Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
FINO ROVERATO, left, plays with the band Xtra Saturday night at Festival Ironwood. Other members performing in the band included John Kimball on bass, Sarah Eder on vocals and Mike Armata on drums. Roverato is an Ironwood native who went on to perform with a number of national acts. Todd Maki provided the photo.
By RICHARD JENKINS
Ironwood - The dance floor under the big top was full Saturday night as Xtra played a variety of classic rock hits to close out Festival Ironwood's Saturday activities.
The local band was joined by Fino Roverato - an Ironwood native who went on to perform with Frankie Valli, Jay and the Americans, the Smothers Brothers, Three Dogs Night and other famous acts.
Roverato delighted the hometown crowd with his guitar solos in his first visit back to the area in 39 years.
"It really touches my heart to be back," Roverato said, adding he had meant to visit earlier and as sorry he waited so long to come home.
He said his visit gave him the chance to visit his old haunts and reconnect with old classmates, where the friendships "can pick up right where you left off."
Roverato said he wasn't the only musician in his family, as his dad also played music and he is a cousin of Galaxies member Danny Sullivan.
Festival Ironwood co-chair Will Corcoran estimated Saturday's crowd was probably, "The most people we've ever had down here."
Prior to Xtra's performance, festival attendees heard the ever-popular Marty's Goldenaires Drum and Bugle Corps.
Saturday's activities also included the annual Old Depot Car Show and cruise through downtown Ironwood, volleyball and pool tournaments, a strawberry social, Leonard Street reunion and the Festival Ironwood arts and craft show.
Organizer Mary Hampston Kusz said this year's craft show had over 60 vendors, which was another Festival Ironwood record.
Even with Friday's rain and overcast skies carrying over to Saturday morning and afternoon, festival organizers said they were pleased with how this year's festival turned out.
"We found out how we handle adversity, because we had rain all day Friday and we still had a really good day. Everybody showed up and supported it," Corcoran said. "(We're) very happy and thankful for the way people supported it."
"We had a great Wednesday, great Thursday, Friday was a little down but it was still very good, and yesterday was fantastic," he said.
Now in it's 26th year, Corcoran credited the numerous volunteers for making the multi-day event possible.
"They are the single biggest part of the festival," Corcoran said.
Corcoran's co-chair, Keith Johnson, echoed that sentiment earlier in the week.
"We can't do this without the volunteers," Johnson said Friday. "We get people who take events, take activities, and just run with them."
It costs around $22,000 to put the multi-day festival on, according to Corcoran, with the money taken in going to fund next year's event.
"We actually shoot to try and break even," he said, adding fundraisers such as the annual steak feed also helps fund the festival. "Any money we make we buy new tables, new chairs, volleyball nets. All the money goes right back into it."
While Saturday was the festival's biggest day, there were also several events scheduled to take place Sunday - including the Range Art Association's art show in the Ironwood Memorial Building and Range Fest, sponsored by Range Community Bible Church.
