A Weekend To Remember
Community Booster 23 May 04
By Jeff Gill

Renewing the tradition of a community festival after a twelve year gap can be a big job, but the Hebron Elementary Parent Teacher Organization is ready, with more than a little help from their friends.
May 28 – 31, Memorial Day weekend, the Hebron Crossroads Festival will start with a carnival in historic Canal Park on Friday, May 28. Michael’s Amusements will open their rides at 4 pm that day, running until 10 pm each of the next three days. Saturday rides open at Noon, Sunday at 1 pm.
The Hebron PTO is offering pre-sale tickets, 5 for $5, saving you up to .50 per ride. 25% pre-sale proceeds got to the PTO. Officers will have the tickets at the elementary school outside the office on Tuesday, May 25 and Wed., May 26 from 9 to 10 am and 2:30 to 3:30 pm, and outside the main entrance on Thursday, May 27 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.
But fundraising really isn’t the purpose of beginning again this Hebron tradition.
“We’re just excited to be able to offer some things to bring the community together around,” says Kim Gowdy, PTO president. “We saw this as a chance not only to give back to the community on behalf of the school, but also to give children and families a way to see that they don’t have to travel a long distance and spend a whole bunch of money to have a great time. They can come right down the street or around the corner, to the Crossroads Festival.”
Along with the rides, Canal Park will offer a variety of family entertainment on Saturday afternoon and evening, from jazz to gospel, along with storytellers and other family entertainment. Bring lawn chairs or blankets and hang out at the Gazebo for some special Saturday night musical guests.
Between the rides and the Gazebo is a community area with booths from a number of non-profit groups. “Right now we have Girl & Boy Scout troops, Hebron Lions, the Hebron Historical Society, a couple area churches, and others who will offer a variety of goods and activities,” says Stacey Hoffman, PTO vice-president. “Invitations went out to over 40 service oriented groups who were offered the space for free, and if spaces aren’t used, we’ll have a couple businesses or crafters who will rent a space as well.”
The booth area is open through Saturday afternoon and evening, with a pavilion sponsored by Action Pest Control giving a shady spot to eat between the booths and carnival concessions. The carnival rides will open again from 1 to 10 pm, with some of the ClownTown clowns joining the fun in and around the area.
Sunday some of the focus also shifts to Evans Park out on Refugee Road, where the Lakewood Symphonic Band will hold a concert at 3 pm. Bring your lawn chair or blanket and join us out on the fields as we enjoy an open air year-ending offering from Scott Coffey and the gang.
Monday, May 31, is Memorial Day, and the rides and activities close down to allow the entire community to share in the 10 am parade from the American Legion Hall down Main Street to the Hebron Cemetery for a wreath-laying program. Following is an auction at the village firehouse on Basin St. next to the Legion Hall to support the volunteers’ association with the Hebron Fire Department.
“The village is very happy to see this tradition coming back,” affirms Mike McFarland, village administrator. “We’ve enjoyed working with the PTO on this and want to help in any way we can.” Hebron Police and Fire will have booths at the Festival Midway Saturday, and will be active around the carnival and parade all four days of the Crossroads Festival.
Scott Walters, village councilmember for the Parks Committee, offers that “this is a great step back for our community. We’ve really missed having this in our town, and the village appreciates the work the PTO has given to get things rolling again.” Parks and Streets employees have already started preparatory work all around the sites of the Festival, at Canal & Evans Parks, and at the village cemetery.
All agree that this is not a one shot event, but a new beginning of an ongoing tradition for the Hebron Crossroads, with additional events and activities already being considered for 2005. The Hebron Crossroads Festival really looks like it is here to stay.