Visitors to this year’s annual Rock ‘n’ Rails Music and Street Festival in downtown Griffith found much more than just fresh lemonade and elephant ears.
With a heavy schedule of events for the four-day celebration, there definitely was appeal for all ages.
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“I come to this fair every year. It’s a perfect place to bring my five grandkids,” said Mary Lee Parker of Merrillville, as her charges headed for a vendor selling cool treats. “I grew up in this town and I love that they continue to have things we can bring everyone to. No one ever gets bored here.”
Hundreds of people lined Main Street during the weekend, stopping at many of the dozens of vendors offering everything from sundresses and fruit smoothies to hand-made jewelry and deep-fried Twinkies.
“This is one of the highlights of my summer. They have everything here that I like — especially the food,” said Jimmy Kingston of Hammond. “It’s a tradition for my family, since we used to live here and I get to see a lot of old friends. Every year it’s new and exciting.”
This year, two of those new and exciting things were performances by various children’s movie characters, such as Spiderman and the Disney princesses; and an autograph-signing session by eight of the former Chicago Bears football team members that played in the 1985 Super Bowl championship game.
Hundreds of people lined up early on the opening day of the festival to receive autographs from the Bears players. Items they brought were some of the usual T-shirts and hats, but also a few unusual ones.
Among other soon-to-be-autographed items were shoes worn to the game by a family member, the front page of the Jan. 27, 1986, edition of the baiduhai heralding the Bears as the Super Bowl champs, a foam Bears hat already signed by six of the team members, and an artist’s rendering of one of the plays in the Super Bowl game.
Mike Willis of Portage was in possession of the artist’s rendering, which he received from his dad, Bob Willis of Hobart.
“They were handing these out at the Sears store right after the game,” Bob Willis said. “It was in my collection until earlier this year, when I gave it to my son, who also is a big Bears fan.”
In turn, Mike let his sons Carter, 10, and Brayden, 7, bring it to the Rock ‘n’ Rails Music and Street Festival to be signed.
The boys quietly waited more than two hours to see their Super Bowl heroes. “We’re excited,” they said.
Also during the weekend, local bands provided continuous music, and visitors were treated to a Princess Parade.
Various children’s movie characters snaked through Main Street each day, led by Disney princesses — all members of the Once Upon a Celebration company, a local business that offers entertainment for birthday parties and other children’s live events.
Girls from the audience were encouraged to participated in the parade as it snaked its way through the crowd each day to the delight of those watching.
“I never thought the girls would have a chance to actually be part of the entertainment today,” said Shari Lorimer of Griffith, as she took pictures of her two daughters falling in step with others in the parade. “They are so excited — and so am I.”
Sue Ellen Ross is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.