by Kate McFadden
The Peter Bug Day celebration behind Watkins Elementary School last Saturday featured antique cars, activities for kids, bbq, and a dozen live bands. This gorilla had a blast.
The New Era preformed songs as varied as Old Man River to Sam Cooke’s “Change is Gonna Come” to New Edition eighties hits. After an encore and lots of dancing, Peter Bug Matthews, grand marshal, awarded the local group the “Oscar of Peter Bug Day”.
More than 10 bands took the stage. Dancing broke out in the crowd as hundreds of people greeted old friends and neighbors, sampled bbq and snow cones. Proceeds of the event went to support the peewee football league at Watkins.
Maggie Deville of the Upper Marlboro Midnight Riders brought her four horses for young riders. $5 bought you a ride on a dapple gray, a bay and two chestnuts. Maggie does lots of birthday parties. For more information, call 301.395.7728.
The barbecue at Peter Bug’s is a long time institution. You can get ribs and chicken there weekends in the summer. While not reliably there on the weekends, the bbq is reliably tasty.
I have know bug for many years. I was the girlfriend of one of his dearest friends, Frank Leon Smith. I always knew Bug was headed for greatness, and I hope to join the event this weekend with little Frank Smith.