Music, food and more abound at Newarkfest

FESTIVAL TIME: Like country, jazz or the Beatles? You'll find it all and more at the annual downtown festival, which takes place June 12 to 14.

By JOHN ZORNOW
jzornow@cgazette.com

NEWARK - Entertainment will be plentiful at Newarkfest, which opens at noon Friday, June 12.

South Main Street will close from Miller Street to Maple Avenue. Arts, crafts and food vendors will be open until 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and until 5 p.m. Sunday.

Featured Friday night entertainment is Sean Patrick McGraw Band, a nationally touring country band, at the Showagon, located at the intersection of Miller and Main streets.

At 8 a.m. Saturday, the fourth annual Red Cross/Market Alternatives 5K Run for the Red will take place, with registration scheduled for 9 a.m. at the Central Park Bandstand. The entry fee is $12 up until June 11, and $15 on the day of the race. Free refreshments will be served at the finish line, and T-shirts will be given the first 125 entrants.

For more information, call 331-3783.

Also on Saturday, 1950s and 60s music will be provided by the group Misdemeanor at the Showagon, and entertainment will be featured all day long at the historic Newark Central Park bandstand. The Newark Fire Department will also be selling Duck Race tickets for the race at 1 p.m. in T. Spencer Knight Canal Park. The Beatles tribute band the Fab Five will perform between 6 and 9 p.m. at the Showagon.

On Sunday, the Elks Club Flag Day ceremony will take place between noon and 1 p.m. in front of Central Park. The Greater Finger Lakes Jazz Orchestra will top off the entertainment lineup from 1 to 4 p.m., with vendors packing up between 5 and 7 p.m.

Several other events will coincide with Newarkfest.

• St. Michael's Family Festival is set for all three days and will feature amusement rides; a midway; raffles; a cake wheel; Spanish food; and hotdogs, hamburgers and sausage. A chicken barbecue will be served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
• The Newark-Arcadia Historical Society will hold its annual open house Friday through Sunday, and will showcase its new exhibit honoring the fire department. There will be antique vendors on the lawn of the museum, a plant and bake sale by the Newark Garden Club and hotdogs.
• The Methodist Church strawberry booth is back again and will be serving fresh berries with ice cream and toppings in front of the church on South Main Street.
• The Newark Elks Club will sell food and beverages, as well as tickets for its annual motorcycle raffle, in front of the lodge on South Main Street.

Musical entertainment

Andy Stobie and the Greater Finger Lakes Jazz Orchestra headline the final day of the Newarkest, Sunday, June 14 from 1 to 4 p.m. Stobie and the Greater Finger Lakes Jazz Orchestra is composed of some of finest and most experienced musicians from various big bands and jazz combos. They are noted for their diversity. They can swing, rock or mambo and feature outstanding soloists. Their playlist features dance tunes and concert numbers from the libraries of Maynard Ferguson, Buddy Rich and Stan Kenton. They also play songs from artists such as Frank Sinatra, Michael Buble and Stevie Wonder. The concert is free and will take place at the Showwagon on Main Street. It's sponsored by Canandaigua Chrysler Dodge Jeep and Union Street Automotive in Newark.

Entertainment Chairman John Tickner said the goal of the festival is to provide a wide variety of family entertainment, appealing to all age groups.

Big Dog Country 103.5 will present the Downtown How Down from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, June 12, featuring Nashville recording artist Sean Patrick McGraw and his band. The concert is sponsored by Wayne ARC and Lyons National Bank.

A Beatles tribute band, The Fab Five, will be the headliner from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, June 13.

Newarkfest, June 12, 13 and 14, will feature entertainment all weekend: the St. Michael's Family Festival; a road race; over 100 arts and crafts vendors; food booths and much more.

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