Once upon a time, conversations across the back fence were the hallmark of neighborly interaction. Today, though, when even FaceTime happens on a smartphone screen, connecting with the community around us can be difficult. Luckily, Strongsville offers a plethora of annual civic celebrations that bring the back fence back within reach, forging bonds between neighbors and fostering a sense of community closeness.
Memorial Day Parade
Civic celebration season kicks off each year with Memorial Day — when a parade of patriotism meets a somber reminder of those who sacrificed their lives for our nation. Strongsville’s Memorial Day Parade and Celebration takes over Pearl Road with a procession of members of VFW Post 3345, safety forces, local politicians and the Strongsville High School Marching Mustangs band, but the festivities are flanked by commemorative ceremonies at area cemeteries, as well as the main ceremony, immediately after the parade, which took place this year on Strongsville Commons.
As VFW Post 3345 Commander Tim Zvoncheck explains, “My motto at the VFW, as commander, is ‘empowering veterans while strengthening community,’ so my goal is not only to help our veterans and to help our community, but to help our community also understand what the VFW is all about.”
Zvoncheck says he was heartened by the strong attendance at the 2024 parade and is looking forward to next year’s event.
“It made me so happy for this parade, because the weather was questionable,” he says. “We could have had rain at any time — but there were so many families there with little kids, kids in strollers, and it was just wonderful to see that they’re teaching their children the importance of patriotism and what this day is all about.”
People should be aware, he says, that the VFW isn’t just a bar, but a charitable organization and community hub as well.
“I do believe we are the largest membership organization in the city of Strongsville,” he says.
Kids Fest and Duck Race
Volunteer civic, business and arts organizations are behind nearly all the festivals and events that help bring Strongsville together, and proceeds from those events often go toward other causes.
The Rotary Club of Strongsville, for example, presents the Kids Fest and Duck Race that takes place annually at the Chalet in Cleveland Metroparks Mill Stream Run Reservation. This year’s event benefited Camp Cheerful, while past duck races have raised funds to restore the Metroparks’ Wintergreen and Albion cabins.
The Duck Race is kid-centered but offers enjoyment for all ages. The centerpiece sees a flotilla of rubber duckies racing along the East Branch of the Rocky River. Participants can sponsor an individual duck — or an entire fleet to cheer on — and the lucky-duck top five finishers are awarded cash prizes ranging from $200 to $2,000. Pony rides, Touch-a-Truck, food vendors, face-painting, crafts and inflatable obstacle courses round out the bill. Cleveland Metroparks naturalists are also on-hand to educate visitors about the surrounding flora and fauna. Admission is free.
Rotary Club President John Turnbull says the 2024 Duck Race, which took place on June 1, was one of the most successful yet.
“A record number of ducks were sponsored for the duck race,” he says. “We also closed the road in the Metroparks for the first time this year, which improved the safety and efficiency of the shuttle bus stops at the Chalet.”
A variety of community events keeps Strongsville lively, Turnbull says.
“Each of the events that we and the other community groups in the city put on have a slightly different focus,” he says. “All provide that opportunity to get out and meet other members of the community, where the whole focus is to have fun.”
A Day at the Chalet
Another family-friendly event, which takes over the Chalet each year, is A Day at the Chalet, sponsored by Arts in Strongsville. The 2024 edition will take place on Sunday, Sept. 15. It’s an afternoon of hands-on art activities, allowing kids to explore their creativity, and features music and dance performances and more.
Sara Marxen, president of Arts in Strongsville, says A Day at the Chalet has been occurring for 24 years and can draw up to 2,000 visitors.
“The event features something for everyone,” she says. “We invite local crafters to showcase their creative talents and meet new customers. We have a stage of nonstop entertainment, with bands, dancing and art performances for all ages to enjoy. Parents appreciate the free, family fun and get to watch their excited kids create colorful artwork.”
Marxen says this year’s event promises the wide range of entertainment that guests have come to expect, including cultural dancers, a juggler and more.
