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Austintown celebrates America with American fun
thousands gather at Austintown plaza to observe holiday
By Kalea Hall
AUSTINTOWN
Hot dogs, lemon- ade and funnel cakes were in heavy supply.
Music, clowns and face painting provided some of the entertainment.
American families with American pride celebrated the land of the free and home of the brave the day before Independence Day with some good old-fashioned American food and fun at the Austintown Fireworks Celebration.
“We are anticipating 8,000 to 10,000 [people],” said Jim Davis, township trustee. “To bring the community together is why I do this.”
The $25,000 to $30,000 event, sponsored by
Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course, Briarfield, 21 WFMJ-TV, Talmer Bank and others, has been hosted at township park the past two years, but the venue was switched to the Austintown Plaza this year to provide better parking.
This is the third year the fireworks were brought back to Austintown after a seven-year absence.
Concession stands, a bounce house, slide, firetrucks, a rock-climbing wall, and booths filled a section of the plaza for the 4 to 10:30 p.m. event.
In their red, white and blue outfits topped with bows on their heads, twins Ella and Emma Lemke, 5, and their little sister, Eva, nearly 2, eagerly awaited their turn to bounce in the bounce house before several fairy-tale princesses showed up at 5:30 p.m.
“They are in love with princesses,” said Kurt Lemke, their dad. “It’s probably the coolest thing they have done for the Fourth of July. I hope this is something they continue to do. I can see this getting a lot bigger.”
Firetrucks also were a hit. The Austintown Fire Department brought out seven trucks of all kinds. The 1917 Model T truck, Humvee and aerial truck are all favorites.
Three-year-old Marty Benedict of Austintown relaxed in his sunglasses, looking ready to drive the Model T firetruck, while in the background, the band Vegas sang “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars.
“The kids really enjoy [the trucks],” said Andy Frost III, township fire chief.
Slight chaos erupted when the princesses did arrive. Smiles from ear to ear were visible from afar as children ran to meet the princesses.
The Joshua Lee Nelson Band, 80’s Proof, and the Fitch Alumni Band continued with entertainment for the night. And let’s not forget the Buffalo Wild Wings wing-eating championship.
“Every year we add more to the entertainment,” Davis said.
To top it off were the fireworks to light the sky to celebrate America’s 239th birthday.