Le Roy's perhaps biggest annual event opens today and runs through tomorrow.
It's time again for the Oatka Festival.
The festival is celebrating its 24th year. Since its start in 1989, it has become a community event that fuses fun, food, and entertainment with a friendly, family, small-town feel.
The festival site opens 10 a.m. each day, but the true kick-off is at 11 a.m. on Saturday with the highly anticipated annual parade.
Other activities include an arts and craft show, Back Yard Circus, live entertainment, musical talents such as The Good Knights and KnightnGals, fishing and duck derbies, 50/50 raffle, a library book sale, bounce house, rock wall, and more.
In addition to the festival events, the community comes alive with many other activities. A triathlon, 30K bike race, and a 5K walk/run will fill early morning hours both days.
Le Roy Farm Market will be on Saturday at Wolcott Street with a variety of healthy foods available for purchase.
The Le Roy House and Jell-O Gallery will be open for visitors throughout the weekend with free tours and a chance to try a Jell-O Poke Cake made by Scratch Bakery.
Also, the community uses the popularity of the festival as an opportunity to raise awareness for their organizations. Some groups specially design floats for the parade, and others hold various fundraisers to support their cause.
The Le Roy Nursery School, celebrating 50 years, is one such group who has a yearly yard sale to fund the school.
"Le Roy Nursery School has a long history of educating children in Genesee County, and we depend on our fundraisers like the Oatka Festival Yard Sale to keep the school going throughout the year," said Heidi Dominiak, treasurer for the school year 2012-2013.
Household and children’s items, small furniture, and sports trading cards are some of things found at this year's sale. All funds raised go directly back into the school.
The sale will be from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday at 5 E. Main St., next to the First Baptist Church. More information can be found at www.leroynurseryschool.com.
Another organization, the Knights of Columbus, is hosting an all-you-can-eat breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon on Sunday, July 15. All money raised will benefit local charities.
This year is also Le Roy's Bicentennial. The town's quilt will be available for those who want to be one of 200 to take part in painting a square for it.
More information about the festival can be found at oatkafestival.org.
