The annual Batavia MainStreet Block Party and Taste of Batavia attracted people to Batavia Sunday eager to celebrate as summer moves toward its conclusion.
The event featured live entertainment at the Peg Bond Center Performing Arts Pavilion, food samples from local eateries, a car show and bounce houses for children.
Batavia MainStreet, a nonprofit created in 1998, organizes about 12 events throughout the year to encourage people to visit the city’s downtown and support local businesses, group officials said.
“This is a way for the community to spend time together and enjoy food from our downtown restaurants. It’s a nice end to summer,” Batavia MainStreet Executive Director Beth Walker said.
Dimitri Fountes came with a group of Porche enthusiasts to showcase their vehicles during the car show held along North River Street in the downtown area.
“I hope there are a few more summer weekends as nice as this,” he said.
The summer months are a time to frequent car shows, he said.
“Sadly this might be the last fling before our cars go back into storage,” he said.
Oswego resident Amanda Neubauer came with her sons ages 13, 12 and 10 years old to enjoy the car show.
“We travel around throughout the summer to as many car shows as possible in the area. Batavia is my hometown so naturally we wanted to come to this car show and visit with family,” Neubauer said.
Don Grillo and his friend Maria Dimuzio happened upon the car show by strolling around downtown Batavia.
“I’m a hot rod guy,” said Grillo, an Air Force veteran and retired commercial airlines pilot. Grillo refurbished a 1953 Chevy truck and transformed it into a hot rod, he said.
“I appreciate the work that goes into these cars,” he said at the car show.
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Joe Dimaggio came with his children, Leo, 13, and Mara, 10. The youngsters turned to shaved ice for refreshments. His wife, Kathleen Dimaggio, supports the annual Batavia Mothers Club Pie Bakeoff, another feature of the event, he said.
“This is all about supporting the community,” he said.
Students from the Batavia Dance Academy performed on the Peg Bond Center stage at the event and then invited members of the audience to participate in a Twist Contest.
James Panczuk joined his 4-year-old daughter on the stage to provide some support while she danced away doing the twist.
“Ruth has been dancing since she was 2. We just like to have fun,” Panczuk said. “This is our last hurrah of summer.”
Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.