BARBERTON: Partly by design, partly by coincidence, Barberton has four distinct events colliding into one bustling weekend that will have downtown hopping.
Festivities kick off Friday afternoon with the induction of four more honorees on the Walk of Fame, then swing right into Tuscany on Tusc, a wine-food-and-music affair that will unveil the city’s new downtown canopy of lights.
Both events run parallel with Barberton Fourth Friday, a monthly event in which business owners in the arts and entertainment district stay open late to offer special deals and activities.
Then Saturday and Sunday, Lake Anna Park will show off its colorful wardrobe for Mum Fest 2016, featuring everything from water ski shows and a canoe race to music, food and the million-bloom flower display.
Here’s more on all four events:
Walk of Fame
In March, the city celebrated its 125th birthday by installing the first six honorees in a new Walk of Fame. Living inductees and family members of posthumous winners flew in from both coasts for an event that included traditional speeches and Barberton High School band music.
But it was always the city’s intent to time the inductions with Mum Fest week, so this month the event will fall into its proper schedule with the induction of four more hometown heroes at 5 p.m. Friday in front of the Lake 8 Movies Theatre on West Tuscarawas Avenue.
The walk is Barberton’s spin on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame and includes large plaques embedded in the sidewalk featuring residents that made a significant impact in their community or their chosen careers.
The second class of nominees include:
• Arthur “A.O.” Austin (1879-1964), an inventor and one of the pioneers of high-voltage transformers, insulators and lightning effects on power transmission lines.
• Roy Burton (1897-1987), who broke through racial barriers to become the city’s first black councilman in 1955, serving three terms. The Georgia native also served on the Barberton Board of Education in the 1960s, becoming the first black member of a school board in Summit County.
• Glenn “Jeep” Davis (1934-2009), who won three Olympic gold medals in track and field before becoming a local teacher and coach.
• Esther Ryan, a retired school nurse and humanitarian who partnered with Magic City Kiwanis in the 1990s to create the Esther Ryan Shoe Fund for children in need.
Tuscany on Tusc
Attending the Walk of Fame ceremony? Stick around. The city is installing a canopy of lights across a portion of West Tuscarawas Avenue, and it will be illuminated for the first time at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
As part of the occasion, the second class of the Barberton Community Leadership Institute will host Tuscany on Tusc, an event modeled after Taste of Akron and featuring wine, beer, food and music on the closed street near the Lake 8 theatre.
From 5:30 to 9 p.m., participants can purchase tickets to exchange for the food and beverages, with proceeds to benefit the leadership class scholarship fund.
Fourth Friday
Downtown businesses stay open late on the fourth Friday of each month while featuring live musicians, art demonstrations or tours of their historic buildings.
Stroll along Tuscarawas from 5 to 9 p.m. to explore all the action.
Mum Fest 2016
Some 17,000 chrysanthemums creating a million colorful blooms is what makes the Mum Fest one of biggest events in southern Summit County each year.
This year’s tradition will keep revelers busy from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Along with the mum display on the northeast corner of Lake Anna Park, Saturday events include the Diaper Derby Dash at 11 a.m., water ski shows from noon to 4:30 p.m., Akron Zoo animals at the gazebo from noon to 2 p.m., a canoe race at 3:30 p.m. and roving and musical acts at the gazebo throughout the day.
On Sunday, the schedule includes more water ski shows from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., balloon art at the gazebo from noon to 2 p.m. and more musical acts throughout the afternoon.
There is also a Barberton Library Book Sale both days, a swiss steak dinner at Lakeview United Methodist Church on Saturday afternoon, a Barberton Kiwanis Silent Auction both days at the Masonic Temple and a variety of children’s activities near the gazebo.
Off-site parking will be available at Barberton Middle School, 477 Fourth St. NW, with free shuttles leaving every 15 minutes. Admission is free.
Paula Schleis can be reached at 330-996-3741.