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People come out to enjoy Sparta Day

| 27 Sep 2017 | 07:50
    Balloons for the festivities Photos by Debra-Ann Kretschmer
    Balloons for the festivities Photos by Debra-Ann Kretschmer
    People visit the many booths
    People visit the many booths
    Katherine Smith, 13, from Sparta performed. She takes classes at Dance Dimensions by Michelle
    Katherine Smith, 13, from Sparta performed. She takes classes at Dance Dimensions by Michelle
    Boys dancing to the YMCA. Y= Ben Dykstra, M = Luke Gozdenobish,C = Gian Parker and A= Cameron Sears
    Boys dancing to the YMCA. Y= Ben Dykstra, M = Luke Gozdenobish,C = Gian Parker and A= Cameron Sears
    Sparta Police Department's booth promoting the yearly Junior Police Academy
    Sparta Police Department's booth promoting the yearly Junior Police Academy
    Liz Dehardt of Newton-Sparta Pediatric Dentristry giving out toothbrush and toothpaste to youngsters
    Liz Dehardt of Newton-Sparta Pediatric Dentristry giving out toothbrush and toothpaste to youngsters
    Rubber duckies on the Wallkill!
    Rubber duckies on the Wallkill!
    Nicole Hartman, left, with her mother Lynne Xhilone
    Nicole Hartman, left, with her mother Lynne Xhilone

By Debra-Ann Kretschmer
Saturday, Sept. 23, was hot and sunny, perfect weather for Sparta Day 2017. Hundreds came out for the event, which had originally been slated for May but was postponed due to rain.
The Junior Woman's Club of Sparta sponsors the annual event.
“What started as a small community gathering has ballooned into the largest event of its kind in Sparta,” said JWCS' Kelly Lucadamo, co-chair of the event. “Sparta Day is the club's largest fundraiser and they expect to raise over $15,000 this year. The money raised is distributed annually to local and national non-profits based on nominations from the Junior Woman’s Club of Sparta’s own club members."
Lucadamo said the JWCS is able to bring Sparta Day to the community due to the generosity of sponsors and 125 vendors, as well as a food court and entertainment. Admission was free and children played for free in Kids Country, an area featuring huge inflatables, games, a photo booth and more.
Kathy and Steve Onoszko are thinking about moving to Sparta and learned about Sparta Day through a Facebook feed. They came out to get a feel of the town with their 10-month old daughter Grace.
Sydney Krudyf was there with her friend Tina Firzlaff. They come every year to get airbrush tattoos and for the food.
“We eat burgers and ice cream,” said Sydney, who attends Sparta Middle School.
There were rows of vendors, offering jewelry, candles, clothing and much more. There were plenty of games, including a dunk tank.
One booth represented The Hope for Ethan Campaign, run by the parents of Ethan Ng, a non-verbal 3-year-old with Autism Spectrum Disorder and ADHD. The Ngs believe a service dog would be a tremendous help for their son and are trying to raise sufficient funds. Their website is www.hopeforethan.org.
Perhaps the most colorful part of this event is the duck derby. The Kiwanis Club of Sparta hosts it, pouring hundreds of rubber duckies into the Wallkill River, with people on the banks rooting for their purchased entry to float across the finish line before the others. There were three races and all had the same prize amounts. First prize was $500 American Express Gift Card; 2nd prize a $200 AMEX Gift Card and 3rd Place a $100 Gift Card.