Little Maddy Burnett, 3, gamely struggled to keep up with her older brothers, Miles, 6, and Elliot, 9, as their Grandpa Hap Burnett giggled at their antics as they entered the bounce slide at the Rossmoor Community Festival on Sunday, May 5.
“She’s going to get strong that way,” he said as Maddy bravely climbed up the rubber stairs and prepared to jump off and make the 30-foot slide from the top to the bottom.
Such family fun was the order of the day at Rush Park that went on despite gray skies that threatened rain that never fell on the festivities that have been an annual event in the tree-lined community since 1988.
The excitement kicked off with an Elvis impersonator and singer Gary Anderson and his “Memories of Memphis” show. While matrons cooed as his golden throat belted out the lyrics made famous by “The King,” others gathered around the rows of classic cars set out for the day. There were plenty of carnival games to keep the kids busy and entertained.
The High Heel Dash had the crowd in stitches as “runners” scrambled down the course in footwear that was hard enough to walk in, let alone run the 50-yard dash. Joining in the fun was The Three Amigas: Anna Wald, Jewels McDonald and Kristen Buscia, decked out in costumes that reflected the spirit of Cinco de Mayo.
While attendance was down a little due to the weather, those who attended enjoyed the wide range of entertainment from the magician Mr. Pork Pie, the vocal work of the school district’s choral groups from Hopkinson Elementary and McAuliffe Middle schools. The fun built up as guests availed themselves of the many booths with merchants and non-profit groups. The fun culminated in the Dog Parade at 3 p.m. Organizers said the fun will continue at next year’s festival in Rossmoor.
