Schedule || and Events

Mason County Democrats, 35^th LD Democrats &supporters

Please bring your family and friends and join us at the

Hawk Hill

Calvinball Croquet Invitational

and Mason County Democrats Fundraiser

A private party to benefit the Mason County Democrats

Sunday Afternoon

August 1^st

At the farm of Michael O’Day and Janis Snoey

Starting at 1:00 PM

“official” Hawk Hill Calvinball Croquet competition (participation optional) between 2:00 and 3:30 PM or so

“unofficial” Calvinball before 2, after 3:30, and until the donkey says it’s over

What is Hawk Hill Calvinball Croquet?  Please see back for explanation and “rules”

Prizes for all the Winners!  Drawings for more Prizes!

Tasty Food and Beverages!

$25 suggested donation for adults over 21

We strongly encourage children and young adults to join in the fun.  In fact, we will give a ticket for a prize drawing to every person under the age of 28.  

phone (360) 426-8431 or email ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) for directions

and to let us know that you are coming

Hawk Hill Calvinball Croquet Explanation and Rules

1.   Hawk Hill is the name of the Snoey-O’Day Farm.  “Calvinball” comes from the cartoonist Bill Watterson. The word describes the game played by his protagonists, Calvin (a six-year-old boy) and Hobbes (a tiger who appeared as a stuffed animal to all but Calvin).  Croquet is croquet.

2.   Calvinball, as played by Calvin and Hobbes, was a free-spirited romp that thumbs its nose at organized sports (assuming that a romp has a nose).  The only consistent rule is that the game is never played the same way twice.  It is the game children play after the adult coach and the bratty kid that is always tattling on you have gone home. It can involve, among other things, wickets, goalposts, volleyballs, badminton rackets, signs, and flags. It resembles croquet, volleyball, and capture the flag.  If you want to know more, type “Calvinball” into your search engine or, better yet, go to your local bookstore and pick up a copy of one of Mr. Watterson’s Calvin and Hobbes books.

3.   Mr. Watterson is the world’s greatest cartoonist. He determinedly refuses to merchandize his characters.  Out of respect for his art, we did not use his characters out of context on this invitation.

Q.  Hawk Hill Calvinball Croquet is a lot like Calvinball.  We set up obstacles (maximum 10’ x10’) in the meadow below the house.  The obstacles each have at least one wicket, and any number of other items such as campaign signs, umbrellas, tubs with beverage cans, chairs, pots of flowers, etc.  Ideally, a human, who is Master of the Obstacle, attends the obstacle during competition time.  Each obstacle has a jar or bowl of tokens unique to the obstacle (maybe a campaign badge?).  We are asking Democratic candidates and elected officials to “sponsor” an obstacle in their name.

9.   An “official” competitor may start the course at any time between 2:00 and 3:00 (you may have to wait depending how many competitors are on course).  Theoretically, it should take a half an hour to run the course….depending on the whim of the Masters of the Obstacles.

t.    At the start, the starter gives each competitor a ball (some kind of ball) and a mallet (likely a croquet mallet, but you may get a shovel or a baseball bat or something else).

5.   Competitors may wear masks, costumes, and false mustaches.  All competitors, however, shall be fully clothed (i.e., no nudity though we acknowledge that nudity is valid for Calvinball.)

?.    A competitor playing through an obstacle must follow the directions of the Master, if present, (remember, Calvinball is never played the same way twice).  If no Master, the competitor calls upon a fellow competitor to direct the play. Upon completing the obstacle, the Master gives the competitor a token or if no Master present, the competitor takes a token (Democrats respect the honor system).

#.   Competitors completing all obstacles – with tokens as proof – receive a bag of Cool Stuff and five tickets for the prize drawings. 

Drawings for Prizes will be at 4:00; you do not need to be present to win.