Hundreds delight in 100th Falls cake walk
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NEWTON FALLS – Hundreds of adults and children lined Broad Street in downtown Newton Falls for a chance to win one of more than 150 cakes and other goodies at the 100th annual Newton Falls Kiwanis cake walk.
Adam Zimmermann, president of the Newton Falls Kiwanis, said participants have loved the fundraising event for years with the chance to win cakes as well as prizes in the Halloween costume contests.
Zimmermann said the cake walk involves people walking to music played by DJ Bob Burke, a local councilman, and when the music stops, a horn is blown and whoever is under one of six arches along the road wins a cake.
Before the start of the walk, the Newton Falls High School Band dressed in costumes performed several songs followed by the costume contests with various categories.
“We were very pleased with the turnout. The cake walk takes about an hour or more with more people taking part this year. The children all love this. After they can go trick-or-treating,” Zimmermann said.
Members of the Kiwanis said they remember when people used to bring homemade cakes with the cakes now purchased from local stores.
The Kiwanis member stand by the arches to monitor who is under each when the horn is blown. The winners are given a ticket for a cake.
Stephanie Uber of Newton Falls, who was dressed as Wilma Flinsttone, said her family dressed as the characters from television’s “The Flintstones.”
“This is a great community outreach event. This is our third year to be part of the cake walk. We won a cake last year,” Uber said.
Jason Uber was dressed as Fred Flintstone while Luciana, 10, was Pepples and Vincenzo, 6, was Bam Bam. Braceville resident Kathy Howell joined the family as Betty Rubble.
Erica Mills of Cuyahoga Falls who visits an aunt in Newton Falls and takes part in the cake walk was one the lucky participants being under an arch when the horn was blown.
“This is awesome. I love getting a cake every year. I always look for a cake that look good or cute,” she said.
Sherry Six of Newton Falls and Herman Horkey of Newton Falls came dressed as the front and back ends of inflatible horse as they walked around the street hoping to win a prize.
“I have been in the cake walk before and talked him into coming today. This is his first time here,” Six said.
Charlotte McCurdy of Newton Falls said she has lived in the community for 30 years and occasionally has come to the cake walk.
Mayor David Hanson attended the event and noted his own children used to take part when they were younger.
“My kids used to love this. This is a nice small town event that you don’t often get to see in bigger towns,” he said.
Tom Colossimo, a local businessman, said the cake walk helps the local businesses along the block with participants stopping in to look around and purchase items.
“This is a big turnout this year. The Kiwanis are very generous and give back to the schools with books and backpacks and scholarships,” he said.
Zimmermann said what is important is how the funds raised from the cake walk are given back to the community.
He said the Kiwanis will hand out books to first and second graders during the school year.