NEW BERLIN – Despite Mother Nature literally putting a damper on the weekend events at the annual Youth Days celebration in New Berlin, event organizers say fun was still to be had over the four days.
With events starting Thursday while the sun was still shining and rain was not in the forecast, there were sand and water games, food and the midway operated by Main Events Amusement from Syracuse offered $1 rides until 10 p.m.
Friday proved to be another successful day as the action started at noon and lasted through the evening with more food, rides and the annual Miss Youth Days pageant. Event Director Sheila Randall says she has been putting the pageant on for 10 years and says it is a highlight of the Youth Days celebration year to year. This year, taking home the crown in the Little Miss Youth Days competition was Sara Nogaret. Winning the Junior Miss Youth Days title this year was Logann Dolan from Norwich and crowned Miss Youth Days was Amanda Peek, a 16 year old from the New Berlin area.
Between pageant categories, William Chaplick, head coach of Milford Academy, was announced as ‘Citizen of the Year’ and Unadilla Valley grad Cady Beckwith was named ‘Youth of the Year.’ Both Chaplick and Beckwith spoke about what an honor it is to represent New Berlin.
Taking the stage as well Friday were contestants in a different caliber of “beauty.” Seven contestants in the town’s bicentennial beard growing competition were awarded prizes for most bizarre, salt and pepper, best groomed, whitest beard and more.
In conjunction with the bicentennial celebration, over two dozen community members gathered at the Masonic Hall Friday to welcome Jack Chiovatero, the mayor from sister city New Berlin, Wisconsin, and his fiancee, Sue Altobelli. The couple arrived Friday and toured the area, met the police chief and were welcomed by the community. Chiovatero spoke about the differences of being mayor of a city of over 40,000. He talked about how some of the residents in his city can trace their ancestry back to New Berlin, New York and how the friendliness and generosity of the New Berlins reflect one another. Following dinner, proclamations and letters recognizing the town’s accomplishments were read, ranging from Congressman Michael Arcuri to President George Bush.
Continuing on through the weekend at Youth Days, Saturday’s activities got started early with kids bingo and other kids games at 9:30 a.m. at Chase Nursing Home. The midway ran through 5 p.m. and the parade, starting promptly at 6, rolled into town along with storm clouds and thunder.
Shortly after starting, the weather took a turn for the worse and the parade soon dissipated with the Avalon String Band taking to front porches and continuing their performance, while other parade participants and viewers dashed for cover. The storm came through and managed to delay some of the parade, but the action resumed after the showers. The night’s fireworks were still able to go on along with the heat lightning and together proved to be a performance like no other.
While it did sprinkle off and on Sunday, the midway stayed open and activities and food booths were up and operating. Main Event Amusement owner Kevin Jankiewicz says this is the second year in a row he attended the show, and both years, rain put a damper on the activities. “We were plagued by rain, but it is still a wonderful event,” he said.