Garrettsville – SummerFest is coming. Have you ever thought about all the work that goes into making this event happen year after year? The entire event is organized and run by a few volunteers from the community. Each year, right after SummerFest is over, the committee meets and starts planning next year’s event. Yes, it takes year ‘round planning to pull off an event this size.
During the fall, they attend a convention to see what’s new for festivals and look at all sorts of possible entertainment for the next year. The committee meets several times in the fall, choosing a theme and looking at ways to make the next SummerFest better. In January, they meet more regularly to get the Garrettsville Idol open call date established, select a car for the raffle, hold a scotch doubles fundraiser at the bowling alley, select designs for T-shirts and start nailing down entertainers for the weekend event. By April, Idol semi-finalists are chosen, most of the entertainment is taken care of, and they begin to promote the many contests, the t-shirts and the car raffle. (The t-shirts and car raffle are the primary funding for the event besides our local sponsors) May, the Idol finalists are chosen and the committee kicks it into high gear. Finishing touches on entertainment, vendors, programs, advertising, contests, parade, etc. are worked on to bring the community the best event possible.
The week of SummerFest is pressure-packed as the committee makes sure everything is ready to roll. They decorate the town, they mark vender’s spots, check electric, set up stages and seating, decorate the stage, answer questions, work with local safety forces and so much more, all to bring the community they love one of the biggest festivals in Portage County.
With all that being said, they could use a few more volunteers for the event. Don’t worry, they are not looking for a year-long commitment like the committee members but you are more than welcome to join them if you want to be a part of planning next year’s event. What the committee is looking for are a few folks, who have a few hours to volunteer to help us make the festival run more smoothly. We need some help during the festival to sell raffle tickets from the information booth and possible help with canoe races and the parade. Even if you only have a few hours to help, that is fine, they do not need you all weekend unless you want to help all weekend. The festival starts Friday, June 22 at 6:30 pm and will run approximately 9 am – 11 pm on Saturday and 11 am until 10 pm on Sunday. You don’t need to have a huge chunk of time available to help, just a few hours here and there will be sufficient. So if you have some time and want to see the other side of the festival, contact Aaron King at the bowling alley 330 524-2646 for opportunities to volunteer.
This year’s SummerFest is sponsored by, Garrettsville Area Chamber of Commerce, Geauga Vision, Ellerhorst-Russell Insurance Agency, Kepich Ford, Main Street Grille and Brewing Company and the Weekly Villager. The festival is traditionally held the fourth full weekend in June at the corners of S.R.82 and S.R. 88 in downtown Garrettsville. More information can be found at www.garrettsvillesummerfest.com
