ASHLAND – Hundreds of area residents took advantage of the nice weather Friday afternoon to enjoy the more than 20 friendly mascots who entertained the crowd at the first Fun, Fabulous Friday of the summer at the Corner Park.
Youngsters’ faces lighted up as the mascots paraded from First Merit Bank, across Main Street and Claremont Avenue before filing into the cozy Corner Park to kick off Mascot Day V. Mayor Glen Stewart and his wife Judy led the colorful cast of characters in their parade. Ashland Middle School Assistant Principal Steve Paramore introduced the mascots as the crowd smiled and applauded for the characters.
Crowds lined up to eat grilled hot dogs, made by several celebrity chefs including Chief Deputy Carl Richert of the Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff E. Wayne Risner, Police Chief David Marcelli and Fire Chief Rick Anderson. Employees from Kingston of Ashland helped serve the food for the “Hot Dog Days of Summer.”
Cleveland Browns’ mascot Chomp, a first time visitor the Mascot Days, electrified the crowd and inspired the young and the young at heart to join the mascots in dancing to crowd favorites “YMCA,” “The Chicken Dance” and “Conga.”
Other first-time visitors included Wheelie from the Akron Racers pro softball team and Lily the Ladybug from Kid’s Kountry & More. Tuffy the Eagle, Sydney the Caring Koala and the rest of the characters danced with the crowd and posed for pictures as chidren and adults alike enjoyed interacting with the mascots.
United Way of Ashland County Executive Director Ev DeVaul thanked Scott Donley of Donley Ford for their help at the Ring In Spring last month. Three hundred people took test drives in vehicles from Donley Ford. The United Way received $20 for each test drive, and Donley Ford matched the $20, for a total donation of $12,000 to the United Way.
The next Fun, Fabulous Friday will be June 24 with the theme of “Favorite Old T-Shirt” and singer Kelly Knowlton will perform.
