami@ivpressonline.com
The event is an annual fundraiser hosted by the Desert Volunteers of Ocotillo Optimist Club benefiting area children and was held Saturday at the Lazy Lizard Saloon. This is the fifth year for the club to have the event.
“This is a unique area with unique demographics,” Optimist Club President Kathleen Thayer explained. “The event is geared to fun-loving adults. We try to raise funds in other ways, but this is a fun way to do it.”
The Testicle Festival and a Roadkill Stew Cook-off are the Club’s two main annual fundraisers.
“One hundred percent of the proceeds go right back into the community,” Thayer said. “We always have a great time with these things. We’re doing a great thing for kids and having a great time.”
Testicle Festival visitors appeared to be having a good time Saturday as they tried menu items such as the “giant lizard testicles” which tasted like meatballs and “lizard droppings” which tasted like beans.
Last year bull testicles were brought as a delicacy item, but unfortunately they couldn’t provide them this year, Optimist Club Member Joyce Estevane said.
Prizes were raffled and the grand prize being Honda generator.
All event food and raffle prizes were donated and about a dozen volunteers worked the event Saturday.
The club provides backpacks with school supplies as well as haircuts for area children and is working on raising money to put in a playground, Optimist Club board member Lee Buckingham said.
The club hosts an annual Christmas party with gifts for children up to 14-years-old and a Thanksgiving dinner.
The Desert Volunteers of Ocotillo Optimist Club also provides a graduate incentive program which encourages area students to receive their high school diploma and a continuing education program.
Call Lee Buckingham at 858-414-9356 for more information about the Desert Volunteers of Ocotillo Optimist Club.
Staff Writer Chelcey Adami can be reached at 760-337-3452 or cadami@ivpressonline.com