“We will kick off the event with a special appearance by the Strongsville High School Marching Mustangs,” she says.
Other entertainment includes performances by the Strongsville Mustang Express show choir and an Irish dance group.
Organizers are still finalizing craft activities. “Each year, we try to include new crafts and keep the favorites like sand art and suncatchers,” Marxen notes.
A portion of proceeds benefit scholarships for Strongsville high school seniors who plan to pursue careers in the arts.
Rib Burnoff
Some of the city’s most beloved traditions focus firmly on food, fun and fireworks.
The Strongsville City Club Rib Burnoff is a prime example. Cooking for 38 years now, the Rib Burnoff attracts approximately 10,000 people when the weather cooperates, according to Strongsville City Club President Brian Jungeberg.
“It’s become a little bit of an annual tradition for us,” he says. “We are able to raise a fair amount of money in order for us to do what we do, which is support civic projects [and] other nonprofits in the community.”
The Rib Burnoff runs for three days in mid-June on the Commons, with live music, a kids’ play area, Friday night fireworks and, of course, vendors slinging racks and racks of barbecue ribs, competing for People’s Choice (chosen by festival goers) and Culinary Guild (chosen by a group of judges) awards for Best Ribs and Best Sauce. Admission is $5 for adults and free for active military and kids 10 and under.
Jungeberg says the mix of attractions makes the Rib Burnoff unique.
“People enjoy the fact that they can come, enjoy some really good barbecue, and for five or six years now, the ability to have a nice, cold beer or a seltzer with their barbecue,” he says. “And, of course, have entertainment or the fireworks — the combination of everything makes it a really fun, desirable event.”
The event also features a Saturday afternoon cornhole tournament in partnership with Cleveland Cornhole.
Jungeberg adds that Strongsville’s festivals, including the Rib Burnoff, offer excellent entertainment close to home.
“They do a great job of bringing people into our city from other, surrounding communities, showcasing Strongsville as a whole, but also give a nice, community-centered event you can take your family to,” he says. “It’s a fun night or a fun day out that’s close-by — they don’t have to go Downtown or somewhere else.”
Homecoming
Strongsville Homecoming marks the climax of summer festival season, with four days of carnival rides and games, fair food, music and fireworks.
“The key to the whole event is the great participation we have from our volunteers, who take time off work and time away from their families to show up and man all the booths and make sure everything runs smoothly,” says Tom Burichin, chairman of the Strongsville Chamber of Commerce’s Homecoming Committee.
Strongsville Homecoming 2024 was held July 24-27. The event is free to attend, with ride tickets, games and food available for purchase. Burichin says repeat attendees took a spin on some new rides this year but found plenty of favorite attractions, too.
“We kind of let that be a surprise as the event opens up,” he says. “We have good, quality food, lots of fun games and great entertainment.”
Because Homecoming is free, Burichin says he doesn’t know exactly how many people attend annually, but he estimates that “several thousand” show up each day, and for good reason.
“It gets people together and brings them out to a common area to see all their friends and neighbors, maybe people they don’t necessarily get to socialize with all summer long,” he says.
And that’s important for making a city more than a mere political entity.
“As communities grow and mature and people are busy, and we do so much on the internet and on computers, we lose that face-to-face value,” he says. “I think events like this are extremely important. It brings the community together. (It) lets people socialize, see each other and get out and enjoy the summer weather, the food and the festivities, and enjoy themselves.”
More to Check Out
Don’t miss these other events throughout the year:
• July Fourth Fireworks and Festival
sponsored by the Strongsville Recreation Department
• Harvest Festival and Christmas in the Village
hosted by the Strongsville Historical Society
• Winter Wonderland Lighting Celebration
• Strongfest and Chili Open
organized by the Rotary Club of Strongsville
• Chalk Walk
organized by Arts in Strongsville
• Summer Concerts
featuring the Strongsville Community Band
• Performances by the Strongsville Community Theatre
• Read Around the World
organized by the Strongsville Kiwanis Club
