Riverview to kick off Cruisin’ Downriver with Summerfest
By Bobby Ampezzan, The News-Herald
RIVERVIEW — Just three days after the official
beginning of summer, the city’s “Summerfest” will mark the occasion with
music, cars, games, food and fireworks.
Festivities will begin at 3 p.m. when the fire
department, located in Young Patriots Park, will open its doors to the
public.
The open house will feature a smoke house, car
burns, a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter, clowns and prizes.
At 4 p.m., the park’s food and games will begin.
This year, a number of inflatable “rides,”
including a “Dragon Hide ‘n Slide,” a 30-foot slide, a “Purple People
Eater” obstacle course, a moonwalk and a trackless train will be in
operation.
Summerfest will also feature a mechanical bull with
variable speeds for kids and adults alike. An inflated area circling the
bull will be installed for safety and fun.
Carnival food vendors will be on hand to serve up
butterfly chips, gyros, hot dogs, and cotton candy and various sweets.
The classic car show and civic booths will open at
6 p.m.
Last year, with the help of the Wanderers Car Club,
Summerfest attracted around 300 classic cars.
No awards are given, but the show is open to anyone
with a classic set of wheels.
Craft and civic booths this year include a
temporary tattoos tent, various church and civic organizations, an
exhibit demonstrating the new voting equipment to be used in November’s
election, and a Post Office kiosk advertising Riverview’s new ZIP code.
Between 6:30 and 10:00 p.m., local bands “The Hits”
and “The Fantastics” will play pop hits from the 50s to the 90s on a
stage set up on the north end of the park.
Then at 10 p.m. the activities on the ground will
give way to the pyrotechnical display in the sky.
For 20 minutes the firmament will erupt in light,
colors and sound.
It’s one of Downriver’s earliest civic fireworks
displays.
Additional police and fire personnel will be on
hand to ensure a safe festival environment.
Coolers may be brought into the park, but alcoholic
beverages are prohibited.
The fireworks display may also be viewed from the
“Blue 9” course of the Riverview Highlands golf course.
On Saturday, the Parks and Recreation Department
has scheduled a fishing derby for 9 a.m. A “T-Ball Parade” ushering in
the t-ball season is scheduled for noon.
The department has budgeted an additional $10,000
for “Cruisin’ Downriver” on top of the $25,000 budgeted for Summerfest.
Riverview is sponsoring a breakfast for
participating Cruisin’ Downriver mayors and dignitaries. They have also
agreed to buy t-shirts as well as hire clowns for the event. |
