McDonald prepares for fun run, parade
The Run to the Mill precedes the kickoff parade for the 71st annual festival.
McDONALD -- The 71st annual McDonald Firemen's Festival will be Wednesday through Saturday on the village green opposite village hall at the corner of Ohio Avenue and Fifth Street.
The annual event will again include the traditional parade from the bottom of Ohio Avenue, at the McDonald Steel location, to the top of Ohio Avenue at Marshall Road.
The parade begins at 6 p.m., and any organization can join as long as it is at the village garage by 5 p.m. to sign up, said Valerie Mulrooney, president of the fire department's social club. Included in the parade so far are the McDonald High School Marching band, representatives of different communities' fire departments and local baseball teams.
Organizing this year's festival are Mulrooney, social club vice president Stacey Sowers, secretary Ed Winterbauer, treasurer William Victor, Fire Chief Mike Badilla Jr. and assistant chief Jim Bishop.
Other events
The annual Run to the Mill, sponsored by the McDonald High School Cross Country team, begins at 6 p.m. at the top of Ohio Avenue and will be followed immediately by the parade.
After the parade, rides start at the festival, which will be from 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Bingo will be held each night at the Ramsay Pavilion on the village green from 7 to 11 p.m. Fireworks will be Saturday at 11 p.m.
Events on Saturday are sponsored by the firefighters for fun the whole family can enjoy. The pancake breakfast will be from 8 to 10 a.m. at the pavilion.
Games for children and families will follow. Also planned are a watermelon-eating contest and other games.
Afterward, free ice cream will be provided for anyone in attendance, paid for by a donation from the children of Pop and Dolly Powers, a couple who started sponsoring the free ice cream giveaway every year and whose children are carrying on the tradition.