Out in Lakewood’s Madison Park…

…booths lined up in celebration of the Community Festival…

…where they offered games (Order of the Amaranth)…

…swayed votes (Lakewood Democratic Club)…

…sought out future foster parents (Lakewood Family Collaborative)…

…represented local ethnic communites (TASO)…

…sold books (Lakewood Kiwanis)…

…and gave out plenty of Milk Bones (P.A.W.S.).

You never really knew what a local organization would be selling or offering…

…whether crafts for kids from Lakewood Baptist…

…or Ohio-made salsa from Cove United…

…so it was worth checking out them all.

But even if you didn’t, it was clear that this festival was family-friendly…

…with local businesses that helped inspire future musicians and dancers (Marrell/Silhouette)…

…police who offered record services for the wee ones…

…and the many offerings that included games…

…inflatables…

…animals…

…delicious festival grub (Campbells)…

…and bubbles galore.

But for me…

…I found myself attracted to this pavilion…

…where sections of its borders offered potato pancakes (Transfiguration Parish)…

…Turkish mini burgers…

…and desserts in the forms of baked goods and cupcakes (St. Panteleimon/KB).

I decided to stop at Sts. Peter and Paul…

…where I ordered and paid for two stuffed cabbages…

…but received a generous portion of three!

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