Bloomingdale's Septemberfest honors tradition, change

Bloomingdale's daylong Septemberfest celebration on Saturday once again demonstrated the truth in the adage that everything old is new again.

There was, for example, the festival's setting in the recently renovated Old Town area of the village.

Then there was the classic car show, where some visitors looked with fresh eyes on vehicles that rolled off the assembly line before they were born. And, of course, there were dozens of vendors at the craft fair, many of whom had taken old items and turned them into something new and interesting.

Finally, there was a scheduled performance by the band 7th Heaven, known for putting a new twist on old tunes with its "30 Songs in 30 Minutes" medley of hits from the '70s and '80s.

This was the festival's 43rd anniversary, Septemberfest Commission Chairman Bill Wolff said in the days leading up to the party, and in addition to giving summer a fitting send-off, it raised money for college scholarships through the Joe Draghi Septemberfest Scholarship Fund.

So if the celebration had a familiar feel, with a parade and dancers and kiddie carnival rides and tumbling demonstrations, it was only fitting that, in the end, it will help four Bloomingdale students start on a new college adventure.