Party Like It’s 1926!
Big band music, sunset views and vintage fun highlight Lake Metroparks’ nostalgic celebration marking 100 years of Painesville Township Park’s iconic community center
For the Old-Fashioned Picnic, people are invited to bring blankets, chairs and their favorite outdoor fare to settle in for an evening of big band entertainment, as well as old-school lawn games, archery and a kite-flying contest.
As Yogi Berra once famously quipped, “The future ain’t what it used to be,” which might be the perfect excuse to stop chasing it for a moment. Hit pause. Rewind.
Anyone looking to take a trip back to the good old days will enjoy the Old-Fashioned Picnic at Painesville Township Park on Saturday, August 29, from 5-8 p.m. The spirit of the Roaring ’20s—think big band orchestras and dance cards and family picnics on blankets—will come back to life in all its glory.
The community center, which anchors the park’s bucolic setting, is celebrating 100 years and the folks at Lake Metroparks like to celebrate in nostalgic style.
Mimi caught up with facility manager Francine Scharver to get the lowdown.
“The first dance was held here in 1926, with a swinging big band,” she says. “It was the place to be. After dancing, people enjoyed, as they still do, the perfect spot to take in a Lake Erie sunset. Originally an open-air pavilion, a roof was added and thoughtful renovations took place over the years. Today the 5,000-square-foot hall hosts everything from dance groups to weddings, graduation parties and quinceañeras.”
For the Old-Fashioned Picnic, people are invited to bring blankets, chairs and their favorite outdoor fare to settle in for an evening of big band entertainment, as well as old-school lawn games, archery and a kite-flying contest. A lineup of vintage automobiles adds another layer of throwback flair.
The park has a rich history dating back to 1807, when Ohio’s third Governor, Samuel H. Huntington, acquired 300 acres of land. Today, it encompasses 39 acres and is home to three baseball fields and a 10-foot-wide trail that extends west about a mile from the 200-foot fishing pier.
After all, if the future “ain’t what it used to be,” the past is waiting for you—right on time.
Lake Metroparks provides more than 4 million visitors each year with educational and recreational programs. Painesville Township Park is located at 1025 Hardy Road in Painesville. For more information, visit LakeMetroparks.com.
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