By Sandy Greene
For the Salisbury Post
CLEVELAND Hot air balloons, dancers, games, jokers (many being West Rowan Highs standout players and coaches) being dunked, children and even a group of loud motorcycles.
It was all of this and more Saturday at Clevelands Annual Spring Festival.
Mary Frank Frankie Fleming-Adkins, town commissioner, said the day could not have been any better for the event. The weather, with a slight breeze, made it perfect for the balloons to take to the sky. The balloons got rained out a year ago.
Vera Avery witnessed the first show of balloons at 7 a.m. while sitting on her porch with her nephew who she wrapped in a blanket.
It was beautiful, she said.
The balloons kicked off the event but there was so much more to follow.
Little dancers from To The Point Dance Co. performed a number for the crowd with pots and wooden spoons. They were a hit. And so were the older girls who followed with their tough girl routine.
Dana Ribelin, owner of the dance company, said this was the second time her girls have performed for the festival. The girls enjoy it, she said. And it gives the younger girls a chance to perform for the community and prepare for their recital coming up.
Throughout the day on the same stage, there was a K-9 demonstration with Salisbury Police Officer Mark Shore and his dog, Jagger, the West Rowan Middle and High school bands, and the Wagon Wheel Cloggier.
Raeyven Hobbs, 8, stood in line with her aunt, Kim Sides, for her chance to skyrocket on the Flying Flex. Raeyven was looking forward to the other activities of the day, but when asked her favorite, she said, Im going to say its that, as she pointed to one kid jumping high in the air.
Sides came with her mother, Linda Rogers, who was standing near the inflated dinosaur bouncing apparatus with her grandson, Tristan, Raeyvens brother. He loves dinosaurs, Sides said. Saturday was the first time the family came to the festival. It was a good day to come, she said.
Another 8-year-old, Xavier McLaughlin, had other things on his mind. He wasnt anxious to fly high but to make someone fall. McLaughlin took his chance at the Dunk the Joker booth.
At the time, Taylor Stricklin, a West Rowan High basketball player, was the joker. A wet joker to be exact because when little Xavier threw the baseballs and came short from hitting the target, he ran up to it and hit it with his hand. I kept on missing it, he said. But then I just pushed it. I liked getting wet.
Coach Todd Bell and Leigh Graham ran the booth for the West Rowan Boosters Club. Its been a good first year experience, Graham said.
Also Saturday, a ceremony was performed by Rolling Thunder, a prisoner of war and missing in action awareness group. They recognized 44 missing from each branch of the military who were from the Rowan County area. Cheryl Penn said they wanted people to realize there are still some missing.
The group rode in the festival on motorcycles but Penn said they are not a motorcycle club. We just use the bikes to make some noise and bring attention. People need to know our military is fighting for our freedom. We are here at home, but they are the ones taking the bullets.
Fleming-Adkins said the town was glad to have the group. She said it helps people remember what Memorial Day is about.
Later in the day, another balloon launch and balloon glow were scheduled, followed by fireworks. We always have fireworks at the end, Fleming-Adkins said.
According to Fleming-Adkins, between 2,000 and 3,000 people have attended the festival each year. We hope to top that this year, she said.
She said the town works to make members of the community aware that the park is there to enjoy. A lot of people still dont realize we have the park here, she said.
This is nice, she said of the festival. Its just something we do for the community.