SALAMANCA — It’s official … Salamanca’s Summer Fest is set for Saturday, July 12.
Mayor Sandy Magiera said they’re still in the planning stages and there have been a lot of ideas, but they are making progress. Main Street will be filled with vendors, kids’ activities and a car show from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The festival will be similar to last year’s event, which included a demonstration from the fire department. Staff at the Salamanca Area Historical Society Museum will offer guided tours.
Magiera said there seems to be more vendors applying this year, as indicated by the applications they have received. She said a couple of new food vendors that want to be part of the event have applied, and they’ll offer something different. A few new craft vendors have signed up, as well.
According to Magiera, there will be different music this year. So far, The Kokomo Time Band is coming with their retro and upbeat music. She said the band plays music from the 1950s and ’60s.
“They will play for part of the day, and then we’re trying to get two local bands to play for an hour-and-a-half each. That way, there will be a variety of music throughout the day instead of one band all day long,” she said. “We are also hoping to have some Native American dancers.”
Magiera said there will be inflatable activities for the kids, like they had last year at the Falling Leaves Festival. She said three or four will be located at the little park on the north side of the bridge, and a few will be set up on the street.
The fire department is planning to do a demonstration and a Duck Drop where tiny rubber ducks are hoisted high into the air, via the bucket on a fire truck, and dropped onto a canvas below. The first three to get to the tarp are the winners.
“You buy a duck for $5 and your duck wins, there’s a first, second and third prize. We are selling 100 ducks as a fundraising event to put money back in the funds for next year’s Summer Fest,” she said.
There will also be some giveaway drawings. Magiera said Fire Chief Tom Sturdevant has donated a bicycle, and they’re hoping to get a second bike donated by a city business or organization.
The plan is to have the festival at the same location as last year, from Atlantic to Sycamore streets with Main Street closed down between those points. Magiera said the car show is using the space on Main Street from River to Sycamore on both sides of the bridge.
The event is supposed to be held on Main Street, but Magiera is concerned about the sidewalk and street construction that is currently taking place.
“Hopefully, they’ll be done by then. If not, we’ll have to move the activities over to the other side of Main Street,” she said. “We’ll have the fest no matter what; we might just have to change the location.”
Summer Fest is returning for the fourth year. Magiera said former mayor “Smitty” (Michael Smith) created the event to bring the culture of the Seneca Nation and the history of Salamanca together. This is the second year under Mayor Magiera and city department heads who volunteered to bring the event back last year.
Planning for this year’s Salamanca Summer Fest commenced March 24 when committees met for their first meeting. Since then, the committees have met monthly, with their most recent meeting on May 20.
More volunteers are needed. Magiera said they need more people who will come that day and take charge of the projects. Volunteers are needed to set up and tear down the event and man the various activities, including a tent with games for the kids and the inflatables.
“If people could volunteer for the whole day, or even just for an hour, we’d appreciate it. It would give someone a break for just an hour and be very helpful,” she said.
Magiera said they are still accepting applications from people who want to participate. More information and vendor applications are available by calling the mayor’s office at (716) 945-3110 or by email at smagiera@salamancany.gov.
