LACEY – After being postponed because of rain, Lacey Day came back to town under clear skies. Members of the local community and neighbors enjoyed an afternoon of fun at Gille Park. The event, which ran from noon to 4 p.m., showcased local culture, businesses, and family-friendly activities.
Children enjoyed bouncing on large inflatables while attendees sampled a variety of food from local vendors, including pizza, cheesesteaks, ice cream, and fresh lemonade. Civic groups and local political clubs set up booths to engage with the community, and participants also visited the Lacey Historical Society to learn about the area’s rich history.
Music filled the air as adults and youngsters took the opportunity to chat with first responders and tour their equipment.
Deputy Mayor Peter Curatolo, a strong advocate for the event, highlighted the importance of supporting local businesses and celebrating Lacey’s culture. “Lacey Day is a celebration of our culture, family, and friends, and a time to celebrate our local businesses,” he said. “These are Lacey families that are deeply woven into the fabric of our community.”
Lacey Day has a long and storied history, dating back to the late seventies. In 1979, the event was held in Clune Park, where a one-mile fun run concluded at the fair. The original concept was to bring the community together as a town-wide picnic.
Over the years, Lacey Day changed locations, moving to William Hebrew Park in 1983. By 1995, the event changed exponentially. It became a multi-day event that was always held in August and hosted at the local high school before settling at its current venue at Gille Park.
Past Lacey Day celebrations have included races, flea markets, car shows, and family picnics. In 2000, the event was canceled due to a lack of volunteers, leading to uncertainty about its future. It was brought back in 2001 thanks to community efforts and attracted over 10,000 attendees who enjoyed the carnival-like atmosphere for three days.
By 2005, budgetary constraints forced government officials to reduce Lacey Day from three days to one. At a request from the Apple Festival in 2017, the two events merged to change the date to the last weekend in September.
Curatolo sees the event as a time for families to get together and is happy that the community has the opportunity to enjoy the park setting. Children hit the swings and slides while they visited Lacey Day as their parents watched them have good old fashioned fun.
“We have the best parks in the county,” said Curatolo. “I’ve even conducted weddings at our waterfront parks.”
