By JAMES MITCHELL
Sunday Times Newspapers
SOUTHGATE — Summer isn’t summer without a carnival, something that organizers of Heritage Days realized may have been missing from the community celebration.
Heritage Days kicks off its 40th anniversary Friday at the municipal complex at Dix-Toledo Road and Reaume Parkway. Carnival rides preview the official Heritage Days, and will be open Thursday evening and run through Sunday.
The hometown celebration has had an uneven history. In 2011, the event was renamed Founder’s Day in an effort to boost fading attendance before the long-standing Heritage Days name was restored and events and attractions were added to the bill.
City officials said the current version of the festival offers something for all ages and appetites. Running events on Friday offer a 1-mile youth run and the Heritage Half-Eight, open ice skating begins at 8 p.m., and the Kid-O-Lympics runs from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday.
Live music fills the air both nights. The Killer Flamingo’s Pop Rock Party Band kicks off the sounds at 7 p.m. Friday, and Saturday’s lineup includes Little Davy & the Diplomats at 12:30 p.m., Boogie Dynomite at 6 p.m., and local favorites Mega ’80s from 9 p.m. to midnight.
Saturday’s events include the annual Heritage Day Parade at 11 a.m., beginning at St. Pius Catholic Church and proceeding to the city complex. The grounds will be filled with a classic car show, free pony rides, inflatable play-scapes, arts and crafts vendors and local restaurant offerings available at Taste of the Town from noon to 3 p.m. Fireworks close the day Saturday at dusk.
For more information and a complete schedule go to www.southgateheritagedays.com
(James Mitchell can be reached at [email protected].)