Home Days returns to Brecksville Square June 24-26

It’s safe to say there’s no bash in Brecksville that’s quite like Brecksville Home Days.

The 2022 big Home Days celebration on the Square in Brecksville will take place Friday, June 24, from 5-11 p.m.; Saturday, June 25 from 3-11 p.m.; and Sunday, June 26 from 3 p.m. to after the fireworks.

Traffic issues

Consequently there will be a disruption in the normal flow of traffic and the availability of parking on and near the square.

Stadium Drive, in front of the Brecksville United Methodist Church will be closed the entire week of June 20 for construction. Beginning at 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 23, “Short” Stadium Drive in front of the Red Brick House will be closed to traffic. Each street will remain closed until the early morning hours of Monday, June 27.

Barriers will be erected at Rt. 82 and “Short” Stadium Drive, Route 21 and “long” Stadium Drive and on Stadium Drive just east of the entrances to the lower Breck Medical Building parking lot and the entrance to the United Methodist Church parking lot on the west side of Old Town Hall.

It will still be possible to access both the upper and lower parking lots of the Breck Medical Building and locations on lower Stadium Drive, including Chippewa Place by using Old Royalton Road from the west. Also, be aware that there is no longer a pedestrian crossing of Rt. 82 between the United Church of Christ on the south side of state Route 82 and the square on the north side of state Route 82.

City officials ask pedestrians not try to cross state Route 82 at that location. Cross only at the intersection of state Route 21 and state Route 82.

Traffic control during Home Days will be provided by the Brecksville Police Department.

Entertainment lineup

Typically, the No. 1 question on everyone’s mind is, of course, when the Home Days fireworks show will take place. This year’s show, which is expected to be the mightiest of them all, is slated for Sunday, June 26, at 10 p.m. The show will be accompanied by a chest-thumping musical montage created by Mayor Jerry Hruby.

The Home Days Concert Series is back again this year and that means there will be a different major concert with nonstop music each night from 8-10 p.m.

Leading off on Friday night and appearing at Home Days for the first time this year is China Grove, a Doobie Brothers tribute band. Guests will hear all their Doobies favorites, including “Listen to the Music,” “Black Water,” “China Grove” and more.

On Saturday, July 25, another brand new act will perform on the Home Days stage: Silver Springs, a Fleetwood Mac tribute band. The band will perform all of the great Fleetwood Mac hits from the 70s, including “Dreams,” “Rhiannon,” “Gypsy,” “Don’t Stop” and “Go Your Own Way.”

On Sunday night at 8 p.m., festival guests will think they are back in the ‘70s with the Styx tribute band, Best of Times. The band will play two hours of nonstop Styx hits, including “Lady,” “Babe” and “Come Sail Away,” performing right up to the Fireworks blast at 10 p.m.

Also making a return are the infamous Mayor and Ted trivia contests which provide festival-goers with the opportunity to win a much-coveted Home Days T-Shirt. Guests will also be able to purchase raffle tickets for a chance at winning a Fisher Price Power Wheels Ford F-150. It’s being raffled off courtesy of an annual donation from Valley Ford Truck with all proceeds benefiting Safety Town.

Thrilling rides will line Stadium Drive from Old Town Hall all weekend. Across the street from the rides on Sunday, from 5:30-6:30 p.m., the MetroHealth helicopter will land and take off in the open field. Guests are encouraged to bring their cameras to take photos of themselves or their children with the pilots.

While they are at the rides, youngsters are also encouraged to visit the indoor “just for kids” area inside the horticulture building. The attraction, presented by the city’s recreation department, will feature children’s games and bounce houses from 4-7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

As Home Days wouldn’t be Home Days without the food, more than 11 food vendors and food trucks will be in attendance daily. The list is available in this bulletin. Likewise,

area churches and organizations will have fun things to do and see on Booth Row throughout the festival.

Pie contest returns

The women of the Brecksville United Methodist Church are bringing back the good ole days with an old-fashioned pie-baking contest at Brecksville Home Days. There will be prizes and old-fashioned prize ribbons.

A panel of judges will select the winners based on taste, appearance and creativity and texture. For more information contact Melanie Smith at the church, 440-526-8938 or melanie@brecksvilleumc.com. Entry forms are available at BUMCLinks.com.

The annual Recreation Department Dog Jog and Fun Walk will take place at Blossom on Saturday, followed by the 5K and one-mile Family Fun Run and Walk conducted by Hermes Sports and Events on Sunday. Contact the Community Center at 440-546-2300 for more information about those events. ∞