Home Days brings four days of old-fashioned family fun

by Dan Holland

Thousands of area residents flooded onto the Broadview Heights city campus from July 11-14 to participate in the city’s annual Home Days. The annual family-friendly event featured food, rides and attractions, games, live entertainment, three fireworks shows and more.

The event, which was sponsored by more than 20 local businesses and organizations, featured more than a dozen food concessions, 26 area businesses and vendors and a dozen rides provided by Big-O Amusements. Three fireworks shows culminated with one 25-minute-long main show on Saturday night.

The event kicked off with the Mayor’s 5K & 1-mile walk on Thursday evening. Attractions and performers during the four-day event included Magician/Illusionist Rick Smith Jr., a petting zoo, aerial show, fire show, juggling act, caricature artist, face painting, Dr. UR Awesome Foam Party, a police dog demonstration by the Broadview Heights Police Department and vehicles featured by the city’s safety forces.

The city’s annual Pick-a-Prize and silent auction tent, manned by a number of city officials, employees and volunteers, featured more than 35 donated prizes and baskets.

Live music each night in the city amphitheater included performances by the Cuyahoga Slim Band, Buffalo Ryders, Aaron Dussing Polka Band, Clarence & The Beekeepers, Talkbox Band, Craig Martini, Josee McGee, Rachel Brown & the Beatnik Playboys and The Michael Weber Show.

The Michael Weber Show, fronted by guitar phenom and multi-instrumentalist Michael Weber, whose achievements include winning MTV’s “Amazingness” television talent show in 2018 at the age of 20, headlined Saturday night. He has performed with and opened for numerous national touring artists.

“It seems like a really nice community, and all the people we’ve met here have been really nice,” Weber said prior to his performance. “I’m looking forward to playing at Broadview Heights Home Days tonight and spreading a little bit of our rock-and-roll cheer to the people at this nice family event.”

Broadview Heights residents Patrick and Bayley Locke returned this year to Home Days with their six-month-old daughter, Clementine.

“This is her first Home Days – I was pregnant with her last year, and so this year we had to come back and celebrate with her,” Bayley Locke said.

“Last year, when she was pregnant, [Bayley] had a mad craving for French Fries, so we had to come back and have them again,” added Patrick Locke. “And we have to get some kettle corn and funnel cakes. The food is the big thing.”

Rob Gorbett, of Lodi, visited the event with his sons, Ayden and Owen.

“We like to see the fireworks, and we like the small hometown atmosphere of all the Home Days,” Gorbett said. “It’s a beautiful day today, so why not get out of the house and enjoy the festival?”

Andy and Jackie Kempf, of Broadview Heights, brought their young daughters, Raelynn and Blakely, mainly for the food, amusement rides and raffle prizes, while former Broadview Heights residents, Steve Szczygiel and Alexandria Chicatelli of Hudson, said they return every year to revisit Home Days with their children, Theo, Andrew, Matthew and Athena.

“We came back again, as it’s always a fun time and a tradition,” said Steve Szczyeiel. “We always look forward to it every year; especially for the food, rides, live music and fireworks.”

Home Days was yet another great success with beautiful weather and “the best fireworks shows we’ve ever had,” said Mayor Sam Alai.

“This is a great community with awesome employees, and we had a great crowd each day. I’m so proud to be part of Home Days along with all the people and volunteers who put their time toward this great effort. It was a spectacular event for our residents and friends,” Alai said. ∞

Photo (above): Youngsters at the event enjoy playing in a sea of bubbles. Photos by Dan Holland.

Police Officer Alex Kornelakis shows off SWAT equipment to Robert Gorbett of Lodi and his sons, Ayden and
Owen. Photos by Dan Holland.