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Old North Church celebrates 75th year with festival
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Carly Shevock sat very still while church volunteer Tracy Greenamyer, right, painted a lady bug on her cheek at Old North Church’s 75th anniversary celebration Sept. 17.
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Scott Miller and Cindy Smith, volunteers from Faith Ranch, helped Olivia Showalter, on horse, and her sister Maddie, front, with their pony rides at Old North Church’s 75th anniversary celebration Sept. 17.
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Chris Drombetta, worship leader and church administrator, entertained attendees with his music during Old North Church’s 75th anniversary celebration Sept. 17.
By ABBY SLANKER
Old North Church celebrated its 75th anniversary in style, offering fun for everyone Sept. 17.
The celebration, coordinated by church members Karen Crogan and Bob Hudock, included a variety of activities, including pony rides, kickball, volleyball, bocce, basketball, face painting, bounce-a-rounds, corn hole and a dunk tank.
The celebration was free and open to the community and also included food and a rotation of live music throughout the day.
Anniversary T-shirts also were available for purchase to mark the occasion.
“This celebration was planned to be a good, fun, wholesome, family-oriented community event with interactive activities for everyone of all ages,” Crogan said.
Pastors from the church took turns as victims in the dunk tank, making the tank one of the more popular activities. People of all ages waited in line and tried their hand at dunking the pastors, with some getting right back in line to try again.
A giant Twister board was set up inside the church, which made for huge games of Twister. Attendees could also color pictures to be sent to troops in Iraq and missionaries around the world.
The Canfield Fire Department set up its trucks in the parking lot and let the kids explore them, all the while handing out plastic fire helmets.
Volunteers and staffers from the Faith Ranch, of Jewett, Ohio, traveled to the celebration to provide ponies and horses for children and adults alike to ride.
“Old North Church is thankful to be a part of this community and we are happy to have been in this community for 75 years,” said Crogan.
To wind down the celebration, a bonfire was lit in the evening.