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Peppermint Days Looking for Help
Louise Hoffman Broach / Wayuga Editor
Tuesday, June 30 2009
Louise Hoffman Broach / Wayuga Editor
LYONS - Nineteen years ago, Lyons Historian Patricia Alena helped to start Peppermint Days to celebrate the town’s historic roots in the peppermint industry. The festival has grown each year, as it attracts more and more people to the village for parades, fireworks and events in the village park.
But along with growth comes expense, said Lyons Main Street Executive Director Jerry Ashley, who this year is helping to coordinate the grand parade.
“We’ve fallen on hard times, like most festivals have,” said Ashley, noting the sluggish economy doesn’t leave people with a lot of extra money to donate when they might have before, to support community events.
But the news isn’t all bleak. Ashley, along with festival organizer Connie Rios and committee members, carried signs and collected donations June 27 at the intersection of routes 31 and 14 to help meet festival financial obligations for this year and secure it for 2010, the 20th anniversary.
In two hours, the group raised $630 and then collected another $70 after walking though the Lyons Farmer’s Market for 10 minutes with a sign and yelling “Fireworks, More Bang for your Buck”.
“People are starting to come together,” Ashley said. “They’re responding.”
This year’s Peppermint Days are set for July 9-12, but organizers were worried that it could be the last big event, if people did not come forward and put dollars behind it. The fireworks, which is one of the most popular parts of the festival, cost upwards of $10,000 and must be paid for in advance, to reserve the date in a very busy schedule.
“That’s the big promotional piece for Lyons,” he said. “I would never say it won’t happen next year, but the festival could have to be pared down.”
That would be a shame for people like Alena, who took the history of the peppermint industry and built the festival around it. The H.G. Hotchkiss Essential Oils were shipped all over the world via the Erie Canal and won, among others, first place medals at the Great Paris Exposition in 1867. Lyons and Wayne County were known globally for the finest of peppermint oils.
“Back in 1989, Lyons and Wayne County celebrated their 200th birthday of the settlement of the Stansell and Feartherly Families at The Forks, which later became known as Lyons,” Alena said. “In the fall of 1989, Lyons held a special day called Bicentennial Day: Lyons Settlement. A reenactment of the families landing on the banks of the Clyde River took place along with day-long festivities including a memorable parade with floats, bands, and horse and carriages. Because of its success, in 1990 Lyons residents clamored for another celebration. As town/village historian at the time, I thought there should be a festival day for Lyons every year.”
It started out as one day, just Saturday, with a parade, vendors and entertainment in the park. Now it’s four days, and Alena said, brings the community together every year and has shared the fun and activities with hundreds of other people outside of our town.
“It has given Lyons more identity and of course, has helped our local organizations in their fund-raising activities,” she said.
To contribute to Peppermint Days, or to volunteer to work the festival, contact Connie Rios at 946-4069. Evenings are best. Jerry Ashley can be reached at 871-4220.
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