43
Awesometown Festival celebrates second year
Photo
Neighbors | Sarah Foor .Glenn Ringer displayed his cherry-red sports car in the Awesometown Car Show on Oct. 8.
Photo
Neighbors | Sarah Foor .Although the Awesometown festival supported Austintown causes, neighbors were more than welcome at the event. Gary (left), Olivia, Jessica, and Zoe Kabetso (right) visited the event from Canfield.
Photo
Neighbors | Sarah Foor .Frank Ohl student T.J. Piroch (left) broke a board under the direction of Matt Gallo (right) of the Northeast Martial Arts Academy in Austintown.
By SARAH FOOR
AUSTINTOWN
A year ago, the inaugural Awesometown festival was welcomed as a new tradition in Austintown. During the festival’s second celebration on Oct. 8, the community discovered how the event has changed and grown but has continued to be “awesome.”
At the festival’s new home at Emmanuel Community Church on Kirk Road, the celebration offered local residents the chance to enjoy a car show, craft show, Civil war re-enactment, martial arts presentations, a helicopter landing and visits from many Austintown-area businesses.
Planning committee members Mark Cole and Yolanda Stewart found the second annual event a success as they watched the community enjoy the festivities.
“Today has been a beautiful day and a complete success. Our larger purpose with Awesometown is to celebrate this city, build positive relationships among our residents and connect people with all of resources we have right here in Austintown. I think we achieved that and really pulled the community together,” Cole shared.
“We’ve heard so many guests say how appreciative they are of the event and how much fun the kids are having. That is great praise,” added Stewart.
Along with entertaining all ages, the festivities benefitted local charities and causes.
Funds raised at Awesometown will help support Mission of Love, the Austintown Senior Center, and will aid the Sobien family, who lost their home in a fire.
“We couldn’t ask for more in our second year. We’re already setting up for next year to be bigger and better,” said Cole.