Commemoration brings thousands downtown
ZANESVILLE – After a 25-year hiatus, Zane’s Trace Commemoration returned to downtown in full force.
That put a smile on the face of organizer Rick Buck, who saw more than two years of preparation for he and other committee members finally come to fruition.
Temperatures reached only 79 degrees on Saturday in the metro after facing heat indexes upwards of 100 degrees through much of the week. Buck felt it likely helped bring larger crowds.
“I love it, way better than yesterday,” Buck said, while helping pick up trash late Saturday at Putnam Landing Park. “I’d take this weather every day. It makes it nice for people to get out and enjoy themselves. That’s what it’s all about, the community coming together. And they get to learn a little bit about the history and the heritage of Zanesville, and yet have some fun and enjoy themselves. Some are getting educated and they don’t even realize it.”
Saturday’s festivities began with a parade that lasted about an hour and brought a throng of onlookers of all ages to downtown. Between classic cars, floats and marching bands, there was something for every age as people lined Main Street to see what was offered.
For those under age 30, it was likely their first memorable experience of the event. For those of an older generation, it brought back childhood memories of a different time.
She enjoyed seeing all of the older cars in the parade, one of which carried her great niece.
“I thought it was really nice,” said Lori Insley, who attended the events regularly as a child growing up in the 1980s. “There were a lot of entries and the communities coming together after the last couple of years we’ve had (due to COVID-19). The best part for me was seeing the excitement in all of the kids’ faces getting candy (at the parade) and one little boy even got a scooter.”
She feels the community aspect of the event is important for a city like Zanesville because of the positive way it brings people together.
“And also with the commemoration we are seeing a lot of local arts and crafts, food and entertainment,” Insley said. “It brings revenue to our community and gives everyone something fun to do.”
Upwards of 80 local arts and crafts vendors made their way to Putnam Landing, in addition to a lengthy row of different food vendors. Bands played throughout the day on the main stage at
Putnam and another in front of Dutro Ford on Sixth Street.
Taylor Russell, of the Zanesville Jaycees, said they would serve upwards of 15 kegs of beer in the three days, in addition to canned beer and three different wine choices, through the weekend. That’s about on par with the Stars and Stripes of the River event held annually over two days on the Fourth of July Weekend.
Russell, with 10 years of volunteering with the Jaycees, said it is one of their big events of the summer.
“People are having a great time,” Russell said. “There has been a variety (of people) and I love it. This event is bringing in everybody. We’re just help, but I feel like the organizers, they had a year to prepare for this, and they’ve done a really good job. This has been a welloiled machine.”
He echoed Insley about the importance of having events like the commemoration for the Muskingum County communities to attend, especially in light of the pandemic.
“Everybody always says there is nothing to do,” Russell said. “For this to go on, I’ll bet at one point (on Saturday) I saw 3,000 people down here. That’s awesome. You have people coming in all day every day. It’s very important and we need to have more stuff like this.”
Zanesville Mayor Don Mason, taking in Saturday’s proceedings, also came away pleased.
“I’m extremely happy with the turnout and positive comments,” Mason said. “It’s just important to note that Rick Buck and 50 or so volunteers have been working for 2 1/2 years to pull of this together. They’ve thought of a lot of great things.
“I am sure when we sit down this week and in the coming weeks we’ll find a way to better refine what we are doing,” Mason added. “I’m just extremely pleased. This is a surprise that for a first-year event that it’s this well organized.”
It’s events like the commemoration and Stars and Stripes that allow Zanesville to showcase itself, Mason said, and bring friends and neighbors downtown for family-oriented activities.
“You see people maybe you haven’t seen in a long time,” Mason said. “Especially with us just coming out of COVID, a lot of people still aren’t getting out to inside events, so they’ll do outside events. It’s funny because we all want to take our kids to get the fries and lemon shakes, any of those libations. Whether it’s a fair, or a circus or a commemoration, it’s great to get the kids out.”
Buck said the event will get even better. The plan is to always have it on Father’s Day weekend.
“It has been over 25 years and we’re just getting the snowball rolling again,” Buck said. “I’ve been making rounds and talking to different vendors, and they’re all ready to sign up again for next year. Next year we’ll probably gave more vendors and take it a step further.” sblackbu@gannett.com 740-450-6723
Twitter: @Samblackburn