Published: July 23, 2008 01:36 pm            

GUEST EDITORIAL: Regatta marks joy of summer

While we’ve had a bit more rain this summer than we’re used to, it’s still been a great season. Locals appear to be taking advantage of all that the Niagara region has to offer in the way of summer fun as $4 per gallon gasoline has vacationers sticking closer to home.

One of our area’s great summer traditions is coming up this weekend. It’s the 35th annual Youngstown Level Regatta. The sailing competition started in 1972 and has grown since. A street party is set for 6 p.m. today and racing will take place over the weekend.

It’s grown from modest beginnings to an event that will double the size of the village of Youngstown for the next few days. Some 2,000 visitors are expected for the event staged by the Youngstown Yacht Club and the village. Their spending makes for the most profitable weekend of the year for local businesses.

The regatta is one of the largest of it’s kind in the world and brings a certain level of prestige to the village. And even if the sailing is of marginal interest to some, it’s the night time when Youngstown turns into Party City, U.S.A. For a few days, the otherwise sleepy village and its inhabitants get very little sleep.

We point this out as yet one more example of what the Niagara area has to offer. The next time you grumble about living in this region, think of events like the Level Regatta and the other summer festivals and events that go on in Western New York. It will make getting through January and February a whole lot easier.

So party on, Youngstown. It’s your weekend to shine.

— Niagara Gazette

        

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