Many gather in Village of Akron for Fourth of July Celebration
Many gathered in the Village of Akron over the holiday weekend to enjoy the Fourth of July entertainment, activities, and parade organized by the 2022 Akron Celebration Committee 2022.
Russell Park was filled with concert goers on Friday night as the Akron Community Band presented a patriotic concert and the Akron-Newstead Senior Citizens served up delicious pies.
The long lines for hot dogs, hamburgers, and sausage, as well as for ice cream and pop corn were indicative of the massive crowd which began gathering in and around Veteran’s Park early Sunday afternoon prior to the fireworks display which lit up the sky at dusk.
For the first time since the pandemic hit, The Akron Masonic Lodge held their Fourth of July breakfast, with many stopping by before participating in the full day of activities.
Races, food, and fun
Earning first place in the Soapbox Derby was Gabriella Peluso, Mason Sheehan earned second place in the Soapbox Derby, and Camdyn Rehwaldt took third.
Reiner took first place in the most unusual with his Homemade Barrell Soapbox car.
Results from the other competitions, held in the park throughout the day, will run in a future issue, as they become available.
The Rich-Twinn Octagon House and Knight-Sutton Museum had a steady stream of visitors during the afternoon.
Parades, food, entertainment
There was a good turnout for the Kiddie Parade and all participants did a nic job interpreting the “Dr. Suess” theme.
Rain Mitten, 2021 ACS Graduate and Navy sailor jointed the Veteran’s Color Guard to lead the parade. Three time national and state Gold Medal winner Derek Warren, 2018 ACS graduate received a warm welcome from the crowd along the parade route.
Competition in the “Summertime Favorites” themed gala parade was “summertime hot” as Cam Trenching, defending their unbroken streak of winning the business trophy, turned up the heat with a rotating Ferris wheel, pool feature, Beach Boys music playing, and refreshment bar, all followed by Cam’s barbecue grill won again this year. They met some tough competition, with Amy Kumpf’s Photography bringing a strong entry with a pool, bubbles, and waves, on a float full of summer fun.
In the non-business category, the Tonawanda Seneca Nation brought the Iroquois Strawberry Festival to the parade with a decorated float, gifts of baked goods, and gift of traditional Smoke Dancing. The Smoke Dancers described their entry, “When the Creator finished the Earth, He had decided that at a certain time of year the people shall see the strawberry hanging just about the Earth. At that time the people shall gather to give thanks for new life. It is a time when mothers will bring their newborn babies to the Longhouse where they will receive their traditional Seneca names in a special naming ceremony. We honor the little ones attached to the cradle board, the ones that crawl at our feet, and the ones that run about freely amongst us.” They won first place for their entry.
All Water Environmental Club brought kayaks, fish, and other summertime water related elements to their float. Founded in September of 2019, their organization is becoming one of WNY’s foremost volunteer environmental stewardship entities. The goal of the Club is to give members hands on experience in their surrounding environment through outings like batch clean-ups, shoreline sweeps, and invasive species removals. They engage the community through educational materials that cover topics ranging from local happenings to global occurrences. They earned Second Place in the Non-Business category.
Trinity Lutheran Church with their summer activities displayed, earned third place.
Cold Spring Construction’s truck and equipment celebrating their 111th Anniversary, the miniature Octagon House and wallpaper sample on the wagon pulled by Bill Asmus, the side by side bike by Flora and John Leamer, Far West Regional Championship ACS Lacrosse Team, Marchers, Marching Bands, and Volunteer Fire Company apparatus from Akron, Newstead, Wolcottsville, and Pembroke rounded out the parade.
Everyone appreciated the cool treats provided by Perry’s Ice Cream Company.
Thank You
The Celebration Committee appreciates the support of volunteers, sponsors, performers, and all those who come to support this event.