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Around Town
In Chandler, the bird is the word

By M.V. Moorhead

After the chocolate coma of Valentine’s Day and before the mad, mid-March plunge into green beer and corned beef, what most of us could use is a late-winter celebration that allows us to eat well and still be nutritionally correct.

In the rest of the country there’s virtuous old Presidents Day—not known for its culinary excitement. In Chandler, however, there’s the Ostrich Festival.

Among the food concessions available at the 15th annual shindig devoted to the colossal flightless birds, scheduled for March 7-9 at the new Tumbleweed Park at Germann and McQueen, will be ostrich burgers—and the Festival’s planners want you to know that these treats may be enjoyed without sticking your head into the nutritional sand.

Three ounces of ostrich meat, it turns out, contains just two grams of fat and 97 calories, compared to 240 calories and 15 grams of fat in an equal amount of beef. Break down other familiar meats like chicken, pork, lamb and turkey, and ostrich comes in lowest in fat and calories each time, while offering roughly the same amount of protein.

Besides, when prepared properly, it’s delicious.

This is not to say that the Ostrich Fest is solely a treat for the stomach. A full and varied slate of fun for the eye and the ear are on the agenda as well.

Mainstage entertainment this year includes, on Friday evening, The Sharla Jackson Band, Chicago Honey Bears, Mogollon and America, known for such oddball hits as Horse With No Name.

On Saturday, musical acts include The Gene Faith Band and, at 8 p.m., ‘70s favorites Grand Funk Railroad, of Some Kind of Wonderful fame. A community stage will feature dance music and local acts.

Also on the bill this year are high-flying trampoline acrobatics and thrills in the Xtreme Air-Ultimate Stunt Show, performed at 3 and 5 p.m. Friday, 2, 3 and 5 p.m. Saturday and 1, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. Sunday.

There will be a petting zoo for smaller children, featuring all manner of exotic but friendly critters like camels, pot-bellied pigs and four-horned sheep.

Martial artist and Native American storyteller Blackhawk Walters, star of the syndicated TV show Blackhawk Warriors and the winner of the Best Native American Storyteller of 2000, will also appear, as will the Fest’s costumed mascot, Tutu.

London-style double-decker buses tricked out with such amenities as water coolers, ceiling fans and stereo systems will shuttle visitors on the 10-minute ride from downtown Chandler to the Festival.

Downtown Chandler will be the scene of yet another highlight, the Thorobred Ostrich Festival Parade, which gets on the march at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Despite all this fun, the focus is still on the feathered guests of honor, and there will ample opportunity to get a good, close look at the big flightless creatures, with their irritable faces and their simultaneously absurd and majestic forms.

Ostrich races, the peculiar spectacle for which the Festival is best known, are held at 5 p.m. Friday and at 2 and 5 p.m. Saturday.

Admission to the Festival is $3 for adults, $2 for seniors, $1 for kids 5-12, free for kids younger than 5. Go to www.ostrichfestival.com for details.

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