TOLEDO, Ohio — Fully opened festivals and carnivals are back in Ohio and that’s great news for the communities that host them and those who put them together.
Along the grounds of the Whitehouse Cherry Festival, Kristy Rogers walks through her favorite part.
“I would say the rides. I like to bring my kids here, they have a blast and of course, we like the food trucks,” Rogers said.
The vice president of Steve Rogers Ford, one of the main sponsors for the event, was upset when the festival was canceled last year.
“That was sad. That was sad for us. We look forward to this every year. But I think it was more upsetting to the community. This is such a fun community event,” Rogers said.
But with pandemic restrictions lifted, workers are back out preparing the mobile car lot where the mood has changed to excitement after learning the festival is back on.
“Oh, I was ecstatic. I mean, being that we are a family-owned business and this is such a family, tight-knit community, I knew that this was going to be a hit again. And the outpouring (of) support from the community to bring it back has been great.”
The Whitehouse Cherry Festival has been around for almost 40 years and draws visitors from across Ohio to the village near Toledo.
Gary Hofner bought this trailer last year for his kettle corn business.
He wasn’t able to utilize it because of canceled events. Now, he’s ready to welcome hungry customers.
“Anything is better than last year. Last year was terrible. We’re just happy to be back,” Hofner said.
And that’s a feeling shared by many, who are welcoming a fully opened Cherry Fest with open arms.
“We had about two weeks to get it all together and get back to our original WhiteHouse Cherry Festival the way that we’ve done it all the years in the past and how everybody likes it,” Rogers said.
