New Sharon Spring Festival features 'Jace Race'

Local News

June 18, 2009

By DUANE NOLLEN

NEW SHARON — New Sharon residents gathered in the downtown all day Saturday to celebrate the town’s annual Spring Festival.

They kicked things off bright and early Saturday with a benefit run.

“Our big event this year that we focused on is the first annual Jace Race in honor of Jace Carrico,” Spring Festival Committee President Ralphi Munson said. “They were hoping for 75 entries, but ended up with about 500.”

Jace, who passed away this past year from a brain tumor, also had a playground dedicated in his honor.

“They dedicated the new Jace playground following the race,” Munson said. The playground is located at the country club, and it’s open to the public, she added.

The city also held a parade through the downtown at 1 p.m. with the local veterans color guard in the vanguard, followed by several area fire department vehicles as well as floats and queen candidates. Kids who lined the route chased after a shower of candy thrown from the vehicles.

While the festival actually kicked off Friday night with a hog roast, a “future royalty” pageant for kids and a teen dance, heavy rain postponed the fireworks until Saturday night at the high school.

Other Saturday events included an afternoon queen coronation, an adult dance in the evening and a performance by the Mangini Brothers at Scooters Pub & Grub.

Herald Editor Duane Nollen can be reached by email at oskynews@oskyherald.com