Love Fest music festival draws crowd

Lea Marra understands the power of music.

She went to school for music therapy. Now she’s using it to help bring her hometown community together.

Marra was a performer when Love Fest began in 2010. Though it was always held in Chardon Square, it was a much smaller event when it first started. She described it as a group of friends gathering to share music with one another.

After the first few years, the event was handed down to her after the founders went off to college. As executive director of the festival, Marra had a vision to grow the scale of the event. July 7 marked the third year of the larger, community wide event.

“We wanted to share our love of music with the community,” she said

Nineteen bands performed on two stages on the square alternating half-hour sets July 7. Marra’s band The Tom Katlees were among those who took the stage. Others included the Rhode Street Rude Boys and the Dreemers, both of Akron, the Lancaster, Pennsylvania-based Ok-ok’s, and the Cleveland-based Whiskey Hollow.

Artwork was housed inside the Heritage House. Vendors filled out the square offering everything from food to henna tattoos to vinyl records.

A Love Fest archway greeted attendees into the free event. A small group of replica guitars surrounded a tree. Keyboard keys lined part of the square’s brick walkway. These were all part of an increased focus on decorations for the event. Marra said decorations will again be a focus next year.

Marra said the vent is about bringing positive messages through music, art and love, giving and sharing love with everyone.

“Bringing music to the community is an awesome thing,” she said.

ANDREW CASS — THE NEWS-HERALD The Willow Tree performs at Love Fest on Chardon Square July 7.

ANDREW CASS — THE NEWS-HERALD A Love Fest archway greets attendees to the July 7 event. Adding decorations to the festival was one of the goals this year, executive director Lea Marra said.