Fourth of July fun planned

Village holding Red, White and Blue Festival and Golf Cart Parade on July 3; fireworks display slated for July 4

Although Fairport Mardi Gras has been canceled for the second consecutive year, there will still be a community event to coincide with Fourth of July weekend in Fairport Harbor this summer. The Fairport Harbor Red, White and Blue Festival and Golf Cart Parade will take place on July 3 at several locations around town. Village government leaders decided to hold an alternative community celebration around the Fourth of July after the annual Mardi Gras festival was scrapped in 2021. The all-volunteer committee that plans and carries out the festival cited concerns about health and safety risks posed by the lingering novel coronavirus pandemic as the reason for calling off Mardi Gras.

“...visitors will enjoy a variety of bands, food and familyfriendly activities that will include balloon artists, face painting and a visit from Fire Pup from the Fairport Harbor Fire Department.” — Village Administrator Amy Cossick

After the Mardi Gras panel issued its decision in February, the Ohio Department of Health has reported many weekly declines in new COVID-19 cases in Lake County. ODH statistics also show an increasing number of Lake County residents have either started or completed the COVID-19 vaccination process. With the local health environment improving, village Mayor Timothy Manross brought up the possibility of holding a modest community event to coincide with Fourth of July, to fill some of the void left by Mardi Gras being canceled. Fairport Mardi Gras, which also was wiped out in 2020 because of concerns stemming from COVID-19, typically is held over the course of five days. The event, which draws tens of thousands of people into the village, begins with a traditional parade, concludes with a fireworks display, and throughout its duration features rides, games, food and entertainment. “The mayor was still interested in having the village host some type of smaller festival and perhaps a golf cart parade to celebrate the holiday — which is how we came up with the Red, White and Blue Festival,” village Administrator Amy Cossick said. As a prelude to the July 3 festival, a golf cart parade is scheduled the same day from 11 a.m. to noon. The parade will start at the end of Third Street by the Slovenian Club; then proceed down Third Street to Vine Street; Vine Street to Seventh Street; and Seventh Street to Eagle Street. All golf carts in the parade will be entered to win Most Patriotic Golf Cart awards, with prizes for first, second and third place. Parade registration forms can be downloaded from the village’s website, fairportharbor.org. When completed, the applications can be emailed to acossick@fairportharbor.org or mailed to: Village of Fairport Harbor, Parade Registration, 220 Third St., Fairport Harbor, OH 44077. The Red, White and Blue Festival goes from noon to 5 p.m. July 3, with activities in Memorial Park, on West Third between Plum and Eagle streets; and Finn Hollow Park, situated next to the Finnish Heritage Museum at 301 High St. “At both locations, visitors will enjoy a variety of bands, food and familyfriendly activities that will include balloon artists, face painting and a visit from Fire Pup from the Fairport Harbor Fire Department, just to name a few,” Cossick said. In addition, festival visitors will get the chance to shop at downtown Fairport Harbor’s stores and boutiques. Then on July 4, the village will sponsor a fireworks display at dusk. Another event being brought back by the village this year, after being scratched in 2020 because of the COVID-19 crisis, is Village Fest. Introduced by Fairport Harbor in 2019, Village Fest aims to attract people to Fairport Harbor’s downtown for an afternoon of music, food and shopping. The 2021 edition of Village Fest is slated for Aug. 28 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. “We are all really looking forward to a fun summer,” Cossick said.