The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
ELY SQUARE ROCKS
City celebrates first Third Thursday
“I’m just very happy and excited looking to the future. I hope this can be the start of something new.”
Elyrians poured out into the downtown streets on June 17 to participate in the city’s first Third Thursday.
Elyria Community Partnership events coordinator Andrea Repko said the city wanted to make use of underutilized spaces throughout the city.
“We have Ely Square and it’s beautiful. The fountain is back on again and we saw there was a need for events in spaces like this,” she said.
The event was from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and was similar to what Repko called “a mini festival.”
“Given the last year with the pandemic we wanted to get people out and moving again. People are feeling safe and are starting to venture out.”
This month’s theme was centered around music and had performances from artists of multiple genres including gospel, jazz, funk, R&B and hip-hop.
“I’m just very happy and excited looking to the future. I hope this can be the start of something new,” Repko said.
— Andrea Repko, events coordinator
“We want to have a community event once a month. We want people to enjoy their city and feel like they don’t have to travel to other cities to have a fun experience.”
Guests danced and spent time enjoying the weather and scenery of downtown Elyria while eating from food trucks and food carts.
Maggie Lieux, 31, and Jodi Richardson, 31, have been best friends since seventh grade. They spent the evening laughing and chatting in Ely Square and enjoying the event.
“We came to spend time together. I think this is awesome. The food, the love music. All of it. It’s a good turnout,” Lieux said.
Richardson said she was happy to see so many people enjoying themselves and engaging in the community.
“I haven’t seen the square this packed in so long,” she said.
Richardson noticed Elyria Mayor Frank Whitfield walking around and socializing with residents.
“I like the live music and I like that the mayor is walking around and out in the community,” she said. “I don’t know who put this on but I want to say thank you.”