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PLYMOUTH — The second day of the 16th annual Plymouth Alive Kielbasa Festival drew thousands of people to the borough’s main street to enjoy food, fun, friends and family.
The day opened with both sides of Main Street lined with people craning their necks to catch a glimpse of the parade filled with color and sound in the form of school bands, emergency vehicles, cheerleaders and officials.
New this year was the designation of a Grand Marshal for the parade, with the Plymouth Alive committee naming Junior Fire Chief Brian Lyons, a 10-year-old spearheading an effort to raise money for the Elm Hill Hose Company No. 3 to purchase an extrication tool.
Lyons, who has already raised $5,000, was selling lemonade at the event to go toward the purchase, which many said not only quenched their thirst, but provided them with inspiration.
Good parade weather
Lyons briefly left his post at the lemonade stand to fulfill his duties as grand marshal, riding atop the fire truck.
He said he enjoyed seeing friends and family from his unique vantage point.
Arianna Rogowski, 7, who participated in the parade as a part of the Frontier Girls Swoyersville, Troop, said she most enjoyed spotting her dad in the crowd and giving him a big wave.
Troop leader Tom Nankiwell said the group had participated in the parade for about four years, first walking and then riding on the back of pickup truck.
“It was good weather this year,” he said. “But some years, we felt like we were melting into the asphalt.”
Jon and Vikki Fry, Orangeville, were vendors at the event for the first year and impressed with the customers, other vendors and the event as a whole.
“I was pleasantly surprised with how big the parade was,” said Vicky Fry. “There were so many school entries. I liked the bands.”
Kevin and Judy Quinn, Nanticoke, also were in their first year as vendors, selling a dipping sauce perfect, they said for adding a bit of heat to kielbasa.
The Quinns said the crowds had been gracious and business was “pretty good.”
“We’ll definitely be back next year,” said Kevin Quinn.
Continued growth
Earl Cunningham, Plymouth Alive, said the event, now in its 16th year, had continued to grow in regard to parade participants, attendance and vendors.
Cunningham said the turnout was anticipated to be more than 12,000 for the two-day festival.
This year’s theme “The Wall that Heals,” was met with enthusiasm from the crowds and provided opportunity to remind those in attendance of the the three-quarter replica of the Washington, D.C. Vietnam Memorial’s arrival in the borough on Sept. 5, he said.
The committee also honored Sue Gryziec, a committee member who passed away since its last festival, naming a band shell after her, topping it with a giant banner bearing her name.
