The 39th annual Galesburg Fishing Derby returned to Lincoln Park on May 17, bringing young anglers and families out for one of Galesburg’s longtime outdoor traditions.
Angie Buchen, recreation supervisor for the city of Galesburg, said the fishing derby was started by a dedicated committee that helped build the event into what it is today.
Now, she said, the derby has reached a new generation of participants.
“The derby is awesome because we’re getting a third generation of people coming in for fishing,” Buchen said. “Kids of the kids are now coming in for fishing, which is pretty awesome.”
The derby was open to children ages 3 to 15 and ran from 1 to 3 p.m. Each participant received a goodie bag with a ticket inside. When children caught their first fish, they could take the ticket to one of the prize tables and redeem it for a prize.
“Everybody who catches a fish, no matter what size, gets a prize,” Buchen said.
Buchen said organizers packed 600 goodie bags for the event. The prize tables included toys geared toward a variety of ages, including outdoor toys, swim toys and bubbles.
Families also had other activities available during the derby. Hy-Vee provided food for purchase, Main Squeeze Lemonade was on site, and the Parks and Recreation Department’s mobile playground truck offered toys and activities for children.
Buchen said the event continues to be a way to introduce children to fishing and other outdoor activities.
“We definitely love the turnout every year,” Buchen said. “It’s great to see everybody. We’ve got people that, you know, it’ll be the first time they’ve ever fished before. So it’s awesome to see people getting introduced to outdoor sports.”
