On May 19th and 20th, the McLean Community Center (MCC) held its annual McLean Day fair at Lewinsville Park. The event has brought the community together in celebration since 1915. This year, McLean Day was lined up with an array of carnival rides, the MCC Governing Board elections, delectable food trucks, unique performances and more.
“I love McLean Day,” sophomore Jackson Suydam said. “I have lived here my whole life, and it’s one of my favorite events the community puts together.”
McLean Day offers an assortment of rides, including the popular ferris wheel, which offers an amazing view of the entire fairgrounds and the cityscape. Carnival games are also a popular attraction for visitors, with promises of prizes and friendly competition.
“I’ve been going [to McLean Day] since I was five,” sophomore Yabi Hailu said. “The rides are mostly the same so it reminds me of when I was a kid going with my parents, just now I’m going with my friends.”
McLean Day is also known for its great performances organized by community members. This year’s music and dance performance schedule was packed, including an assortment of entertainment from the MCC Youth Dance Class, Unruly Theatre Project and the alternative rock band, Hull. Additionally, Noah Asher, Minahil Ishaq, and Kiril French gave individual performances, playing and singing original music as well as famous covers and Broadway tunes.
“I [decided to perform at McLean Day] because I wanted to get more comfortable around large crowds,” junior Minahil Ishaq said. “It was super fun and I had a great time performing because I got to see my family and friends [who came] to support me.”
The fair usually draws 10,000+ visitors every year, giving locals a chance to both forge new bonds and rekindle old ones with friends and neighbors.
Throughout Friday and Saturday, the usually quiet fairground buzzed with conversations and laughter, as people came together to celebrate the community of McLean.
“[Every year,] I love going back [to McLean Day] and seeing the growth of our community,” Hailu said. “It’s really nostalgic, and you can see how the spirit of McLean shines through.”
