One thing that the non-profit Main Street Ravenna loves to do when ushering in the summer season is host the annual Art on Main Festival. The seventh annual Festival had a special twist as Main Street Ravenna partnered with the City to celebrate Ravenna’s 225th anniversary last Saturday in downtown Ravenna.
“We made it a little more intimate around the courthouse to really showcase the best of what Main Street has there and be able to partner with the City to provide and get ideas from them,” Main Street Ravenna Marketing Committee Chairperson Brooke Bolevich told The Weekly Villager. “It has been really fun to add to that event and provide some support from both organizations.”
The Art on Main festival has been an annual summer event that invites local artists and vendors to promote their work. In addition to having a variety of artists and vendors, it is also an interactive event for families as local businesses allow children to paint and draw on their store fronts.
According to Bolevich, the annual summer event is the perfect way for the residents to show their Ravenna pride.
“We have people that donate their time all year long,” she added. “We started planning this event in January.We have people who give their time just because they love this town and they want us to be better and be more inclusive for everybody. That perfectly sums up the heart that we have downtown here as well.”
The Art on Main festival was made even more special because this year marked the 225th anniversary of the founding of Ravenna.
To commemorate the city’s anniversary, Mayor Frank Seman stood on the steps in front of the courthouse and gave a speech, as did Portage County Commissioners Mike Tinlin, Tony Badalamenti and Sabrina Christian Bennett.
Commissioner Tinlin presented a proclamation to the city from the offices of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted.
Commissioner Christian Bennett was next, giving the city a proclamation from Ohio Senator Vernon Sykes and added a few words of her own to commemorate the special day.
“This milestone is a testament to the rich history, vibrant culture and enduring sprit of Ravenna and its residents,” she said. “From your early beginnings to the thriving community you are today, your journey has been nothing short of remarkable.”
State Representative Gail Pavliga of District 72 gave a short speech congratulating the city for its very special milestone.
“The people of Ravenna have managed to nurture a fresh prospective and positive outlook of this distinctive place for all who have come to know it well,” she said. “After it was founded, the City of Ravenna still radiates vitality, optimism and a charm of all of its own. Clearly it is a place of many engaging qualities, schools, and business organizations.”
Portage County Commissioner Badalementi took the podium and offered remarks about the City of Ravenna’s many accomplishments over the years.
“The City of Ravenna quickly became the epicenter for commerce, justice and local engagement. The best traditions of the past, lead to the future of hope and promise,” he said. “For the past 225 years, the City of Ravenna has enjoyed the benefits of the generous civic-minded population. Those who currently make the community their home take great pride in the rich heritage of many of the local landmarks.”
Mayor Seman then gave a brief overview of Ravenna’s history beginning with its inception in 1799 and highlighted some key moments.
“We have a glorious day and if you look around, you will see we are surrounded by history, with some of it still in use around the courthouse area,” he said.
The Festival also provided musical entertainment, a meet and greet with city council members and Mayor Seman and a time capsule collection that accepted items from the residents.
Later in the day, the city took a community photo of as many residents as possible to commemorate its milestone.
“It has been great! We are getting a lot of promotion because the city is commemorating the 225th anniversary,” Bolevich noted. “It is fantastic to have it work for both organizations and get both sets of people that we regularly interact with together.”
