Home is where the heart is
Residents invited to celebrate Royalton at annual Community Festival Aug. 18-20
Last year’s North Royalton Community Festival Parade was fittingly punctuated by these four who captured the spirit of home days with shirts that when read front to back said “NR MY HOME.” File photos by JAIME ANTON
NORTH ROYALTON – There’s no place like home, and there’s no place like North Royalton.
Since 1884, residents have been gathering together yearly to break bread, catch up, reminisce and celebrate a unique bond, the tie that binds all people who call North Royalton home.
It’s a tradition that lives on today with the 133rd Annual Community Festival planned this year Aug. 18-20 on the City Green.
For three days, the community unites to revel in hometown pride.
The festivities kick off at 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18 with an opening ceremony and the introduction of the newly crowned 2017 North Royalton Community Festival Pageant court. Ride, games and food vendors all open at that time, and admission is free all weekend.
The musical lineup Friday night will be the band Free Flight performing from 7-8:30 p.m., Mike and Jillian from 8:30-10:30 p.m. and DJ music from 10:30 p.m. to close.
The festivities begin again at noon Saturday, Aug. 19.
Across town at Royal Redeemer Lutheran Church, seniors who are both 70 years of age and older and who have called Royalton home for 30-plus years will be treated to a free noon luncheon provided by the Royalton Hills Lions Club during the annual Olde Timers Banquet.
Back at the Green, Saturday is jam packed with entertainment.
From 12:30-1:30 p.m. Dance Arts by Regina will take the gazebo stage, followed by Midwest Cheer from 1:30-2 p.m. Residents can try their hand at corn hole and other games from 1-3 p.m. Singer Valerie Paige takes the stage from 4-5 p.m.; followed by Caliber Dance Company from 5-6 p.m.; the band Drift from 7-8:30 p.m. and the band Time Trax from 8:30 p.m. to close.
Rides, games and food all reopen at noon Sunday, Aug. 20.
Entertainment begins again with the North Royalton Dance Academy performing from 12:30-1:30 p.m. followed by DJ hits from 2-3 p.m.
One of the main attractions Sunday will be the annual Community Festival Parade, stepping off at 3 p.m. from St. Albert the Great Parish and ending at the North Royalton High School, showcasing all things North Royalton — city and state leaders, businesses, clubs, organizations, churches and, of course, the NRHS Marching Band.
From 4-5 p.m. the Academy Irish Dance Co. will show off their dance talents. Eddie & the Edsels will perform from 6-9 p.m.
The weekend’s grand finale is a fireworks display sponsored through donations from several area businesses and residents. The show begins at dusk and residents can bring their own chairs with prime seating along on the City Green and on Ridge Road, which will be closed to traffic most of the day between Bennett Road and state Route 82 beginning before the parade.
The entire festival schedule is subject to change.
A $16 ride special will be available both Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Individual ride tickets are available for purchase.
Ward 2 Councilman Gary Petrusky said he looks forward to home days every year.
“I go up and see neighbors, talk to the people in the ward and find out their viewpoints, any issues they may have with our current municipality and what they’d like to see in their ward,” he said, “all while watching the people enjoy themselves up at home days. It’s all about home and feeling comfortable where you live.”
Since 1884, residents have been gathering together yearly to break bread, catch up, reminisce and celebrate a unique bond, the tie that binds all people who call North Royalton home.
It’s a tradition that lives on today with the 133rd Annual Community Festival planned this year Aug. 18-20 on the City Green.
For three days, the community unites to revel in hometown pride.
The festivities kick off at 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18 with an opening ceremony and the introduction of the newly crowned 2017 North Royalton Community Festival Pageant court. Ride, games and food vendors all open at that time, and admission is free all weekend.
The musical lineup Friday night will be the band Free Flight performing from 7-8:30 p.m., Mike and Jillian from 8:30-10:30 p.m. and DJ music from 10:30 p.m. to close.
The festivities begin again at noon Saturday, Aug. 19.
Across town at Royal Redeemer Lutheran Church, seniors who are both 70 years of age and older and who have called Royalton home for 30-plus years will be treated to a free noon luncheon provided by the Royalton Hills Lions Club during the annual Olde Timers Banquet.
Back at the Green, Saturday is jam packed with entertainment.
From 12:30-1:30 p.m. Dance Arts by Regina will take the gazebo stage, followed by Midwest Cheer from 1:30-2 p.m. Residents can try their hand at corn hole and other games from 1-3 p.m. Singer Valerie Paige takes the stage from 4-5 p.m.; followed by Caliber Dance Company from 5-6 p.m.; the band Drift from 7-8:30 p.m. and the band Time Trax from 8:30 p.m. to close.
Rides, games and food all reopen at noon Sunday, Aug. 20.
Entertainment begins again with the North Royalton Dance Academy performing from 12:30-1:30 p.m. followed by DJ hits from 2-3 p.m.
One of the main attractions Sunday will be the annual Community Festival Parade, stepping off at 3 p.m. from St. Albert the Great Parish and ending at the North Royalton High School, showcasing all things North Royalton — city and state leaders, businesses, clubs, organizations, churches and, of course, the NRHS Marching Band.
From 4-5 p.m. the Academy Irish Dance Co. will show off their dance talents. Eddie & the Edsels will perform from 6-9 p.m.
The weekend’s grand finale is a fireworks display sponsored through donations from several area businesses and residents. The show begins at dusk and residents can bring their own chairs with prime seating along on the City Green and on Ridge Road, which will be closed to traffic most of the day between Bennett Road and state Route 82 beginning before the parade.
The entire festival schedule is subject to change.
A $16 ride special will be available both Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Individual ride tickets are available for purchase.
Ward 2 Councilman Gary Petrusky said he looks forward to home days every year.
“I go up and see neighbors, talk to the people in the ward and find out their viewpoints, any issues they may have with our current municipality and what they’d like to see in their ward,” he said, “all while watching the people enjoy themselves up at home days. It’s all about home and feeling comfortable where you live.”