The festival ran from 2 to 11 p.m. on Saturday in Edmunds Park behind the Cooler Bar & Grille. Featured were the sounds of Angel Marie, Dean Wells, Derek Davis, Brian Chase and Honky Tonk Heroes.

The Sherman Chamber of Commerce offers this family gathering on the second Saturday in September. Tickets are sold to help the chamber, which offers many events throughout the year. Visitors to this year’s festival would note there were fewer activities, both for children and adults.

“We focused more on food vendors, as opposed to activities this year,” said co-organizer Michelle Emory. “We don’t want to compete with Sherman Days. This is more about food and music.”

Food vendors included The Best of Buffalo by Byron, which is an ‘Easy Eats’ food truck, Krasa’s Cove handmade ice cream from Findley Lake and Mama’s Pizza of Sherman. The Cooler Cafe’s popular burgers, fries, hot dogs, chicken and flat breads were available throughout the day, as well.

The third annual Sherman Music Festival featured five bands that kept people entertained throughout the day.

Emory noted that the organizers had scheduled someone to do face painting for children, but they canceled at the last minute. A giant Connect 4 basketball game was in the park for kids and adults to enjoy.

“I guess that’s more for older kids,” she said.

Amanda Meeder, who has helped organize the event each year, said the festival has grown in popularity, but she noted the second and third years have seen changes.

“I believe the event has become more popular over the last two years. Like with everything else, you have to work out the kinks,” she said. “We made the event free and changed our start time to 2 p.m.”

A highlight of this year’s festival was a volleyball tournament at 3 p.m., consisting of six-person co-ed teams. Each participant paid an entry fee of $10, which will benefit the Sherman Central School Class of 2027.

Dean Wells entertains visitors to the Sherman Music Festival with a combination of guitar, harmonica and vocals.

The Cooler Bar & Grille is one of the main sponsors, but there are several others, Meeder said.

“We pay for the bands for the day as a token to the community and to the chamber here,” she said. “It allows the folks to enjoy another great event in our small town.”

Meeder said the village has been incredibly supportive of the festival since its inception.

“The Sherman village is a great help when it comes to any event in this town,” she said. “I can say they go above and beyond to help out with any event. We are a small town, but we have the right people supporting us and always willing to give a helping hand.”

Both Emory and Meeder said the music festival, as well as other annual Sherman events, help create a sense of community and bring people together to have a good time.

“I believe having these events in Sherman gives everybody in the area something. These things offer fun for all ages,” Meeder said. “What more could a small town ask for?”