The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Events on tap in Lorain
Port Authority already planning happenings into next year
Christmas season, spring 2018 fishing, next year’s Independence Day celebrations and a repeat of BrewFest all are in the works as summer events continue in 2017.
The Lorain Port Authority board on Aug. 15 discussed a number of events that won’t take place for months but that already are in the planning stages for Lorain.
This fall and early winter, the sixth annual International Tree & Model Train Display will run Nov. 25 to Dec. 30 at the Port’s Black River Transportation Center, 421 Black River Lane in Lorain.
The free event, also known as the Trees & Trains display, features a number of model railroads running on tracks set around Christmas trees decorated with themes by Lorain’s civic and church groups.
It has drawn thousands of people in its first five years, said organizer Gail Bonsor. This year the layout likely will change to keep the look fresh, she said.
The third annual Model TRAINing Day, a free gathering for anyone interested in learning more about model railroading, will be 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 5 at the transportation center.
The day is presented by the National Model Railroad Association’s Mid-Central Region Division 4, which serves Lorain and neighboring counties.
The Lorain Port Authority is negotiating to bring back the Cabela’s Master’s
Walleye Circuit tournament on May 4 and 5, 2018, said Tiffany McClelland, Port economic development specialist.
The fishing contest is similar to the one held in Lorain in 2016. It is smaller than the Cabela’s National
Team Championship held in Lorain in June, but could bring in up to 100 teams with 200 participants, McClelland said.
The Port board authorized a combination of expenses and in-kind donations worth up to $10,000 to lure the tournament back.
The board also voted to have Lorain’s 2018 Independence Day celebration and fireworks on July 4 next year.
The date is a change from the last two years.
Starting in 2015, the Port joined with the Rockin’ on the River concert series for music and fireworks on July 4, which fell on a Saturday that year. In 2016 and 2017, when the date July 4 moved into the work week, the Port scheduled fireworks for the weekend before July 4 to coincide with Rockin’ on the River shows.
There was relatively little discussion about the switch for 2018, when Independence Day will be on a Wednesday.
Board member Connie Carr suggested having fireworks on July 4 and the other board members agreed.
It was unclear if there would be a musical act to accompany the mid-week celebration.
Meanwhile, BrewFest Waterfront District craft beer festival had a successful event at Black River Landing on Aug. 12, said Bonsor, who works with BrewFest for the Lorain Growth Corp.’s Tourism Committee.
The BrewFest planning committee hopes to return to the site on the second weekend of August next year, Bonsor said.