Elyria Apple Festival will be back this year

After a year off becase of pandemic concerns, the Elyria Apple Festival will return to downtown's Ely Square on Sept. 17-19. Organizers announced the decision in a letter released Wednesday. "The last year has been challenging for everyone and we look forward to resuming the festival this fall," wrote Stacey Francis and Stan Wojdyla — who signed their letter "The Apple Festival Core." "We recognize that the COVID-19 pandemic, and the health directives surrounding it, continue to change. The committee remains dedicated to the health and safety of all participants and will announce further details on safety protocols as more becomes known throughout the next few months," they wrote. The festival historically takes place on the third weekend of September each year and includes music, food, entertainment, a 5K and other events. Last year's Apple Festival, originally scheduled for Sept. 18-20, was canceled in July because of the COVID-19 pandemic. "We're excited that we're going to do it this year," Francis told The Chronicle-Telegram on Wednesday. She said organizers are hopeful that much of the worry around the pandemic will be cleared up by the end of September, but that the festival will still abide by any COVID-19 safety protocols still in place. One change is that there will not be a Princess Pageant this year. Plans for this year's festival got started too late to organize that event, and it has been without a director for the past two years. Organizers remain on the lookout for a pageant director, and the pageant should return in 2022, Francis said. She said she will be contacting vendors in the coming weeks, and that the festival always has room for new vendors, crafters and business booths. Also, anyone who is uncomfortable with crowds — the festival weekend has drawn 100,000 people to Elyria in past years — can still stop by to get food and take it home, Francis said. Fundraising is done through the festival's Century Club, and a fundraiser will be held the week before the festival this year. "It's always a very well-attended and nice event, hopefully more so this year," Francis said. She said organizers are hoping to find some new and younger committee members to learn the ropes and keep the festival going for the future. "We need some new ideas, some new blood, people to help on some committees and help us do some fundraising, to help with the Century Club raffle and prizes and live auction," Francis said. The Apple Festival committee's first planning meeting is scheduled for May 19. Francis said anyone wanting to volunteer or be a vendor may call her at (440) 324-2255, or contact her through the Elyria Apple Festival's Facebook page. "We felt we needed to go on with it this year," she said. "The people need it. They need something to look forward to. … I think we'll be safe." Organizers said the annual car show and 5K run will return this year as well. Contact Dave O'Brien at (440) 329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.com. Follow him @daveobrienCT on Twitter.