By Andrew Welliver
Ahead of Memorial Day, the North Syracuse Community Center held the 16th annual Family Festival from May 26 through May 28 at 700 South Bay Rd, North Syracuse
This is the second year the festival; has bene held since being postponed, like so many other events, due the COVID-19 pandemic.
The festivities kicked off with an opening ceremony at 11 a.m. on May 26 and it was followed-up with various local musical artists including Tunetastic Entertainment, Matt Chase and Lori Ann Wilber.
The music was just one facet of the whole event however, as there were classic cars on display, along with numeorus bounce houses and raffles providing fun and tertainment for people of all ages.
The festival has always had an emphasis on activities for children, and this year was no different.
All activities were designed to be affordable, and kids were able to have access to everything for only $5. Families of four or more were able to all come to the festival together for $15.
Parents and local sponsors have come to understand how important the festival is to the morale of the town.
“They know the event is a great thing for the children,” said Vera Besimone, an original committee member of the Syracuse Family Festival. “You wouldn’t believe how many children arrive to the event.”
The committee responsible for putting on this festival always look to hold it the Saturday before Memorial Day.
Tony Burkinshaw, the head of the committee, wanted to create a memorable event by changing up a few things after the break from COVID-19.
“The village is hands-on, and we still look to appeal to the kids,” he said. “This was the year to make changes after the one-year layoff, and we made little changes where we put vendors in different spots to change it up a hair.”
In addition to local vendors being shifted around, the festival was turned into a street festival located outside of the North Syracuse Community Center.
The location was changed for the first time in the festival’s history, and now after this year’s success, it is likely this will continue next year.
Everything was lined up so there was more room for all the food trucks and local businesses looking to sell their goods.
There were over 40 different vendors at the festival this year.
Planning for the festival starts with the “Bunny Breakfast,” which is a fundraising event put on by the local VFW and the Canteen, two local veteran-friendly organizations.
The “Bunny Breakfast” is an important part of what fuels the activities and music at the festival, and it has continued to be a success for everyone involved.
Everything is put together with a focus on enteraining the community.
“The people are looking for entertainment, and we are all about improving the experience,” Burkinshaw said.
Local support is also vital to the success of the festival including sposnsors like The Friends of North Syracuse.
This organization plays a large part in helping the festival take place and grow in the area.
