Just a day after finding out details of this summer's Jazzfest, Onondaga County and Galaxy Communications announced on Tuesday a new festival for Central New York families to attend. It’s called "Leon Day" which is meant to be "Noel” backwards…and it will take place in Onondaga Lake ParkJune 25th, halfway to Christmas. And parents of younger children might be familiar with the music.
The popular youth group Kidz-Bopis expected to be the main draw, along with face painting, bouncy-houses and other family related activities. Galaxy'sEd Levine says it’s taking the place of a holiday-time event they used to put on…but keeping some of the theme.
“We’ll have all kinds of Christmas and holiday characters out there. We’re going to drop the giant orange ball we typically drop at First Night on New Year’s Eve. We’re going to drop it half way down, because we’re halfway to Christmas. So that should be a great event.”
Levine says the last two years their First Night event on New Year’s Eve had poor attendance because it was bitterly cold. The event will be hosted by Onondaga Lake Park…but the county is not otherwise financially supporting it. Levine says Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital and Wegmans are sponsors, otherwise Galaxy is footing the rest of the estimated 50-thousand dollar cost. The Leon Day Festival will run from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and end with fireworks, June 25th.
