The Olde Tyme Summer Festival

In 1995, three local business owners pooled $500 together not knowing the inaugural Olde Tyme Summer Festival would become the foundation of a revitalization of Brand Park and the community surrounding it.  The Christmas House co-owner Julie Delgrosso explains "Part of the purpose of the festival is to encourage our neighbors to walk around the neighborhoods and see what we have to offer, both architecturally and in terms of business."

The three initial businesses played an integral role in building this community as Dan Bradley explains "The festival is a business promotion to create a community event and spur some interest in the Southside." 

Inaugural events available to the community to include: 

• Maple Avenue Antiques (Harold & Winnie Watts) - hosted an Antique show on the shops lawn. 
• The Christmas House (Mark & Julie Delgrosso) - hosted the classic car show.
• Bradley Farms (Dan Bradley) - hosted musical guests, farm equipment displays and a miniature gold tournament. 

With each passing year, interest in the festival continued "It's grown and grown and grown, It's not that we make a lot of money but it's a good thing for the area, and you see people you haven't seen in years. You know, 'Hi! How are you?' Good time, you know. And it's really nice," said Winnie Watts.

In fact, the festival became so big, a larger venue was needed and Winnie Watts pondered "Brand Park is such a beautiful place, why don't we do some kind of festival over there?"  In the coming years the Brand Park Task Force was created to revitalize Brand Park and then the Brand Park Beautification Committee was created to maintain the Park.

In 2002, The Brand Park Beautification Committee took over the planning and preparation of the Olde Tyme Summer Festival with a large array of events and activities including: 

• Crafts & Vendors
• Classic Car Show
• Historic Trolley Tour
• Food
• Firetruck Rides
• Games, Blow Ups, Slides, Face Painting
• Musical Guests
• Much more...