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Vantage Program created for groups
By Elise Franco
By Elise Franco
Canfield
A new group-oriented program is one more way the Canfield Fair hopes to appeal to people’s hometown roots.
Jim Brown, fair-board president, said the Vantage Program is meant to give large groups — such as parties, family or class reunions or company picnics — a private place to socialize while still enjoying the grounds.
“We considered this as something we could do for people,” he said. “Because of the economy, a lot of companies couldn’t send their employees to places like Cedar Point.”
Megan Day, program coordinator, said groups can reserve a tent located on the southwest quadrant of the grounds, across the street from the Mill Creek MetroParks Farm on state Route 46.
“The tents will be set up with tables and chairs to host the picnics,” she said.
Day said packages are offered at several price points to accommodate various groups — $500 for 25 people, $1,500 for 50 people, $2,000 for 75 people and $2,500 for 100 people.
The cost of a day at Cedar Point for 25 people would be about $800 plus the cost of food, according to the company’s website.
Day said the price of the Vantage Program includes cost of admission, preferred parking, vendor coupons and the option to buy discounted tickets for rides and the grandstand shows.
Visitors also are welcome to cater their event or bring their own food and nonalcoholic beverages.
“It’s pretty affordable, and with the fair being such a big part of the community, we wanted to encourage local families and businesses to have this area on the ground to themselves,” Day said.
Craig Myers, fair-board member, said so far five local businesses and one family have taken advantage of the program.
She said one family, coming in on Saturday, found the program to be more stress-free than having a family reunion at home.
“They have a lot of family members out of state and one from Germany, so they were really excited about having it at the fair,” Day said. “For them, having it at a house would be a lot of work and a lot for them to clean up.
“Instead, they’re able to come back to the fair and reminisce.”
Brown said he hopes the program will cause people to want to visit the fair more than once.
“If they bring their families or employees and they have a place to go and talk and congregate, they may think about the fun they had and come back to the fair more often,” he said.
Brown said he’s not surprised at the positive interest and hopes the program will expand in future years.
“I was hoping it would be successful. The first year it’s always tough to really get a program across,” he said. “People will be more encouraged to use the program next year.”
For more information about the Vantage Program, contact the Canfield Fair Board office at 330-533-4107.