Thank you to
all of the enthusiastic Elyrians who are
working with the City to help plan for Elyria’s 200th birthday to be
celebrated in 2017 with year-long events.
It’s not too late to join in the fun!
Over the past two months over 90 volunteers have stepped forward to
serve on eight committees.
Among some
of the activities include a host of legacy projects, historical and educational
projects, arts and culture projects, faith-based
projects, and many events open to the public.
If you would like to learn more or volunteer, please call the Mayor’s
Office at (440) 326-1402.
Be part of
rebuilding the Ely Square Fountain, lighting Kerstetter Way and the East Falls,
creating an outdoor art gallery and farmer’s market, and making some
spectacular events happen. It’s going to
be a year like no other with a grand parade, concerts downtown, fireworks,
traveling displays, an Elyria play, and many other events designed to bring out
our community history and pride.
Here’s a
glimpse of what you can expect with our tentative calendar of events…
2017 Elyria
Bicentennial Calendar of Events
(Tentative
calendar – will evolve over time)
September/October/November 2016
- Bicentennial Committee and Leadership Team finalize 2017 agenda
- Bicentennial signage is installed across the City
- Bicentennial Mural is completed
- Souvenirs are developed
- Bicentennial website & social media developed
- Other Downtown mural and outdoor gallery projects planned/developing
- Fountain has been designed (see 2016 schedule April – June 2016)
- Kerstetter Way and East Falls design improvements are completed
- Traveling Display being designed
- Farmer’s Market and Outdoor Art Gallery at Pioneer Plaza Preliminary improvements completed
- Begin creation of Elyria Play
- Mayor and Fundraising Committee launch Capital Campaign for Legacy Projects
January –
February 2017:
- Release schedule of events for the year
- Start weekly or bi-weekly historic items in C-T, such as “where was this” photos and a “Connie Davis type” historical article, newspaper column
- Solicit photos from the community to be scanned
- Start monthly speaker series of Elyria programs
- Launch website & social media
- Begin Oral History Project
- Bicentennial Song created
- Launch Public Art and Sculpture Contest around Bicentennial Theme
- Light Pole banners installed
March/April:
- Dedication ceremony for marker to denote the area where Ely crossed the river into “Elyria” – March 17 or 18
- Family Fun Fair (indoors) – March 18
- Bicentennial Ball – March 11 or 25
- First display of “traveling exhibit” – show at all of above events
- Begin selling “official” souvenirs
- Start collecting “memories” for Memory Book and newspaper column
- Continue C-T articles and photos, speaker series, selling souvenirs, use of traveling exhibit
- Add walking tours of downtown and cemetery; possible bus tours for non-walkers
- Other fund-raising events: To be determined
June:
- Begin first of three Concerts at Kerstetter
- Pioneer Plaza Outdoor Art Gallery & Farmer’s Market Opens for Summer
- Fundraising events TBD
- Develop Bicentennial Video that captures history and launch
Late July
to Mid-August:
Concentrated Celebration
- Start July 22 – end August 5
Beginning Events:
- Huge picnic in Cascade Park with old time baseball game (Village Muffins)
- Special historical tab in C-T
Ending Event: Grand Parade
Other
events/activities during this time:
Special Elyria play at EHS Performing Arts
Center – several performances- Celebrity homecomings
- Dedication of murals
- Concentration of speaker series and tours
- Special concert at Elyria High School Performing Arts Center
- Two more Concerts on Kerstetter
- Great American Picnic & Fireworks Show with Bicentennial Theme
- Traveling exhibit in downtown area
- Historic photos in downtown storefronts
- Book signing for new LCHS Elyria book
- Dedication of or “groundbreaking” for legacy project/s: Ely Square Fountain, lighting of Kerstetter Way and East Falls, Downtown mural dedications, dedication of Pioneer Plaza Farmer’s Market and Outdoor Art Gallery
September – November:
- Labor Day Weekend Cleveland Pops Orchestra Concert dedicated to Bicentennial
- Continue speaker series and tours
- Continue news articles
- Tap into local sports – factoids, retro jerseys at football games
- Dedicate Time Capsule – end of Bicentennial
