SummerFest at the Sal!
A New Tradition
By Councilman Kenny Tompkins
SummerFest at the Sal is almost here! On Sunday, August 20, Sal Maglie Stadium in Hyde Park will be rockin’ out to six local bands. Admission is $10 and the show starts at 1 pm and runs until 7 pm. The best part: We’ll be raising money for a worthy cause. All funds from this event will benefit the Niagara Falls Firefighter’s Toy Fund. Every year, our NFFD raises money and collects toys to make the holidays brighter for children in our city, bringing holiday cheer to a number of Niagara Falls families. This day of concerts will help the NFFD get an early start on their mission.
A few people have asked me about the inspiration for SummerFest at the Sal. During the planning stages for the Community Memorial Day Parade, I was speaking with Frank Geracitano from the USA Band. This musical group wanted to be in the parade, but without electricity, it was impossible to accommodate them. If you know Frank, you know this is someone who doesn’t take no for answer. He and the band genuinely wanted to do something for our community. We brainstormed and this is how SummerFest at the Sal came to be.
Support for this event has been overwhelming. Six bands are donating their time and talent to make it a success: The USA Band, Russ Vesci and the Texas Revolvers, Chris Borgatti and Friends, Split Decision, The Junkyard Dogs, and Seventh Sign.
In addition to the bands, we appreciate the gracious support of our partner, the Kiwanis Club of Niagara Falls. We also want to thank our five corporate sponsors who have made this day possible: Niagara Falls Downtown Business Association, Cameron Transportation, David Chevrolet, Laborer’s Local 91, and The Law Offices of Nicholas Pelosino, Jr.
Rainbow Air has generously donated a prize for our raffle. We also need to give a shout out to Howie Ewing and Neil Turvey for use of the stadium. Our Masters of Ceremonies for SummerFest at the Sal will be Steve Brown, WGRZ-News (Channel 2) and Niagara’s Own Sal Paonessa. Local comic Ernie Bivens will be on hand to keep the energy up and the laughter flowing all day. For our car enthusiasts, come out for our Classic Car Cruise in the outfield. We’ll be handing out bags to the first 50 entrants.
This day has something for everyone: raffles, 50/50 splits, and more. We hope to see you all there to be part of this new tradition. As a reminder, no outside food or beverages are allowed in the stadium. However, we’ll have plenty of food and beverage vendors inside to keep everyone happy. Wine and beer will be available for purchase. Come out for the music, friendship and fun. Can’t wait to see you at Summerfest at the Sal!
