VILLAGE OF BARKER
Summer Splendor touts old-time fun
BARKER — Look for “an old country fair flavor” to this weekend’s Summer Splendor event as part of the village’s ongoing centennial celebration.
“People are looking for a nice time — nothing high-speed — and I love to see the community come together to enjoy the simple pleasures of life,” Mayor Jo Ann Greenwald said.
The event is planned for 10 a. m. to 4 p. m. Saturday and 1 to 4 p. m. Sunday in Village Park, at Main and Quaker streets.
A kiddie parade is set for 11:30 a. m. Saturday, with free flags and prizes for each participant and prizes awarded in a number of judged categories.
Fiddlesticks will play from noon to 2 p. m. and will offer square-dancing lessons, while old-fashioned games like the sack race and three-legged race will begin at 3 p. m.
Also featured will be the “Ties That Bind” quilt on display in the gazebo, which originated with an idea from the Centennial Belles. The quilt includes neckties donated by current and past Barker resi-dents.
Also on Saturday:
• An old-fashioned farmer’s market will be held throughout the day.
• People are encouraged to dress in early 1900s garb for prizes.
• Spinning, weaving, quilting and woodworking demonstrations will be offered, and local artists featured.
• The results of a top chef contest will be judged at 2 p. m. in several categories, including fruit pies, jams/jellies, pickles and quick breads.
A variety of fair food will be offered for sale.
Children will enjoy the free bounce house and old-fashioned games like penny pitch and ring toss. Lakeview Animal Sanctuary from Pendleton will provide a petting zoo from 10 a. m. to 1 p. m.
Town Historian Lorraine Wayner has arranged a display of historic photos at the Barker Free Library. A basket raffle to benefit the American Cancer Society also is planned.
On Sunday, free horse-drawn carriage rides will be offered. Eddie Eggert’s Barbershop Quartet will play in the gazebo at 1:30 p. m., followed by the Barker Community Band at 2 p. m. Band Director Amrom Chodos wrote a Barker Centennial March, which the band will play for the occasion. In addition, harpist Donna Aiken of Gasport is scheduled to perform.
Also on Sunday, the Barker Lions Club will offer a chicken barbecue at 1 p. m.
A basement-wide train display will be on display, and a basket raffle is planned by the Friends of the Barker Free Library on Sunday, with a drawing at 3:30 p. m.
“I’m proud of my adopted home here in Barker,” said centennial events coordinator Julie Obermiller, who moved to the village from Buffalo nearly 20 years ago. “This is my home now and we have so much to offer. The best thing about Barker is its people. There is always a warm welcome here.”
