City of La Crosse Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Department would like to share the following schedule for the Grandad Bluff Reopening Celebration:

4:00 Arrival and set up by the Ho-Chunk Nation's ceremonial drum

4:30 Ceremonial drumming begins (10 drummers)

4:50 Seating official party: Ho-Chunk President Greendeer, Vice President Blackdeer, and Spiritual Leader Garvin, Sec Stepp, Sec Klett, Mayor Anderson (actor, Mayor Harter, Fred Gore, Joseph Whitney

5:00 President Ho -Chunk Nation, President Greendeer opens the ceremony

5:05 Ho-Chunk Spiritual Leader, George Garvin, performs blessing of the park

5: 10 Steve Carlyon brief welcome
-Introduce Cathy Stepp, Wisconsin Secretary Department of Natural Resources (remarks and presentation of Governor Proclamation)
Secretary Stepp: present to Mayor Matt Harter, Governor Scott Walker's Official Proclamation commemorating the Hixon Family gift. (Governor Scott Walker has claimed across the State of Wisconsin that today, April 27, 2012 as Grandad Bluff Day. Proclamation will be on site.)

5:20 Steve Carlyon introduce Wisconsin Secretary of Tourism Stephanie Klett

5:25 Steve Carlyon introduce the Mayor Wendal Anderson, Mayor of La Crosse early 1900's (actor John Satory)

5:30 Mayor Anderson (actor- John Satory) introduce todays Mayor Mathis Harter

5:35 Mayor Harter recognize Fred Hixon Gore and Joseph Hixon Whitney (direct decedents of Ellen P Hixon)

5:40 Remarks by Fred Hixon Gore about his family

5:45 Fred and Joseph cut the ribbon

5:50-? Celebration with cupcakes and sodas, with strolling blue grass musicians

For more information, please contact the City of La Crosse Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Department
at 789-7533