Sunbury Sizzle & Sound just around the bend

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It was only a few years ago the Teresa Dronsfield gained approval from Sunbury Village Council to hold a late August food and music festival — Sunbury Sizzle & Sounds — on Sunbury Village Square.

Unbeknownst to Dronsfield, Jane White, then-owner of Mudflats Bar & Grill, had received a nod of approval from Galena council for the Greater Galena Civic Association to hold Galena Summerfest on the same date.

It could have been a scheduling disaster, until Dronsfield and White put their heads together, made lemonade by joining the two festivals via a shuttle bus, and what began as an accident turned into a Big Walnut-area end-of-summer staple.

Affectionately known as “Dos Festivals,” Sunbury Sizzle & Sounds and Galena Summerfest drew better than expected crowds; and both festivals return this year from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27.

Leadership has changed. White sold Mudflats and is less involved in Galena Civic Association events.

Sizzle & Sounds, now under the Big Walnut Civic Association umbrella, is co-chaired by Dronsfield, owner of the Giant Lemonade Cup concession, Cindy Erndt, a member of the Sunbury/Big Walnut Area Chamber of Commerce board of directors, and Sunbury fiscal officer Kathy Belcher.

Both festivals have outdoor beer gardens – Galena Summerfest all day long, Sunbury Sizzle & Sounds from 2 until 10:30 p.m.; and both festivals are served by a 55-passenger air-conditioned coach for shuttling between Sunbury and Galena – and rides are free.

“We owe the success and growth of Sizzle & Sounds largely in part to the creation of the Big Walnut Civic Association,” Dronsfield said. “Kathy Belcher, Cindy Erndt and myself are the official committee, but we couldn’t do it alone. We have amazing people in place to ensure that all areas of Sizzle runs smoothly. We look forward of the support of the community and a day filled with friends, music and sunny skies.”

Dronsfield said sponsorships for Sunbury Sizzle & Sounds are still available. For sponsorship information, go to sunburysizzleandsounds.com. At the top of the page, click “More,” then click “Vendors & Sponsors.”

By Lenny C. Lepola

For The Gazette

Lenny C. Lepola can be reached at 614-266-6093. Email: [email protected].

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