iSHopBlogz Guide to Stark County’s fairs and festivals
Hall of Fame Festival: This is Stark county’s largest event every year. It usually begins the last week of July and it culminates with the Hall of Fame game. The Hall of Fame festival is a week of food, fun, fireworks, and tons of family entertainment. This festival is the kick-off to the NFL football season every year, and it celebrates each year’s class of enshrinees to the pro football Hall of Fame. People travel from all over the country and even around the world to take part in this annual event. For more info and to see a calendar of events go to www.profootballhoffestival.com
Stark County Fair: 2012 will mark the 163rd year of the stark county fair. The Stark County Fair started in 1850 as a way to promote agriculture and its importance to the growth of Stark County. The fair was originally held in downtown Canton and because of its growing size and popularity was later moved to the Wertz Farm, the site of the present day Stark County fairgrounds. Stark County’s fair offers a week of fun for all ages with rides, concerts, games, food, art displays, animal exhibits and petting areas and much more. Find out more and see a full list of events and entertainment by visiting www.starkcountyfair.com
Carnation Festival: A week long annual festival full of parades, food, and fun throughout the community that came about to honor Alliance as the Carnation city. The festival begins the second Thursday in August and kicks off with a parade down main st. to Glamorgan Castle and a three day Ribfest held outside Carnation mall. The festival boasts over 30 events and includes Carnation Days in the Park which runs Wed. through Sat. in Silver Park and features food, craft displays and free live entertainment. The Carnation Festival really is fun for all ages with numerous activities including sporting events for children, a teen dance, and even a bowling tournament for seniors. For more info go to www.carnationfestival.com
Yankee Peddler Festival: If your wish is to step back in time over 200 years and visit historic pioneer America then this festival is perfect for you and your family. Admission to the Yankee Peddler festival truly is like stepping back in time and there is something for the entire family. Whether it be the authentic clothing worn by the master craftsmen and artisans, or the true to the time period tools and rustic shops used to make the arts and crafts that are on display. You and your family will be transported to a simpler time where you can sample great food and snacks cooked over open fires and watch master craftsmen work with primitive tools to transform nature into something unique for you and yours. For more info go to www.yankeepeddlerfestival.com
Jackson Community Celebration: The celebration takes place at Jackson park and features a car show, a 5K glow run as well as a kids ½ mile fun run, a basketball tournament and much more. A definite family oriented affair, the Jackson Community Celebration has tons of fun for everyone. There are rides for all ages, food to tickle everyone’s fancy, live family oriented free entertainment and games for all. The celebration boasts four days of community fun. For dates and times go to www.jtpd.com/CommunityCelebration.aspx
Louisville Constitution Community Festival: A week long festival celebrating Constitution day September 17, 1952. The festival takes place at Metzger park and kicks off with a prayer breakfast at Christ United Methodist Church. The festival is a family friendly event and it offers activities like a cruise-In, pet parade, rides and live entertainment. For more info or to learn the history of the festival go to www.louisvilleconstitution.org
Olde Canal Days Festival: Take a ride down the Ohio-Erie canal on the horse drawn canal boat the St. Helena III and be escorted back in time to the 1800’s. This is one of the many things you and your family can enjoy at the Olde Canal Days Festival. The festival lasts 3 days and offers streets lined with vendors of arts and crafts, amusement rides, beauty pageants, civil war reenactment demonstrations and much more. You and your family can tour the Old Canal Days Museum and historical sites, watch the Grande Parade, or even take in some fireworks. Whatever you decide to take part in your whole family will enjoy this exceptional festival. For more info visit www.discovercanalfulton.com
North Canton Jaycee Fair: This annual event lasts 6 days and is held on the parking lot of North Canton’s memorial stadium on 7th Street. The event serves as a fundraiser for the North Canton Jaycees and offers some of the best fair food around. Plus there are plenty of things to do for the whole family. There are rides, games, a princess pageant and newly added this past year a corn hole tournament. Admission is free and tickets and hand stamps are available for the amusement rides, so bring the family and enjoy a nice night or two at the fair. More info at www.northcantonjaycees.org
The Main Street Festival: The Main Street Festival recently celebrated its 15th year and was a finalist in the 2010 Best of Stark competition. The festival has always focused on food, music and family friendly activities but every year offers bigger and better improvements. You can expect a bigger variety of food, additional entertainment and more family friendly activities like rides, crafts, cars, and community and business information every year. This past year the festival added 2 stages for more musical entertainment. For a weekend full of food music and family fun don’t miss out on The Main Street Festival. For more info go to www.northcantonchamber.org
Hartville Fall Festival: The Hartville Fall Festival has been around now for 37 years and every year it offers families a bunch of fun fall festivities. There are a variety of vendors selling everything from homemade soaps to garden mums. Activities include pony rides, carnival rides, a dress-your-pet contest, and plenty of other activities for kids and parents alike to enjoy. Some festivities that are crowd favorites include the pie auction, “Hartville’s Got Talent” show, and the Fall Festival pageant. If you and your family are looking for a fun way to spend a fall day then check out Hartville’s Fall Festival. For more info check out www.hartvillegrovespringcc.com