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Festivals – in an abbreviated form – may make a comeback this summer.
Last year, the pandemic and the resulting restrictions on large gatherings meant the City had to cancel many of our usual family events. This year, the restrictions have been eased and we are planning to offer a slimmed-down Grindstone Festival over the Fourth of July weekend.
The Festival will be only two days – Saturday, July 3 and Sunday, July 4. There will be no rides. But the City is working on offering food trucks and wine and beer tents. There will be inflatables for the kids to enjoy and paddleboat rides on the lake. Our first concert of the season is scheduled for July 3 and we are hoping we can add more Live at the Lake concerts through August. July 4 will conclude with the usual spectacular fireworks display over Coe Lake.
While Gov. DeWine has OK’d festivals and concerts, it is with limited capacity at this time. We will limit attendance to 30 percent of capacity.
Also, we will continue our policy of no smoking or vaping and no pets on festival grounds.
Parades are still not on the “in” list, so there will be no Memorial Day parade and no Grindstone parade. On Armed Forces Day, May 15, the City is hosting a gathering in McKelvey Park. For Memorial Day, we will sponsor a Community Memorial Service at the Gazebo at Coe Lake. Masks and social distancing are required.
As we all realize, things change rapidly during this pandemic. Restrictions may be further eased or they may be tightened. It all depends on how and when we get a handle on this virus. The City will adjust the festival and concert plans as circumstances warrant.
City events, such as Live at the Lake concerts and the Grindstone Festival, are made possible by sponsorships generously donated by local businesses, organizations and individuals. These events remain free because of community-minded organizations. The economy has taken a hit and many groups can’t give at the usual level, but if your business, club or civic organization can donate any amount to ensure that Berea’s events can move forward, we would be most grateful.
Sponsorship information was mailed earlier this year to past sponsors. If you are interested in sponsoring, click here. For more information on sponsorships or events, please contact Megan Pochatek at (440) 274-5608 or mpochatek@cityofberea.org. Also, be sure to follow us on Facebook for updates and information as well.