It's time for fun and games at SummerFest

FAIRVIEW PARKThe 17th annual SummerFest will take place Friday through Sunday at Bohlken Park, located off of West 210th Street just south of Westgate Shopping Center.

SummerFest, which has grown over the years, will be a mixture of the old and the new. Back again are many time-honored traditions, including the parade, classic car show, carnival rides and fireworks.

These and other favorites will be intermingled with new musical acts such as Colin Dussault's Blues Project and Funkology, a new Fairview Park's Got Talent Competition and more.

The weekend festivities will kick off at 6 p.m. Friday with the simultaneous opening of the carnival rides at Bohlken and the start of the annual parade.

The parade will begin at Gilles-Sweet Elementary School on West 220th, go east on Lorain Road and then north on West 210th to Westgate Mall.

Tickets for the rides are 50 cents each. Wristbands may also be purchased for unlimited access to the rides for $12 to ride 6-11 p.m. Friday, for $10 to ride noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, for $12 to ride 4-11 p.m. Saturday and $12 for all day access on Sunday.

SummerFest was initiated in 1992 to provide an opportunity for the community's churches, schools, clubs and organizations to raise funds for their individual projects. Today this aspect of the weekend is still going strong.

In addition to the rides and nearly non-stop entertainment on the Cox Communications Main Stage in the southwest corner of the park, numerous local organizations have booths set up with food and activities geared towards all ages.

There will be a hoops shooting contest sponsored by the Fairview High School boys basketball boosters, a dunk tank and gift baskets sponsored by the PTA after-prom 2010 committee, as well as fresh-squeezed lemonade offered by the Rotary Club.

Complimenting the local booths there will be others from outside the area. In all, there should be more than 100 booths this year, said Jeannine Minek, the 2009 SummerFest chair....