LAST STOP: ‘FREE, FUN’ TOGETHERNESS

Joy for all: Last Stop Willoughby returned Aug. 14 in downtown with plenty of family activities to enjoy

Visitors to Downtown Willoughby Aug. 14 entered into another dimension, a dimension not only of sight and sound, but of mind. A journey into a wondrous land of imagination.

Their stop: the Twilight Zone.

Or at least an event inspired by an episode from the classic TV series.

Last Stop Willoughby has been held since 2008. It gets its name from a season one episode of the “Twilight Zone” called “A Stop at Willoughby.” The episode first aired May 6, 1960.

The episode is screened throughout the day in the Willoughby Library, but is only one part of the event.

Heart of Willoughby President Greg Patt called it a “free, fun family event.” Nothing costs money except for the food, he said.

“It’s just meant to be a fun thing,” Patt said.

“It’s just meant to be a fun thing.” —Heart of Willoughby President Greg Patt

The event featured plenty of activities for kids, from face painting to playing with model trains. New this year was a chalk art contest, which featured artists drawing on buildings in Downtown Willoughby.

It also features a parade. This year’s parade included six floats, which is more than usual, Patt said. Cash prizes were given to the floats judged to be the best decorated floats.

Though the event has been going on for more than a decade, it was not held last year due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. Patt said it felt good

to be back.

He added the event had one of its best turnouts to date. He said he thinks that people were excited at an opportunity to get out of the house.

Patt added that good weather also helped out the event this year.

“You can plan for years, but you can’t plan the weather,” he said.

PHOTOS BY ANDREW CASS — THE NEWS-HERALD Stilt walkers participate in the Last Stop Willoughby parade Aug. 14. The parade was just one of the many free, family-friendly activities that took place at the annual event in the city’s downtown.

Chalk drawings on Downtown Willoughby buildings, including Fiona’s Coffee Bar & Bakery were a new part of this year’s Last Stop Willoughby.