LOTS OF FUN PLANNED AT SUMMERFEST.

Byline: Sylvia L. Oliande Daily News Staff Writer

A military parade of hundreds of sailors, a 5K fun run and a pie-eating contest are among the highlights expected this weekend at the Seabee Summerfest '98.

The two-day event will kick off with a full-dress military review on the parade field, featuring the Naval Construction Battalion Center's finest sailors and tons of Seabee equipment, followed by a gun salute.

Each year, the Seabee festival attracts between 15,000 to 20,000 people, introducing them to the base's operations.

``It's a good opportunity for the community to come aboard the base, have fun and learn about the military,'' said Linda Wadley, a spokeswoman for the center.

The center has been opening its doors to visitors since 1986, when the event was known as the Seabee Days Celebration. Established during World War II to build and maintain camps, roads, supply routes and airfields for military arms in the Pacific, the base now houses four battalions of sailors.

The festivities are scheduled from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at the center, which is at Ventura and Pleasant Valley roads. Admission is free.

Early birds also can join in the free 5K Nash Dash Fun Run, scheduled to begin at 7 a.m. Saturday at the Port Hueneme Pier.

Among the participants will be Rear Adm. David Nash, commander of the Naval Facilities Engineering Command and chief of civil engineers, who also will give a speech at the opening ceremonies.

The celebration is expected to include a PetSmart Funniest Pet Trick contest and a Marie Callender's Pie Eating Contest on Saturday, as well as an Alaska Airlines Karaoke Contest and a Taylor Studios Star Spangled Baby Contest on Sunday.

Advanced registration is mandatory for the karaoke contest, and is suggested for the others because of limited space.

Most of the contests are free, but there is a $6 entrance fee for the baby contest - which features toddlers under 2 years old wearing their red, white and blue finest.

Visitors also are invited to take a shuttle from the base to tour the USS Gary, a guided missile frigate from San Diego. History buffs will be able to tour the Seabee Museum, featuring Seabee films and historical displays dating back to World War II.

The live bands scheduled through the day will play music ranging from rock to country-western. And visitors can take in a craft show, carnival rides, an aerobic exercise demonstration for children and a classic car and motorcycle show.

And, finally, the festival will include 3-on-3 basketball and 4-on-4 sand volleyball tournaments, open to sailors and visitors alike.

SUMMERFEST EVENTS

The gates to the base will open at 10 a.m. each day and close at 6 p.m. Saturday and 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free. Visitors should enter at the Pleasant Valley Road or Victoria Avenue gates.

SATURDAY

7 a.m. 5K Nash Dash Fun Run.

11 a.m. Military parade and opening ceremony.

11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. USS Gary ship tour.

11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Motorcycle show.

11:30 a.m. PetSmart Funniest Pet Trick contest.

11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Burnt Rubber (live rock band).

12:30 p.m. Marie Callender's pie-eating contest.

1 to 4 p.m. Papa Nata band.

4 p.m. Burnt Rubber.

SUNDAY

11 a.m. to 5 p.m. USS Gary ship tour.

11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Classic car show.

11 a.m. Cardio Kids aerobic demonstration.

11:30 a.m. to noon. Christine Foster (live country-western singer).

Noon. Taylor Studios Star Spangled Baby contest.

1:30 to 2 p.m. Christine Foster.

2 p.m. Alaska Airlines Karaoke contest.

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BOX: SUMMERFEST EVENTS (See text)