Rich Fink ran a booth for the first time this year at Summer Fest with his dad, Rich; his mom, Debbie; and his sister, Charitee. They sold popcorn, candy apples and cotton candy, and held a goldfish game for prizes.
Fink said he was impressed with the festival.
“They got a lot of people to show up here and a lot of different vendors,” said Fink, a part-time Brookfield firefighter. “It was amazing how many types of vendors they got for being a smaller festival. It’s amazing to see this type of turnout from our community.”
Jeff Rodburn of Big Paws Puppy Treats
Jeff Rodburn and his wife, Kim, of Fowler, have sold Big Paws Puppy Treats for four years at Summer Fest.
“It’s been a good year,” at Summer Fest, Rodburn said, noting a mix of repeat and new customers. “It’s a nice two days. It’s well-organized. We never had any issues.”
Summer Fest attracted some non-Brookfield residents for events such as the Brookfield Fallen Firefighters Foundation’s Waterball Challenge, which tested the hose-handling skills of several fire departments.
“We came to see the firefighters’ water battle,” said Erin Gorgie of Austintown. “We just thought the kids would think it was cool.”
The kids were Aaidan Cafarelli, 9, and Ian Carafelli, 8, sons of Gorgie’s best friend, Amara Chance of Austintown.
“I love it, the firemen and the crafts,” Ian said, adding that he planned to go into the bounce house.
“We don’t have anything like this in Austintown or Youngstown,” Gorgie said. “It’s a nice community day.”
Editor’s note: For more, read companion piece “Summer Fest 2018 is best yet.”
Brittany Williams helps her niece, Bailee, 3, and daughter, Gabriella, 2, blow bubbles,
