Weather finally bright, sunny for Marblehead Summerfest
MARBLEHEAD - After a few years in a row of having bad luck with stormy weather, the Marblehead Summerfest may finally be getting a bright, sunny, dry weekend this year, and organizers are looking to make the most of it.
The 5th annual Marblehead Summerfest will continue all day Saturday and Sunday, after kicking off festivities Friday evening. The event is sponsored by the St. Joseph Church Choir and held at James Park in Marblehead.
“We have always been hit by the storms and the weather, so we are hoping that this year is different,” said Ron Ossovicki, lead organizer.
Ossovicki said the festival initially started as a fall event, but several years back they decided to try it during the summer season and “Marblehead Summerfest” was coined.
“It’s really a community-building thing, a community gathering,” he said.
Because admission is free with no tickets required, Ossovicki said it is difficult to tell exactly how many people attend the event each year, but the first couple of years had the best weather and he guessed somewhere in the thousands attended throughout those weekends. Last year the festival was rained out on Saturday and Sunday.
While storms are not anticipated this weekend, the National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory in effect until 9 p.m. Saturday. But Summerfest patrons can catch a break from the heat under the shade of the beer tent, where a variety of bands will perform live all weekend.
Children can enjoy carnival rides and games. All new this year are free trips in a vintage classic car, a 1930 Buick, to the Marblehead Lighthouse and back to the festival.
Nearly 50 other vendors will be present as well. One of the most popular features of Summerfest is the Lake Erie perch sandwich.
“We go through a lot of perch and pierogi,” Ossovicki said. “But our highlight this year is (the weather) will be dry, for the first time in a long time.”
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WANT TO GO?
What: Marblehead Summerfest
Where: James Park in Marblehead
When: 11 a.m. - 10 p.m., Saturday and 11:30 a.m.- 6 p.m. Sunday
Cost: Free admission