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Sunnier schedule sweetens Maple Festival
(by Joseph Koziol Jr. - April 29, 2010)
Sunnier schedule sweetens Maple Festival
By JOSEPH KOZIOL
The Geauga County Maple Festival board's decision last year to change the historic dates of the festival proved fortuitous, as improved weather made for sunnier dispositions among visitors and vendors.
Last weekend's 81st annual festival provided mild temperatures and mostly sunny skies to bring in the crowds to keep vendors busy for the four-day event on Chardon Square, board President JR Blanchard said.
The festival was marred by a near tragedy when two girls were left dangling from a ride after a caged door popped open. They sustained minor injuries in the mishap.
The festival, traditionally held the weekend following Easter, was switched last year to the last weekend in April in hopes of getting better weather. The traditional weekend was chilly with snow and sleet.
Mother Nature, however, remains in charge of the festival as rain moved through Saturday evening after the first parade. A rainstorm on Sunday slowed the second parade. "There were a few wet baton twirlers," Mr. Blanchard said.
But overall, he said, the festival drew typical crowds during this year's run. He said even vendors, who had complained in the past about the weather and slow sales, were happy at the conclusion of this year's festival. He said one of the telling signs of a good festival run is the lemonade sales, which were good this year. He said the majority of vendors already have signed on for next year's festival.
Mr. Blanchard said people must have been watching weather forecasts for the weekend based on the numbers that attended on Friday. He said, at about 5:30 p.m., the festival had a typical crowd around the square. "By 6:30, you couldn't walk down the street, because it was so crowded," he said.
Chardon Police Chief Timothy McKenna said the city has never seen Friday crowds like this year for the festival. For the first time, he said, police had to close East Park Street, which normally was left open for traffic. "Friday night was overwhelming," he said.
The storm that rolled through the city shortly after 3 p.m. Sunday did cause some problems beside slowing the parade. Mr. McKenna said police radios were knocked out by the storm, and officers had to rely on cell phones for communications. In addition, he said, a lightning strike hit the Chardon Fire Department at the south end of the square.
Fire Chief Larry Gaspar said the strike shattered some bricks from the building and knocked out a fire alarm. He said repairs were being made this week.
Next year's festival, Mr. Blanchard said, will be following the old traditional schedule, coming the weekend after Easter. That is because Easter falls on the last weekend in April, pushing back the festival another week, he said.
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