Get ready to feast on fresh corn on the cob, barbecue and homemade fried chicken from a top-secret recipe Tuesday at The Montgomery General Hospital Women’s Board’s 91st Annual Picnic and Bazaar.

The beloved Olney event, which will include pony rides and a moon bounce, will take place at the old hospital grounds at the intersection of Olney-Sandy Spring Road and Prince Phillip Drive from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

“For 91 years, the Women's Board has been responsible for bringing together the Olney community for a day of fun, food and entertainment,” said hospital President Peter Monge. “On behalf of Montgomery General Hospital, I thank the Women's Board for its continued hard work, dedication and commitment in support of the hospital.”

Antiques, collectibles, jewelry, flowers, plants, produce, books and homemade baked goods will be among the many items available for sale. Raffle tickets also will be sold throughout the day, and prizes include a 46-inch television, golf outings, hotel stays and restaurant gift certificates.

The event began as a sit-down supper on the last Tuesday of July at Sherwood High School. When Olney's population began to grow rapidly during the 1970s, the event took on the current outdoor format.

Although last year’s picnic focused on the 90th anniversary and history of the event, this year’s changes will be minor: lots of balloons and colorful table skirts to create a more festive atmosphere.

“There are no major changes this year,” said Women’s Board President Dee Hawkins. “It’s nice to tweak it just a little, but because it is such a tradition, we like to keep it pretty much the same.”

Event co-chair Kathy Lieberman agreed.

“People come to this year after year,” she said. “It’s an important tradition in our community.”

The Women’s Board of Montgomery General Hospital, which has been in operation since 1919, is a volunteer service organization made up of more than 200 members. The group raises money to benefit the hospital and a scholarship fund through operating the gift and thrift shops and by hosting such events as the annual Picnic and Bazaar and Gifts of Light program.

The group has provided such contributions to the hospital in recent years as a $1 million contribution toward the Capital Campaign and a $1 million pledge for the hospital’s Cardiovascular Unit. The group also currently is fulfilling a pledge of $1.75 million, which was used to purchase a da Vinci Surgical System for minimally invasive surgical procedures.

Nikki Yeager, vice president of business development, strategic planning and marketing, said the robotic surgical system offers patients quicker recovery, a reduced infection rate and less pain compared to other surgical procedures.

She said the hospital is grateful to the Women's Board for supporting its vision to advance health care.

“It is because of their commitment to the robotic surgery program that we were able to purchase the latest technology, the da Vinci Surgical System,” she said.

The system will be on display in the hospital’s lobby during the picnic from noon to 7 p.m.

thogan@gazette.net