The city of Erlanger said goodbye to summer at Saturday’s Summer Sendoff at Silverlake Park.
The event started at 16.00 and ended with fireworks at 21.30. The weather cooperated perfectly, with an afternoon sunrise and temperatures just right for late summer and early fall.
Covington Mayor Joe Meyer, Erlanger Mayor Jessica Fette and Independence Mayor Chris Reinersman agreed to put their faces on chocolate brownies to compete for the title of fastest food on Saturday at the Summer Sendoff event. Photo by Trisha Scheyer | Affiliate LINK from nky
Mayors Joe Meyer, Jessica Fette and Chris Reinersman make chocolate upside down cakes for a contest and lots of fun. Photo by Trisha Scheyer | Affiliate LINK from nky
A messy contest for mayors. Photo by Trisha Scheyer | Affiliate LINK from nky
Whose face is the messiest? Photo by Trisha Scheyer | Affiliate LINK from nky
Counselors Tyson Hermes and Steven Doan show that you have to get bad to compete to win. Photo by Trisha Scheyer | Affiliate LINK from nky
“Once again, this was a Friendship City celebration for the whole family,” said Erlanger Mayor Jessica Fette. “This year the weather is phenomenal! And I think we have a bit of covid behind us at this point, last year was a bit more worrying, and this time everyone is so relaxed and ready to go back to our normal fun activities coming together as a community. And besides, we’ve done it before. I told Tyson (Hermes) this morning, this is like a well-oiled machine.”
Councilwoman Rebecca Reckers laughs too much to eat. Photo by Trisha Scheyer | Affiliate LINK from nky
Laughter is the name of the game and a good time is had by all. Photo by Trisha Scheyer | Affiliate LINK from nky
Councilwoman Diana Niceley wonders if the win is worth it. Photo by Trisha Scheyer | Affiliate LINK from nky
There were so many things going on at the same time – a definition of a party to say goodbye to the summer holidays.
Starting at 4pm, the band Moonshine Drive started playing music. They weren’t the only group that played. From 19.00 to 22.00 the headliner, a band called DV8, took to the stage.
Independence Mayor Chris Reinersman debates how long he’ll have chocolate in his nose. Photo by Trisha Scheyer | Affiliate LINK from nky
Covington Mayor Joe Meyer might have been the neatest contestant, he just smeared chocolate on his chin. Photo by Trisha Scheyer | Affiliate LINK from nky
The kids had activities designed especially for them, plus Cincinnati Circus brought their bounce houses so the kids could get as wild as they wanted.
Two girls compete in the coney eating contest. Photo by Trisha Scheyer | Affiliate LINK from nky
Mason Gillespie, 10, pokes the coneys. Photo by Trisha Scheyer | Affiliate LINK from nky
Brandon McCubbin of Burlington methodically eats 3 3/4 cones. Photo by Trisha Scheyer | Affiliate LINK from nky
And Brandon McCubbin wins a Skyline gift card. Photo by Trisha Scheyer | Affiliate LINK from nky
Cincinnati Circus also offered stunt shows, at 4, 6, and 8 p.m., which drew event-goers to watch and marvel.
Mayor Jessica Fette shoots T-shirts into the crowd of kids. Photo by Trisha Scheyer | Affiliate LINK from nky
A fan tries to see if he can grab a shirt. Photo by Trisha Scheyer | Affiliate LINK from nky
Father and daughter watch eating contests. Photo by Trisha Scheyer | Affiliate LINK from nky
Arts and crafts stalls with activities and gifts for guests.
But the contests took center stage.
The children greet the master of ceremonies of the stunt show with enthusiasm. Photo by Trisha Scheyer | Affiliate LINK from nky
Councilors Rebecca Reckers and Tyson Hermes check in with Mayor Fette, with Joe Daughtery of Public Works. Photo by Trisha Scheyer | Affiliate LINK from nky
At six o’clock, the contestants gathered to see who was the best at eating the most Skyline coneys. Eleven contestants sat down with four cheese cones in front of them and a bottle of water, including a ten-year-old named Mason Gillespie who was definitely in it to win it.
The band Moonshine Drive plays some of his music. Photo by Trisha Scheyer | Affiliate LINK from nky
He didn’t do it. Burlington’s Brandon McCubbin finished 3 3/4 coneys to win.
Immediately following the emergency was the rerun of the Colonial Cottage Memorial Pie Eating Contest. Matt Grimes, the owner of the Colonial Cottage, once again offered chocolate cakes.
Mayor Jessica Fette gives Mayor Chris Reinersman a hug after the pie eating contest. Photo by Trisha Scheyer | Affiliate LINK from nky
Mayor Joe Meyer helps Mayor Jessica Fette clear some of the chocolate. Photo by Trisha Scheyer | Affiliate LINK from nky
Mayors from three cities competed for the title: Mayor Chris Reinersman of Independence, Mayor Joe Meyer of Covington and Mayor Fette of Erlanger, along with four Erlanger councilmen, Rebecca Reckers, Jennifer Jasper Lucas, Tyson Hermes and Steven Doan. Tyson Hermes won last year.
“This is such a special event for Erlanger, being able to share it with our neighbors and friends in Independence and Covington makes it even better,” Fette said.
Contestants take a group photo after the pie eating contest. Photo by Trisha Scheyer | Affiliate LINK from nky
Children compete to see who can put the ball in the hoop. Photo by Trisha Scheyer | Affiliate LINK from nky
The cakes were not full size last year, but this year the contestants were given full size cakes. The partially eaten cakes were judged and Tyson Hermes was declared the winner.
Again.
Many of the contestants were laughing too hard to eat them. Reinersman said he had so much chocolate in his nose that he would blow his nose all week.
Food trucks are always a big hit. Photo by Trisha Scheyer | Affiliate LINK from nky
Mayor Fette prepares for the coney eating contest. Photo by Trisha Scheyer | Affiliate LINK from nky
Hawthorne Reckers enjoy some ice at the festival. Photo by Trisha Scheyer | Affiliate LINK from nky
In a surprise move, Fette said Bill Wulfeck, who will be announced as Erlanger’s new CAO, would judge the pie-eating contest, his first official assignment for the city.
