Williamsville, N.Y. (WBEN) - For the 53rd year in-a-row, Jolly Boys of Williamsville will be hosting "Old Home Days" on Island Park in the Village of Williamsville. Each year, the festival is the organization’s largest fundraiser, with all proceeds going to support youth organizations in Williamsville and the Town of Amherst.
The festivities officially kick off Tuesday afternoon in Williamsville at 5 p.m., followed by the opening day parade at 6 p.m.
"We're happy to be able to put the event on again this year," said Dan Rizzo, chair of the Old Home Days festival. "This is actually our 53rd year of doing the event, it's been growing every year. The community is always very excited to be able to come out and enjoy the festivities, so we're very happy to be able to do that."
All the funds that Jolly Boys raises from the four-day event in Williamsville will go right back to the community in various forms.
"Last year, we put in a $7,000 swing at Williamsville Playground. This year, we're partnering with the Town of Amherst, there's a new playground going at North Forest Pool, we're investing into that also," Rizzo said with WBEN.
"To be able to give back to the community, to be able to do this, raise the funds to be able to support our youth of Amherst, and hope that they'll realize what we do, and as they grow up, they want to give back someday too."
There's a number of different elements to this year's Old Home Days festival that will be enticing to those attending.
"Basically, they can expect good weather. It's going to be hot and sunny, so we're really happy about that," Rizzo noted. "The rides that all the the children enjoy are back. We have additional food vendors this year - ice cream, donuts, pizza, chicken souvlaki, beef brisket. So we have everything the community really enjoys. It's all back again this year."
One concern for Old Home days, which has been a continued concern over the years is public safety, especially after years of fights breaking out, especially among the youth, at the festival. Rizzo says security measures have been improved once again to ensure all festivalgoers will have a safe and pleasant time.
"The Amherst Police Department has their command post on site, there's plenty of officers on the island. We've also contracted with Tarian Security, who brings in guards that will walk around, help monitor," he said. "Also you'll see going up is a tower cam with facial recognition. We're pretty much on top of everything. We control the island with the bridge that people come on and go off, so at any time if there's issues, we can close the island off. We've done quite a bit of planning with the police department, they're a great partner. It's a great thing to have on site."
This year will be the second year the Old Home Days festival will see the surveillance tower being used, which Rizzo feels worked very well to deter any violence from breaking out at the festival.
"We didn't need it, but we had it if we did need it. So we felt it was important to have it here again," Rizzo added. "And there are other items that could be brought in if there are security issues to help control crowds and things like that, that we have planned if we need them. So I think families can come out and enjoy a good time and not have to worry."
More details for this year's event can be found on the festival's website:
Festivities begin Tuesday at 5 p.m. and continue through Friday night
Festivities begin Tuesday at 5 p.m. and continue through Friday night
