In Fayetteville, the third Saturday in September can only mean one thing: time to get out to the Fayetteville Festival.
The annual event, scheduled for this Saturday, Sept. 17, highlights non-profit groups that support or service the Fayetteville area. There are at least 33 groups signed up to participate this year.
“It’s a great opportunity for the residents to find out what’s out there and to bring awareness for the various organizations, as well as recruit needed volunteers and/or donations,” said Karen Shepardson, deputy clerk for the village of Fayetteville. “It’s a great ‘get-to-know-you’ event for everyone.”
The festival kicks off at 11 a.m. at Beard Park following the Fayetteville Classic 10K Race at 9 a.m. to benefit the Syracuse Chargers Track Club’s college scholarship fund.
The bulk of the festival runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and features the Fayetteville Fire Department Chicken Barbecue, singers from Wellwood Middle School, a children’s scavenger hunt, a canned food drive, bounce houses, demonstrations from police and fire officials and much more. The United Church of Fayetteville will hold a Blessing of the Animals ceremony led by Pastor Linda Even at 1 p.m.
From 4 to 7 p.m. festival attendees can try food from local restaurants during the second annual “Taste of Fayetteville.” The event will conclude with fireworks at dusk.
In the event of rain, the Fayetteville Festival will be moved to Sunday, Sept. 18.
On your mark… get set…
Registration for all races begins at 8 a.m. at Beard Park (South Manlius Street). The 10K starts at 9 a.m., followed by the children’s 100m, 200m and 400m races at 10 a.m. and an awards ceremony at 10:30 a.m.
The USATF-certified 10K course will start and finish at Beard Park, taking runners around a single-loop course consisting of Route 257, Manlius Center Road, North Burdick Street, Route 5 to Clinton Street and ending on Lincoln Street. The scenic course is mostly flat, and runs around The Links at Erie Village, by the canal and through the village. The children’s races will be held entirely within Beard Park.
The Syracuse Chargers Track Club is a non-profit organization dedicated to the development of all aspects of track & field, long distance running and race walking in Central New York. For more information, or to download an entry form, go to www.syracusechargers.org.
