Solon Brothers' Bond Kept Strong Thanks to Twins Days

Even though they are separated by 350 miles, Jason and Scott Malafarina have managed to maintain their special bond by sharing it with thousands just like them.

The Solon-grown brothers are identical twins and have used the Twins Days Festival in Twinsburg as a chance to reunite each year. 

Jason, 29 and older than Scott by two minutes, resides in Solon where he helps out at a local salon. Scott lives in Louisville, KY where he teaches math at a local school.

"Over the years it's become more and more important for us to go together," Scott said about Twins Days.  "After last year we realized how important it is to us and other twins that go. It's a second family."

The two will be this year's kings on the 2013 Twins Days Royal Court.

Growing up their parents made sure neither one felt more love than the other. When they were babies, Jason said their mom would put a pin on one so she knew who she was feeding or holding so they could both get the same amount affection.

"She always tried to make sure she didn't favor one or the other," Jason said.

Growing up the pair were always compared to one another. Even when they were separated in classes, they were always together in everyone's minds. 

It wasn't until they graduated Solon High School in 2002 that they split for good, going off to college in two different schools.

"It was a good thing because we were able to go off and find our own niche," Jason said.

Even if they were apart by miles and miles, they both knew they were never alone.

"It's great to know you always have somebody there that you could talk to and hang out with," Scott said. 

When the 2013 Twins Days Festival rolls around on Aug. 2 it will be the 14th year the two have attended together and their ninth consecutive year. When they started going together again in 2005 it was just to see what it was like. 

Now they start planning their detailed costumes the day the theme is announced in January each year.

Saturday's "Double Take Parade" is the pinnacle of the weekend because it's where they can show off their ensembles and see what others have come up with.

"It's really creative, a lot of fun and it helps change the face each year," Scott said.

The Malafarina boys have even used the festival as a chance to do some "double dating." 

Two years ago they met a pair of twins from Minneapolis, MN (one of the Twin Cities) and started dating. 

Scott is still seeing his half, however, Jason said the distance made it too difficult to keep seeing his twin.

Even if there was no Twins Days for the brothers, it would be OK. No amount of time or distance will ever truly separate them. They are forever tied together, Jason said.

"It's like we're one soul sharing two vessels."