Artisans’ Festival returns to Leetonia after 3 years

LEETONIA — Leetonia is bringing back its Artisans’ Festival this weekend after an absence of three years.

Dan Morelli, chairman of the village’s parks and recreation board, said the festival will have its traditional harvest theme.

The festival was last held in 2003 and apparently ran out of steam.

Leetonia joins Lisbon, which has revived its Johnny Appleseed Festival after an absence.

Proceeds from the festival will go toward parks projects, including work at the nearby Cherry Valley Coke Ovens that once turned coal into fuel to power Youngstown’s steel industry. People can take a do-it-yourself tour.

Morelli said one frequent request is for children’s playground equipment at Wick Park, where the festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free.

More than 70 vendors have signed up, ranging from homemade food to crafts and demonstrations by weavers and quiltmakers. Mike Highfield of Canfield will demonstrate wood carvings. There will be a vendor’s auction at 4 p.m. to benefit the parks.

Civl War re-enactors will camp at the park Saturday night and will do drills during the festival. Drivers may park around the park.

There will also be a car show for vehicles made up to and including 1976.

Entertainment will include DJ Larry Skraggs, Little Joe Latessa and Friends, The Stage Left Youth Players, the Leetonia High School Band, and Feyfire, a Celtic band.

A certificate of appreciation will be given to Ruth Roose of Leetonia. She and her late husband, John, were the founders of the festival.

Morelli said past park projects funded with proceeds from the festival include sidewalk improvements, lamp post installations, providing flags, replacement of the roof of the pavilion in the park, new signs and general maintenance.

“We want to be good stewards of what we have coming in,” Morelli said.