BRUNSWICK --- Despite some start-date scheduling hiccups early on in the planning process, the city's two major summer festivals kicked off without a hitch June 23, as festival goers enjoyed the start of the St. Ambrose Summer Festival.
"This is the hallmark of what we are trying to do her - great community entertainment," said Father Bob Stec, pastor at St. Ambrose church. "And this is a good start."
Against the backdrop of first-time St. Ambrose Festival entertainers "T" and Rich Dueling Pianos, day one of the four day carnival was hopping. And perhaps most noteworthy was how visible the festivities were from Pearl Road.
In past years, the festival was held in large part behind the church. This year, organizers moved the midway and rides, including the towering and unmistakable Ferris wheel, to the front parking lot.
"We have had it in the front in the past and decided to move it back here," said Gina Hackett, church events and projects coordinator. "And we added five or six rides this year, so we had to expand that into the back lot. I think it is going really well."
Family fun
For the Weinmann family - Tom, Michelle and their children, Isabella, 8, and Bentley, 3 - the St. Ambrose Festival has become the annual kickoff of a summertime family tradition.
"We are leaving for Myrtle Beach in the morning," Michelle said. "But we always come out to the St. Ambrose Festival. I love just watching the kids play all the games. And it's affordable."
Isabella agreed wholeheartedly.
"The best part is playing the games and being out with your family," she said, noting that her favorite midway attraction was the "Flip a Chicken" game - but not a real chicken of course.
"I just feel like I have a smile I can't wash off my face," Isabella said.
Brunswick Summer Celebration around the corner
Before wrapping up June 26, The St. Ambrose Summer Festival featured perennial musical favorites like Tony Rio and Relentless, along with 10-picece horn band, The Diamond Project, and Beatles tribute, Shout, as well pie baking and watermelon eating contests and a fireworks display June 24.
The community will have another opportunity to put a smile on its face that can't be washed off, to paraphrase Isabella Weinmann, at the Brunswick Summer Celebration, from June 29 through July 4 at the Brunswick High School, 3553 Center Rd.
This year's Brunswick Summer Celebration will feature rides; food; cutest baby photo, karaoke, and talent contests; a lip sync battle; a pooch pageant; and a bike drawing. Live entertainment will include Cold Blue Steele, The Element Band, Sobos, The McCartney Project, Bobby Ray and Night Train, Mr. Speed, oldies from the '60s and '70s from WIXY 1260, The Brunswick Community Band, Nightschool, Haywire; Renegade, Yearbook; Disco Inferno, and Chris Higbee.
A fireworks display will be held at dusk July 2 at the high school, with a rain date of July 3.
The Brunswick Summer Celebration Grand Parade will be held at 2 p.m. July 3, stepping off on Pearl Road and traveling east on Center Road to the Summer Celebration main entrance.
Brunswick Fire Chief, James Baird, said the department will assist with the fireworks display - as it did at the St. Ambrose Summer Festival - and he expects the city's second festival in two weeks to be just a great a success as its first.
"We encourage everyone to attend the festival and enjoy themselves," Baird said.
For more information and the full Brunswick Summer Celebration schedule, visit www.summer-celebration.com.