CONNEAUT — The twirling rides and deep-fried food may have been the most amazing thing about Conneaut Sunday afternoon, even to the people who see it every year at the Conneaut Fourth of July Festival.
But to Jane and Ivan Kokareva, it was like nothing they had ever seen before.
Jane, 11, and Ivan, 7, live in Moscow and came to Conneaut with their mother, Eya, to visit with friends Robin and Jim Whitely, formerly of Conneaut.
“I like the carnival,” Jane said. “We don’t have it like this in Moscow.”
Robin Whitely, a 1964 Rowe High School graduate, moved to New Jersey years ago, but still thinks of her hometown with pride.
“What a wonderful event this is,” she said. “I know the economic depression here is hard, but to see people here enjoying the community and the beauty of the lake makes me think Conneaut isn’t so far from a comeback.”
Event organizer Tom Udell agrees.
“I think this is an absolutely great weekend, very successful. We had perfect weather, the entertainment was great and the parade went very well,” he said.
Udell said he was especially grateful to the volunteers who made the event possible.
“We have so many volunteers from traffic control, security and cleanup,” Udell said. “That is why this is such a great festival.”
The real gem of the event, Udell said, was the fireworks show. The big booms cost $10,000 — money raised by Conneaut residents and businesses.
“The people said they wanted a really great fireworks show, so that is what we brought to the festival,” he said.
North Kingsville resident Pat Berkowitz couldn’t help but smile while eating a big handful of fluffy cotton candy.
“People love this festival. I know I never miss it,” Berkowitz said. “The lake is right here and the day is beautiful. There is no reason Conneaut shouldn’t put its best foot forward.”
Julia Hooper, 8, of Albion, Pa., spent her time at the festival trying to win a rabbit at the games booths.
“This is fun. I really like the games, but (brother) Jonathon likes the rides,” she said.
Whitely smiled as she scanned the crowd, looking for familiar faces from her childhood.
“I really love Conneaut,” she said. “I have a lot of affection for this place and I wanted my Russian friends to see my hometown.”
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