OHIO – the COVID-19 Pandemic has taken a toll on community festival this spring and summer season, now its pushing into fall.
According Ohio Festival and Events Association says that Ohio Business Closures still includes “Parades, fairs, festivals, and carnivals. (County fairs are permitted)” This mandate has made for very uncertain times for on how and when events will be permitted to happen and makes for planning and scheduling big events very difficult.
“In light of these cancellations, the committees of our member festivals/events have been taking a lot of heat from individuals in their communities. These individuals have been reciting the Governor’s announcement; however, without fully understanding the contents of the order. We want to reiterate that an “Independent Fair” is NOT the same thing as a community festival or event. (https://ohiofairs.org/…/current-year-ohio-fairs-schedule.pdf), said Ohio Festival and Events Association.
Events like these are what people look forward to every season, plus they are good money makers in a time where businesses have been closed. Some Festivals like the Pumpkin show local businesses, “make or break” from the income from these events. Some events support local volunteer fire departments, and charities that give back to communities all year long.
The Following is a new list of cancellations of Fairs including a few that rescheduled at the beginning of the season.
– July 8-11 – Ohio Hills Folk Festival (Quaker City)
– July 9-11 – Summit County Italian-American Festival Akron)
– July 16-19 – Miami Valley Steam Threshers (Plain City)
– July 17-19 – Greene Countrie Towne Festival (Greenfield)
– July 24-26 – Celina Lake Festival (Celina)
– Aug. 6-9 – Lexington Blueberry Festival (Lexington)
– Aug. 7-8 – Carey Fest (Carey)
– Aug. 7-9 – North Ridgeville Corn Festival (North Ridgeville)
– Aug. 19-22 – Nelsonville Parade of the Hills (Nelsonville)
– Aug. 19-22 – Pemberville Free Fair(Pemberville)
– Sept. 2-5 – Sweet Corn Festival (Millersport)
– Sept. 5-7 – Canal Winchester Labor Day Festival (Canal Winchester)
– Sept. 5-7 – West Jefferson Ox Roast (West Jefferson)
– Sept. 10-12 – Marion Popcorn Festival (Marion)
– Sept. 11-12 – Lithopolis Honeyfest (Lithopolis)
– Sept. 18-20 – Clyde Fair (Clyde)
– Sept. 19-20 – Johnny Appleseed Festival (Lisbon)
– Sept. 26-27 – Geneva Grape Jamboree (Geneva)
– Oct. 2-3 – Ohio Swiss Festival (Sugarcreek)
– Oct. 10-11 – Ohio Sauerkraut Festival (Waynesville)
– Oct. 16-18 – Fall Festival of Leaves (Bainbridge)
The following members originally announced plans to reschedule their 2020 event, but have now canceled:
– Garrettsville Summerfest – now canceled for 2020
– Vermilion Festival of the Fish – now canceled for 2020
What does this mean for Pumpkin Show? We will find out soon enough. Last Month two locals started petitions to “keep pumpkin show open” and one to “cancel pumpkin show due to COVID-19.” Locals have voted almost 1000 times to keep the festival open, and less that 200 have voted to close the event.
