Mayor’s Stage: Summer events highlighted by Grove City’s anniversary celebrations
This is a special year for Grove City.
We are celebrating the 170th anniversary of the city’s founding in 1852 when William Foster Breck and his associates platted 19 lots that formed our hometown. A few special events are on the calendar to celebrate the occasion, including several late-summer surprises.
It seems fitting that we start our 170th summer with a small event commemorating the opening of the Park Street roadway extension, tying the area of Breck’s first-purchased land to the westernmost part of Grove City. The final 1,700 linear feet of thruway, from Elm Street to Demorest Road, completes a Town Center connection to Breck Community Park.
Ribbon-cutting activities begin at 1:30 p.m. May 6 with a brief parade from the new traffic circle at Elm Street to Demorest Road. Those in attendance will witness an actor’s portrayal of William Foster Breck as he details the vision Breck likely had for the area when he first visited in 1846.
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Breck built his family’s first Grove City home, a stately 2-story brick house, on what is now White Place. The historic residence still stands facing Broadway, where its long front porch has borne witness to the growth of a city Breck had imagined.
Over the past 170 years, our historic Town Center has continued to be the hub of activity for Grove City. Warmer weather brings the return of our most popular spring and summer Town Center traditions and events, delivering family entertainment to a steady stream of residents and visitors.
After two years of cancellations, delays and restricted attendance guidelines, our festivals, markets, concerts, parades and other happenings will return to full-capacity fun. I’m looking forward to several new and traditional events and all the opportunities we have to come together.
The Grove City Area Chamber of Commerce once again is preparing for its highly anticipated Arts in the Alley music and arts festival Sept. 16-18, and the farmers markets will begin May 14 in the Town Center, with hours scheduled 8 a.m. to noon.
One of my favorite Saturday morning activities is pedaling my bicycle to the market and checking out the produce while visiting with friends and neighbors.
The Heart of Grove City, the Town Center’s business organization, has a host of fun events scheduled this year, including the Wine and Arts Festival on June 17 and 18, Craft Distillers Festival on Aug. 13 and three car shows – May 28, July 2 and Sept. 10 – all within the Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area.
Also planned are nine food-truck festival and Shop Hop events from 4 to 9 p.m., beginning May 6.
Most of the food-truck events coincide with Grove City Parks and Recreation’s Summer Sizzle concert series, which occurs nearly every Friday throughout the summer in Town Center Park. The first performance of the concert series is the Grove City Community Winds, slated 7 to 8:30 p.m. May 27. Some of my favorite music will fill the air as we enjoy a concert of patriotic tunes to kick off the Memorial Day weekend.
Returning to Town Center this year is the Memorial Day parade and service, led by American Legion Paschall Post 164 and Veterans of Foreign War 8198. It’s a true privilege as mayor to take part in honoring and remembering those who died while serving in the U.S. military.
Stepping off from Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church at 11 a.m. May 30, the parade travels south on Broadway, pausing for a moment at the Eternal Flame in front of City Hall before continuing to the Grove City Cemetery for a Memorial Day service.
After a two-year break due to the pandemic, we are excited to bring the Grove City Homecoming Celebration back to Town Center on July 27, with musical performances and family-friendly fun. More information on this event will be shared as details are finalized.
I’m looking forward to our anniversary celebrations and a full slate of summer fun with visitors, neighbors and friends, just as our community has enjoyed for 170 years. There’s always something happening in Grove City, where everyone is warmly welcomed.
Richard L. “Ike” Stage is the mayor of Grove City.
This article originally appeared on ThisWeek: Mayor’s Stage: Summer events highlighted by Grove City’s anniversary celebrations
