Area baseball fans and fans of hometown entertainment are reminded a must attend event will take place with the annual Cy Young Days Festival in downtown Newcomerstown the weekend of June 22-24.
Area baseball fans and fans of hometown entertainment are reminded a must attend event will take place with the annual Cy Young Days Festival in downtown Newcomerstown the weekend of June 22-24.
The festival honors Cy Young and the game he loved. The Cy Young Days Festival is a small festival in a small community, but is growing every year. The Cy Young Days Festival Committee is committed to promoting the Village of Newcomerstown, Cy Young and all the youth, especially youth baseball and softball.
This year's guest of honor is 1985 Cy Young Award winner Dwight "Doc" Gooden, who started his career with the New York Mets. In past years, the festival has been honored to have Len Barker, Kevin Ritz, Rich Rollins, Gaylord Perry, Ferguson Jenkins, Dean Chance, Jim Perry, Vern Law, Bob Turley, Denny McLain, Mike McCormick, Vida Blue, Bret Saberhagen, Doug Drabek and Jack McDowell.
Opening ceremonies, crowning of the queens and her court and tents and concessions open at 5 p.m. June 22. The Chestnut Hill Bluegrass Band takes the Canal Street Stage at 6 p.m., followed by Blackhand Hooch from 8 to 11 p.m.
Saturday (June 23) highlights include the Cy Young run (7:15 a.m. registration and 8 a.m. start), a noon luncheon with Gooden (call 740-498-4545 for reservations), the parade (6 p.m.), and an autograph signing with Gooden at the Olde Main Street Museum on Canal Street (7 p.m.) If you are looking for musical entertainment, the Whiskey Creek band will perform from noon to 2 p.m. on the Canal Street Stage and the Adam Calvert Band will hold an evening show from 8 until 11 p.m. Tents and concessions open at noon Saturday
Sunday (June 24) is filled with fun and begins with the Old Timers Vintage baseball tournament taking place at the Cy Young Park Field, with first pitch at 10 a.m. The tournament field will be comprised of four teams coming to town with the Canal Dover Redlegs, Mohican Rivermen, Whiskey Island Shamrocks and our local Newcomerstown Cyclones taking part. Come journey back in time to a day when life was a little slower and gentleman dressed in wool caps, knickers and high stockings. This is a recreation of the way the national pasttime was played in the mid 1800s using the same rules and language of the era during the days of the Civil War.
Also on Sunday, a Car Show will take place on Main Street starting at 1 p.m., along with a talent show (1 p.m.) and pet show (3 p.m.) on the Canal Street Stage.
Try your hand at a replica barn door ball toss challenge just as Cy Young himself learned to throw, a video presentation at the Library Annex or step back in time at the Olde Main Street Museum, and have your picture taken with a life size Cy Young. Concessions also open at noon Sunday.
For more information about the Cy Young Days Festival, visit cyyoungdaysfestival.com or like the event on Facebook.
SUBMITTED BY DAVE SHEPHERD