By Hayleigh Gowans
Staff Writer
The 40th annual Ronald A. Russell Jr. Community Weekend in East Syracuse will soon bring a few days of family fun activities for residents to enjoy. This year, the events will be held from Wednesday July 6 to Saturday July 9.
The fireworks and community weekend is celebrated annually around the week of the Fourth of July. All events are free and sponsored by the Village of East Syracuse Parks and Recreation Department. Food and drink will be available for purchase at many of the events.
The schedule of events is as follows:
∙Wednesday, July 6, 6:30 p.m. — Performance of Fabcats, Ellis Field Park gazebo, 500 McCool Ave. Bring lawn chairs and blanket, food and drink will be available for purchase.
∙Thursday, July 7, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. — Food Truck Rally, ARC parking lot, 215 W. Manlius St. New this year is a Food Truck Rally. Area food trucks will be on hand selling a variety of food, and attendees will vote for their favorite food truck. Live music will be performed by Hold the Air and games and a bouncy house will be there for children.
∙Friday, July 8, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. — Ice Cream Social at Ellis Field Park. Ice cream and food is available for purchase, and inflatables, pony rides, a dunk tank, games, face painting and a photo booth will be there for entertainment. Live music will be provided by The Noisy Boys.
∙Saturday, July 9, 6:15 to 9:30 p.m. — Community concert and fireworks, East Syracuse Elementary field. Enjoy live music from Dan Elliot & the Monterays. There will be kid games, a dunk tank and bounce houses. Food and drinks will be sold by local non-profits, including the ESM Marching Band, East Syracuse Pop Warner, Tillie’s Touch and ESM Youth Sports. The “Ronald A. Russell Fireworks” will begin at 9:30 p.m.
For more information about Community Weekend and the fireworks, call 437-3541 or go to villageofeastsyracuse.com/parks-recreation.
