CITYFEST KICKS OFF

Annual festival begins with activities, music and sun

Mentor CityFest began this Friday, kicking off the annual festival’s two days-worth of activities and entertainment.

The first day of CityFest took place at the grounds of the Mentor Civic Center, 8500 Civic Center Boulevard. Visitors are admitted to the festival free to enjoy a variety of activities and entertainment.

“15,000 to 20,000 is what we typically draw over two days,” said Ante Logarusic, Mentor’s community relations administrator, prior to the event. “Weather plays a huge role. We’re expecting a good number because it’s going to be beautiful.”

CityFest will continue on Aug. 24, beginning with a parade at 10 a.m. The festival will then culminate in a fireworks show at 10:45 p.m.

The “beautiful” weather Logarusic described turned out to be a sunny Friday evening with temperatures in the low 70s. The festival began in the early evening, as attendees filtered in to enjoy food, vendor booths, kids activities, music, zip-lining, a rock-climbing wall, a comedy sideshow and more.

King’s Highway, a Tom Petty tribute band, was scheduled to perform at 7:30 at the Mentor Civic Amphitheater.

“This is a family-friendly event that above all is designed to help bring members of our community together,” Logarusic said. “Admission and parking are free so you don’t have to pay to come and hang out with family and friends.”

John and Darlene Campbell of Painesville attended CityFest after helping set up a booth for a ceramics studio that they had previously owned. They stayed the evening to catch the performance of Kings’ Highway.

“We love it,” Darlene said about CityFest, as she waited for the concert. “This amphitheater is really nice.”

She added that a Queen tribute band had also played at the amphitheater on her birthday. The concert was part of the Mentor Rocks series.

The festival also featured an array of bounce houses for young visitors, as well as an obstacle course in the style of “American Ninja Warrior”.

CityFest will continue on Aug. 24, beginning with a parade at 10 a.m. E5C4P3, a Journey tribute band, will perform at 7:30 p.m. The festival will then culminate in a fireworks show at 10:45 p.m.

“(It’s) another great opportunity to bind our community — especially for those with younger kids,” Logarusic said.

“The giant inflatables are a huge hit for young families.”

TYLER RIGG — THE NEWS-HERALD Attendees of Mentor CityFest enjoy games and vendor booths on Aug. 23

TYLER RIGG — THE NEWS-HERALD A comedy sideshow performs for attendees on Aug. 23 at Mentor CityFest.

TYLER RIGG — THE NEWS-HERALD Kids take on the challenge of a rock-climbing wall on Aug. 23 at Mentor CityFest.