CHARDON — Mother Nature may pitch a little snow mix in the weather for the weekend as the 79th Geauga County Maple Festival opens today on Chardon’s square.
Festival board president Bill Dufur is optimistic weather does not stop thousands of visitors to the city this weekend.
Dozens of queens from other Ohio festivals along with state, county and local officials will greet visitors. As the first festival of the season for many concessionaires, the park was abuzz as food stands were set up Wednesday.
Tents and the festival entertainment stage on Main Street are in place. More than a dozen midway rides were up and running, Dufur said.
On Wednesday, Penny Otterbacher of Medina was busy making batches of cotton candy at her stand. The Otterbacher family concessions have been at the festival since the event began in 1926, she said.
“My late father-in-law, Rupert Otterbacher, started the business. Those early years all the food concessions were under tents. My husband, Jerry, and I with our family still come here. This is the first festival of the season for us,” Otterbacher said as she whipped up the sugary candy.
Gordon VanAllen of Ashtabula, who has installed the sound equipment along Main Street for the festival since early 1980s, was busy Wednesday. “I had knee surgery in Janurary, but can still climb a ladder,” he said.
Daily festival events include pancake eating to a tug of war, entertainment acts, annual sap run races, arts and crafts show, prizewinning maple syrup displays, an invitational lumberjack competition Saturday and Sunday, plus two grand parades. Sunday’s features include the bathtub races on Main Street beginning at 11 a.m. followed by the auction of prizewinning maple syrup entries at 1 p.m.
Theme for the parades is “Celebration our Maple Legacy” marking the traditional spring syrup making season in Geauga County. Grand marshal for Saturday’s parade is retired police chief Bill Niehus, who also served on city council. Sunday’s grand marshal is WOIO Channel 19 personality Jenn Harcher.
Dufur said this year’s festival is dedicated to the family of the late Beverly J. Carver of Chardon, longtime festival board member and community activist. The 80-year-old Carver died Jan. 19. A special dedication ceremony is set for 4:30 p.m. Sunday following the parade, Dufur said.
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