It is hard to believe that summer is flying by so quickly. In a small village like Cayuga, one might think that there is not much going on; on the contrary, much is happening.

The village of Cayuga's Sesquicentennial committee has been hard at work for the last 10 months planning its three-day 150th anniversary celebration. The Cayuga Sesquicentennial will take place this coming weekend. Harris Park, located on beautiful Cayuga Lake, will be home to a number of entertainment acts, vendors and crafters. There will be food/drink, crafts and legal beverages for sale throughout the weekend. Entertainment will include storytellers, jazz, blues, bluegrass and folk rock music, to name just a few.

There will be something for everyone. Just want to relax? Bring your picnic basket and swim suits and enjoy Harris Park Beach while listening to the many musical acts.

The celebration kicks off on Friday with the Cayuga Bridge Mile Run. This is a one-mile run open to adults and children; all are welcome to participate. Registration for the run will take place at 5:30 p.m. at McIntosh Park; the cost of registration is $14. At 7 p.m. there will be an opening ceremony at Harris Park followed by musical entertainment with Donna Colton at 8 p.m.

Events begin at 11 a.m. Saturday. Harris Park will be jammin' with activity and entertainment throughout the day, including a two-man yellow submarine on display and the Cayuga County Sheriff's department will be on hand with its Safe Child ID program. Classic cars will be on display at McIntosh Park. There will be a self-guided walking tours of historical homes in our village, as well as our cemetery, which has monuments dating back to the Revolutionary War. The Village Office will be open with an exhibit of local historical documents. The parade begins at 7 p.m.; children are welcome to come in costume and march. Line-up for the parade will take place at Cayuga Elementary School (please be there by 6:30 p.m.). After the parade, there will be more musical entertainment at Harris Park, followed by fireworks.

Sunday the festivities begin at noon. The historical walking tours will continue, as well as the musical entertainment, crafters and vendors. The celebration will come to a close at 5 p.m.

Cayuga's past is a long and storied one. Once a hub of activity and enterprise, Cayuga was home to the first county jail, located under the Cayuga Bridge; the first county courthouse, and many taverns and businesses. People came to the village via stagecoach, train and canal boats. Cayuga is truly a place of historical significance. The Historical Committee has spent many painstaking hours researching and compiling information on our vast and extensive history.

Come visit us, and view a window to the past of our “little” village. Enjoy all we have to offer. It is these types of events that enrich and invigorate our communities and where the past meets the present.

We hope to see you in Cayuga.

Helen Day is a village trustee for the Village of Cayuga.

If you go

What: Village of Cayuga's Sesquicentennial celebration

When: 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 3; 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 4, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 5

Where: Village of Cayuga; parking available at Cayuga Elementary School with a bus shuttle available to Harris Park

For details: Call Jackie Komanecky at 252-3062 or Helen Day at 252-8681