The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
THE PARTY GOES ON
Despite rainy conditions early in the day, Headlands Beachfest still draws crowds
The fifth annual Headlands Beachfest in Mentor might have gotten off to a slow, wet start due to rainy weather, but it still drew a decent size crowd for the July 22 event.
According Mentor recreation director Maggie Kuyasa, the attendance is slightly down from last year which she attributes to the rainy weather at the beginning of the event.
Kuyasa notes that last years event’s had approximately 15,000 people attend. She estimates that approximately halfway through the day about 4,000 people had showed up as the weather was starting to clear.
The event, which is described by www.cityofmentor.com as the
“How often do you get to come to the beach and have a big beach party.” — Mentor recreation director Maggie Kuyasa
ultimate beach party, was for the first time held at the same time as the Annual Superboat Grand Prix, allowing attendees to the Beachfest to enjoy both of the city’s biggest events together.
Beachfest attendees were able to stand on the beach and watch many of the boaters taking part in the Grand Prix July 23 participate in test runs in preparation for the race.
Kuyasa said she believes that running both events simultaneously is a benefit, as she pointed out the crowd on
the beach gathered to watch the boats.
Beachfest this year had 30 craft vendors offering a variety of craft activities for the kids, and 16 vendors and food trucks.
The Cleveland Museum of Art put on strolling parades. Attendees could participate in Human Foosball games, and a DJ was on hand to play beach music.
Some of the popular crafts included the making and flying of kites and sand art in bottles.
Marissa Gajowski, 11, of Willoughby, attended the event with her grandmother and younger sister Jenna, 8.
Gajowski said her favorite part of the day was making
the kite while Jenna favored the sand in a bottle.
Bubbles were a big hit with Marissa Lange, 11, of Painesville. Many kids gathered around bubble blowers to pop the bubbles.
Marissa also enjoy the sand art and crafting a necklace.
Judy Lange, Marissa’s mother noted that this was this second year in coming to the event.
“It’s amazing. It gets the community involved and provides free activities for the families,” she said.
Christina Prall, of Mentor, thinks the event is wonderful.
“It gives the community a little fun with highlights the
whole family can participate in,” Prall said.
Beachfest also featured artists creating sand sculptures and two judged family sand castle building contests with the winning families receiving prizes.
Kids could stop and have their photo taken with a mermaid as well.
“How often do you get to come to the beach and have a big beach party,” Kuyasa replied when asked how the event benefited the community. “It’s free, everything is free except for the food and crafts. The kids want to come down; and we have great organizations down there with great interactive activities for the kids.”