By Kathy McGrath
After a forced separation of several years, it was obvious Centennial residents were ready to mingle once the good weather hit.
It started with the Waterfront Festival in June. Large crowds appeared at the foot of Port Union Road to enjoy some fun in the park. Kids had a blast on the bouncy castle, enjoyed ice cream treats and candy floss and played with the giant Jenga set. A stellar lineup of musicians kept everyone entertained.
In July, a series of concerts drew people out to the Port Union Community Centre to listen to music outside on the patio. James Funnyhat started things off July 10 with a special afternoon concert for the kids. The children’s entertainer strung the kids along like the pied piper and had them jumping to participate.
A week later, the Climax Jazz band, a regular on the Sunday Concert Series circuit, played for their fans, and they did not disappoint. It sure felt like summer as the Dixieland group played to an enthusiastic crowd in the open air.
Last, but not least, people could not stay in their seats when the Port United Band showed up on July 24. Known for their clever mashups of old and new hits, it was obvious they know how to work a crowd.