The 34th Annual Apple Festival is This Weekend!

Dear Elyria Residents, Friends and Visitors,

On behalf of the City of Elyria, Elyria City Council, and the Apple Festival Committee, we encourage you to attend the 34^th annual Apple Festival THIS WEEKEND September 19 – 21 in and around historic Ely Square.  Whether your interests are craft shopping or concession grazing, apple bobbing or apple pie eating, marching bands or one-man bands, classic cars or corn hole tournaments, the Princess Pageant or just enjoying one of Ohio’s premiere festivals on a crisp autumn day –  you’ll find something of interest for everyone!

This year there are even more reasons to celebrate with us.  The Apple Festival Committee has added a Corn Hole Tournament, which will take place on Saturday, September 20^th  at 4:00pm behind Elyria City Hall, 131 Court Street.  To register to play and be eligible to win gift cards go to www.elyriaapplefestival.com. 

The arts influence will grow with the addition of the First Annual Elyria Art Fest on Sunday September 21 from 10am to 4:00pm at the Elyria Art Depot, 336 Broad Street and the green space next to the gallery.   Sponsored by the Lorain Arts Council, the 14 working artists will feature an outdoor display of original murals and an opportunity for you to help create a mural with a $1 donation to help keep the arts going in downtown Elyria.  

While you’re downtown, wonder down to the newly repaired observation platform at the East Falls on Kerstetter Way.  The views of Cascade Park and the East Falls are spectacular, with the autumn leaves just beginning to turn.  With our new partnership with the Lorain County MetroParks beginning in 2015, you can look forward to even more improvements beyond the $2 million the City has put into the park with grant funds in the past 18 months.

Also thanks largely to grant funds, downtown and the entire city is poised for even more positive changes.  Middle Avenue is being completely replaced in the Spring of 2015.  A market analysis and redevelopment plan are underway for the Downtown, Midway and Cleveland Street business districts to help attract new businesses. McDonalds Corporation will be building a new McDonalds to replace the existing one on Broad Street in the near future.  The City continues to work with the County and our regional partners towards returning passenger rail to downtown.  And the current $22 million reconstruction of SR57 and the 49^th Street Bridge in the Midway Mall area will improve a high crash area, improve access to the Mall and is already attracting further development to be announced in the next few months. 

As you can see, there is much to celebrate in Elyria.  Please join us for the Apple Festival and for other year-around events that can be viewed at www.cityofelyria.org.  Sincere appreciation is extended to Apple Festival Coordinator Linda Brown, Century Club contributors, vendors, sponsors, volunteers and patrons.  Working together, we are all making Elyria Ohio’s Community of Opportunity! 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

Holly C. Brinda

Mayor

(See Schedule of Events Below)

Friday September 19th, 2014
11 AM to 9 PM

AROUND THE SQUARE
Concessions and Crafts – Surrounding the Square
11:30 AM – WOBL
12:30 PM – Elyria High Marching Band
2:00 PM – Open Door Marching Band
2:00 PM – Brad the Magician
3:00 PM – Ritch Underwood -Gazebo

ELY STAGE
6:00 – 8:00 PM – Neil Diamond Project

COURTHOUSE
4:00 – 6:00 PM – Big Agness
6:30 – 8:30 PM – Elite

---

Saturday September 20th, 2014
10 AM to 9 PM

AROUND THE SQUARE
Concessions and Crafts – Surrounding the Square
10:00 AM – Apple Pie Baking Contest – Donna’s Diner (Instructions)
11:00 AM – Balloon Drop – Behind City Hall
11:30 AM – Life Care Ambulance
11:30 AM – Kids Apple Bobbing – Gazebo
11:30 PM – Apple Pie Eating Contest – Gazebo (Information)
2:00 PM – Brad the Magician
4:00 PM – Cornhole Tournament – Behind City Hall (Registration Information)

ELY STAGE
12:30 PM – Princess Pageant – For more information, please see the rules and regulations and entry form.
4:00 PM – YWCA Dance Team
6:00 – 8:00 PM – Quinten Dickerson

Courthouse
1:00 – 3:00 PM – Tim Pope

---

Sunday September 21st, 2014
10 AM to 6 PM

AROUND THE SQUARE
Concessions and Crafts – Surrounding the Square
8:00 AM – Talmer Bank Car Show REGISTRATION – Broad Street  (Information)
8:30 AM – Apple 5K Race / Fun Walk (Information) Preferred Route – Route if Ford closed
9:00 AM – Talmer Bank Car Show – Broad Street
11:00 AM – Rudy & the Illusions – Gazebo
12:00 PM – Ronald McDonald

ELY STAGE
12:00 PM – Presentation of Apple Art Awards
2:30 – 5:00 PM – Yellow Delicious

COURTHOUSE
2:30 – 5:00 PM – WIXY 1260

* Please note that the Apple Festival is a “pet free” event