Liberty fest downsized, but not canceled by today's downpours

LIBERTY

The rain didn’t keep everybody away.

Even though a parade, car show and band had to be canceled at the third annual Celebration in the Park here Saturday, a few hundred people came to enjoy the festival.

“We want to showcase how beautiful the township is,” explained June Smallwood, the festival coordinator.

The event, at the township administration building on Hubbard-Church Hill Road (state Route 304), is a collaboration involving the township, the nearby Liberty Health Care Center, Windsor House’s Liberty Arms Assisted Living, the Liberty Township Historical Society, Freedom Place Church and Walmart, said Jamie Grimmett, activities director for Liberty Health Care center, a nursing home up the street from the township building.

At a tent outside the township building, volunteers from the nursing home were cooking hamburgers, hot dogs and sausage sandwiches.

“We ran out of food. We had to go twice!” said Tina McGowan.

Inside the building, people were gathered in the trustees’ meeting room to see how they fared as numbers were called out in an auction.

For the complete story, read Sunday's Vindicator or Vindy.com.