'tommy Boy' Fans Flock To Ohio Town To Celebrate 30 Years Of Laughs

SANDUSKY, Ohio — The set was warming up, section chairs started filling nan section on Lake Erie’s picturesque shores connected a gorgeous summertime evening.

Then 2 group showed up pinch what looked for illustration bombs strapped to their torsos.

The due response? “Holy Schnikes!”

Almost anyplace else, this would astir apt beryllium concerning. But not this play successful Sandusky, Ohio, nan mounting for cult classical drama "Tommy Boy" starring Chris Farley and David Spade.

Chris Farley and David Spade, 1995 successful "Tommy Boy."Maximum Film / Alamy Stock Photo file

The movie, which debuted successful March 1995, was really filmed successful Canada. But that hasn’t stopped nan Ohio metropolis of astir 25,000 from treating Tommy Callahan arsenic a hometown hero.

This weekend, Sandusky is celebrating nan movie’s 30th day pinch Tommy Boy Fest. The festivities kicked disconnected Thursday and will reason Saturday.

Hundreds watched a look-alike title featuring anyone — aliases thing from nan movie, including nan cervid deed connected Tommy and Richard’s roadworthy trip.

Chris Farley, 1995 successful "Tommy Boy."Maximum Film / Alamy Stock Photo

Jay Stevens, who entered nan look-a-like title said he's been watching nan movie pinch “my dada since I was a kid, I cognize I’ve watched it astir apt much than 10 times. It’s ever been a very wholesome representation of ever watching Chris Farley complete nan years.”

The festival's events see a “Tommy Want Wingy Throwdown” fundraiser, movie screenings and a car show featuring nan infamous, destroyed convertible from nan film, which now belongs to head Pete Segal.

“I’ve had much successful movies container agency than this, but this is nan 1 that group support talking about,” Segal said Friday from nan driver’s seat.

“I deliberation it’s a generational film. … And I deliberation there’s a sweetness to it, and nan truth that it was arguably, you know, Chris Farley’s champion film, and group perfectly adored him," Segal said.

Michael Pecker drove much than 3 hours from Cincinnati to get successful connected nan "Tommy Boy" fun.

Farley "has a measurement to drawback nan assemblage and captivate you, and pulls you successful to wherever you conscionable get immersed successful it," Pecker said. "To me, it’s conscionable bully old-fashioned drama astatine its best, and he delivered it 100 percent.”

This was Segal’s first sojourn to nan real-life Sandusky, wherever 1 edifice changed its sanction from “Tony’s” to “Tommy’s” connected a banner and different offered a “Tommy Want Wingy” special.

“It’s truthful heartwarming and wonderful. The group of Sandusky person been fantastic. The full city. There are banners connected nan thoroughfare and posters successful each store. It’s unbelievable,” said Segal.

Farley died little than 3 years aft nan film's premiere. His relative Kevin made nan travel to Sandusky for this milestone celebration.

“He lived a comparatively short life, but he lived a awesome life, and I deliberation it’s bully to spot group still retrieve him aft this full time,” Kevin Farley said.