By Paul Showalter

The 99th Spring Fair was a sunny experience of joy, sugar, and fun. 

Setup for the Fair began on Friday with several people (David Grahn and Peter Zirnite) bringing all the games, tables and supplies out of the basement before the torrential rainstorm hit. Darcy Rosenbaum (the Spring Fair chair) and son Benton and husband John worked late into the night prepping the center for a day’s worth of fun.

Saturday morning started early for a bunch of us, to make sure the day went off without a hitch. And it was a spectacular day. The sun was shining; the park was full of kids playing games and bouncing in the moon bounce; cookies and other baked goods were selling quickly at the Woman’s Club bake sale; the kitchen was pushing out Danville Street hot dogs, Troy’s pizza, fresh pasta, and lots lemonade; lions and tigers were painted on faces; popcorn, popsicles, and cotton candy were sold; and prizes were exchanged for prize tickets. We played numerous games of “Cake-A-Bout” in the sun, with kids winning baked goods (I served as the event’s emcee).

The Rosenbaum’s homemade games were a big hit again this year. The “Bull Ringer” – “Hole in One” – “Frog Flinger” and the reimagined “Duck Pond” fascinated the kids once again.

This event, like every event at Lyon Park, could not happen without a large group of volunteers. The Danville Street Crew (Mark Trachtman, Charlie Wall, and Sharon Showalter) staffed the kitchen and fed lots of hungry kids. Many other neighbors stepped in to help and it was appreciated. 

We had more than twelve high school and college volunteers with us on Friday and Saturday. We even had a crew of Long Branch Elementary school students (Alex and Helen Peters, Benton Rosenbaum, Alexys & Alejandro Linder, and Niam and Dhilan Bahl) running games and painting faces (Their parents even pitched in to help). All volunteers worked tirelessly throughout the day to make sure everyone had fun—and we appreciate their efforts. 

Special thanks to Tyler Hawkins, Theo Roiniotis, and Tabitha Ricketts for sticking around and helping with the cleanup. They packed away every game, tent, and table. They even carried everything into the basement. An extra special thanks goes to my wife Sharon, for not only helping with setup on Friday night, but working all day in the kitchen, and cleaning until the last box was packed away in the “little blue pickup truck.”

Next year, we celebrate our 100th Spring Fair. For our signature event to be a success, we need more people to be involved in producing the Fair. Please step up and offer to help. We need you. Reach out to LyonParkEvents@gmail.com if you are interested.

If you have a rising sophomore, junior or senior who wants to volunteer in our community, have them reach out to LyonParkEvents@gmail.com. We have many volunteer opportunities during the summer and fall.