UNION SPRINGS - On Sunday, oldies ranging from “Kung Fu Fighting” to “Old Time Rock and Roll” set the tempo at Frontenac Park Fun Day as visitors admired more than 50 antique cars and a 13 foot Burmese python.
Jill Connor / The Citizen
Ruth Jackson, 5, of Union Springs, bounces inside an enclosed inflatable tent with other children at the Frontenac Fun Day in Union Springs, on Sunday, at Frontenac Park.
Ruth Jackson, 5, of Union Springs, bounces inside an enclosed inflatable tent with other children at the Frontenac Fun Day in Union Springs, on Sunday, at Frontenac Park.
Ralph Contreras, the owner of a 1957 Chevy four-door hard-top Bel Air, said his car brought back memories from when he purchased a similar vehicle as his first car in 1964. Contreras sold the car when he joined the Air Force later that year.
“It's nostalgia,” Contreras said when he explained his love for the vehicle. “My friends and I use to race our cars, or we would go to the custard stand or the drive-in movies. They were all good times.”
Contreras said he still took the car to ice cream parlors, just now he shares the experience with his grandchildren.
Warren Albecht, who helped organize the 10th annual event that was sponsored by the Union Springs Lions Club, said the car show was one of many attractions aimed at bringing out the community to help raise money for nonprofit organizations.
“It's been slow growing but its been steady growing,” Albecht said as he pointed to the single antique boat parked on the grass. “We need to promote the antique boats more. Right now it's more of a classic car show instead of a car and boat show. They really do love it out here though, parking next to the lake with Frontenac Island in the background.”
In addition to looking at cars, people got to play in a softball tournament, participate in a duck race, shop at various flea market stands or pet some exotic animals from Max Man Reptile Rescue.
“It's all a mixed bag of fun for all of our residents today,” Albecht said.
Highlighting the reptiles on display was Dante, a 13-foot long, 70-pound python, who made headlines last June when someone vandalized his cage, setting him loose in Jordan.
“He only went about 50 yards across the canal where he was found sunbathing,” said Diana Sleiertin, Dante's owner.
Despite his size, Sleiertin said Dante was harmless and encouraged everyone to come up and pet him.
As children crowded around Dante and reached in to touch his scaly body, the metallic thud of a bat sending a ball deep into center field could be heard coming from the eight-team softball tournament close by.
Eric Wilson, a member of a team who lost in the tournament's opening round, said he would love to come back and play again.
“We did good, we had a home run,” Wilson said. “But we knew it was over when they scored 15 runs in the first inning. We came back at the end but we still lost by eight. But what matters is we had a lot of fun here.”
Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net
“It's nostalgia,” Contreras said when he explained his love for the vehicle. “My friends and I use to race our cars, or we would go to the custard stand or the drive-in movies. They were all good times.”
Contreras said he still took the car to ice cream parlors, just now he shares the experience with his grandchildren.
Warren Albecht, who helped organize the 10th annual event that was sponsored by the Union Springs Lions Club, said the car show was one of many attractions aimed at bringing out the community to help raise money for nonprofit organizations.
“It's been slow growing but its been steady growing,” Albecht said as he pointed to the single antique boat parked on the grass. “We need to promote the antique boats more. Right now it's more of a classic car show instead of a car and boat show. They really do love it out here though, parking next to the lake with Frontenac Island in the background.”
In addition to looking at cars, people got to play in a softball tournament, participate in a duck race, shop at various flea market stands or pet some exotic animals from Max Man Reptile Rescue.
“It's all a mixed bag of fun for all of our residents today,” Albecht said.
Highlighting the reptiles on display was Dante, a 13-foot long, 70-pound python, who made headlines last June when someone vandalized his cage, setting him loose in Jordan.
“He only went about 50 yards across the canal where he was found sunbathing,” said Diana Sleiertin, Dante's owner.
Despite his size, Sleiertin said Dante was harmless and encouraged everyone to come up and pet him.
As children crowded around Dante and reached in to touch his scaly body, the metallic thud of a bat sending a ball deep into center field could be heard coming from the eight-team softball tournament close by.
Eric Wilson, a member of a team who lost in the tournament's opening round, said he would love to come back and play again.
“We did good, we had a home run,” Wilson said. “But we knew it was over when they scored 15 runs in the first inning. We came back at the end but we still lost by eight. But what matters is we had a lot of fun here.”
Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net
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Marsha wrote on Aug 25, 2008 3:00 PM:
maxmanreptiles wrote on Aug 25, 2008 1:01 PM:
The kids and adults even enjoyed a round of sinking the Reptile Lady and Junkanoo, the lizard, in the dunk tank, with proceeds going to the Lions Club.
We hope that next year, you'll join us at the Frontenac Fun Days to enjoy all the wonderful festival has to offer. But why wait a year, feel free to join us and learn about our animals at the upcoming Tomatofest in Auburn.
MaxMan Reptile Rescue "
Marsha wrote on Aug 25, 2008 8:14 AM: