A festival in Centerville celebrates both the July 4 holiday, and two local heroes.
The Americana Festival is a chance for the community to have fun, and also remember Firefighter Robert O’Toole and Officer John Kalaman, who lost their lives when they responded to a traffic accident in 1998. The Centerville Noon Optimists Club created the Respect for Law and Firefighter of the Year Awards in their memory. Fittingly, the theme of the 2023 event is “Duty. Honor. Sacrifice. Honoring our Community’s Heroes.”
Although the day honors these men, it is also a celebration of community with a variety of events planned. These include food vendors, an auto show, live entertainment, a street fair, a parade, a 5K race, and fireworks.
The celebration kicks off with a bang with a fireworks display and live music provided by Alexis Gomez, a former “American Idol” finalist. Earlier in the evening, the Centerville Community Band and Chorus will perform an Americana concert.
The second day features the parade, with over 120 units expected to join the procession. This is also the day of the Street Fair, where more than 300 craft vendors and food trucks will be on hand. This day also features the Auto Show and a 5K Run/Walk.
The dates for the Americana Festival are July 3 and July 4, at several venues in Centerville. Organizers of large events like this can use flyer printing to create handouts including a map, schedule of events, and list of locations.
