43
Street Fair began as homecoming
At least one high school class will have its reunion during the street fair.
COLUMBIANA — Frank Reash describes what goes into making the hamburgers at the Columbiana Street Fair so lip-smacking good.
“We buy 1,000 pounds of meat and 850 pounds of onions,” Reash said Wednesday.
The cooked onions on the side add a special flavor that makes for “very good eating,” he said.
Reash is commander of the American Legion Benjamin Firestone Post 290. Members make the burgers as a fundraiser for the post, which has been running the street fair for 80 years.
The event bills itself as “The State Fair of Street Fairs.”
“It started as a merchants’ homecoming 122 years ago,” Reach said.
The event included judging produce and livestock. A history of the fair recounts how a best-of-show winner received a 58-piece tea set valued at $13.50.
The Legion took over when the merchants got tired of running it.
The event, which begins today and continues through Saturday, still brings people home. Reash said the Columbiana class of 1968 will have its reunion during the fair.
“It’s homecoming for a lot of people. There are class reunions, and people take vacation to come to our fair,” he said. One person is coming from California.
The event draws food vendors who set up at the Canfield Fair and also gets help from the Johnny Appleseed Festival in Lisbon, which loans its portable stage to the street fair.
The event starts with a parade at 6:30 p.m. today.
On Friday, handicapped children can eat for free at noon. Built into the contracts with the ride companies are free rides for handicapped children at 2 p.m. Friday. Seats can be adjusted for larger children. Handicapped people can be dropped off at a special location on the square.
Grace Church will be offering its barbecued chicken and home-made applesauce at 4 p.m. today and Friday and noon on Saturday. It serves about 2,200 meals.
There is a $5,000 drawing Saturday night. Reash said the proceeds help fund the street fair.
wilkinson@vindy.com