Combine the food and amenities of a county fair with the compact size of a church festival and you get the Columbiana Street Fair! This beloved annual event has taken place in the City of Columbiana since 1885 and is unlike any fair you’ve been to before.
The Columbiana Street Fair is a truly unique event offering an atmosphere that’s hard to replicate. It’s considered the second largest street fair in Ohio and is known as “The State Fair of Street Fairs”. Even more impressively, the event attracts about 40,000 attendees from a 100-mile radius on only about $1,500 in advertising.
Despite its impressive size, one of the best words to describe the Columbiana Street Fair is “community.” The event’s manager, Jacob Sevek, describes the Street Fair as a true event for the community of Columbiana where you’ll see people come to reunite with friends and neighbors. Jacob also points out that the Street Fair’s connection to veterans makes it special as its proceeds go towards supporting local American Legion Post 290.
This year’s edition of the Street Fair will take place September 5th-7th, read on for more details:
At-A-Glance Details
Location: South Main Street, Columbiana Ohio, 44408
Dates and Times:
Thursday, Sept 5th: 5pm-10pm
Friday, Sept 6th: 5pm-11pm
Saturday, Sept 7th: Noon-11pm
Admission: Free (does not include rides)
Activities and Attractions
The Columbiana Street Fair has plenty of activities suitable for the whole family. Many local businesses will be open for shopping and there will be typical fair food, games, and rides.
Shopping
One aspect of the Street Fair that separates it from other events is that many of the shops and restaurants on Main Street are open during the event! You could be standing in line for a corn dog one minute while shopping for antiques a few minutes later. If you get tired of walking you can even have a sit-down meal at a local restaurant.
Which shops are open during the Street Fair vary from year to year so be sure to contact them ahead of time if you’re interested in a particular store. You can learn more about the top shopping spots in Columbiana in our “Shop Like a Local” article.
Rides
What festival or fair is complete without fun rides? The Columbiana Street Fair will have plenty of options and typically features a Ferris wheel, a slide, and several spinning rides (that you probably want to check out before eating a funnel cake)!
You can typically expect the Ferris wheel near the north entrance to the fair, near the circle in the center of the city, but the bulk of the rides will be at a parking lot near PNC Bank.
Bingo
Bingo is a classic pastime of the Street Fair. You’ll find it positioned in a tent close to the north entrance (just past the circle). The Bingo tent is a great place to relax, get out of the sun, and hopefully win a game or two!
Food!
Various food vendors set up shop at the fair serving typical festival foods. This year’s fair will feature over 30 food vendors, not including restaurants. You can expect fair-food staples like corn dogs, funnel cakes, caramel apples, and french fries. If you want something a little more substantial there will also be Chinese food, hot pepper sandwiches, stromboli, chicken, and even barbecue. And of course, don’t forget dessert, you’ll have a variety of sweet tooth-friendly options like cinnamon rolls, ice cream, kettle corn, and “sno” cones.
Besides those options, a trip to the Street Fair isn’t complete without trying one of the event’s classic staples like a chicken dinner at Grace Church (located at the intersection of Main and Pittsburgh St) and the delicious “Legion Burger” offered by American Legion Post 290.
As mentioned earlier, local restaurants are typically open during the fair as well, and some even offer special Street Fair exclusive menu items. Be sure to call ahead to find out which restaurants will be open and when.
Tent Vendors
Besides the stores on Main Street, there will be a variety of vendors selling products and services. You can find these at the vendor tent at the south end of Main Street. Previously, vendors have sold items like t-shirts and apparel, 3D-printed toys, and even leather goods. Educational and community-based organizations also make their home under the tent if you’d like to learn more about events and organizations like the upcoming Joy of Christmas lights display or the Columbiana Area Tourism Bureau.
Special Events
Parade
On Thursday, September 5th, the fair will get a grand opening with the Street Fair Parade at 6:15 pm. This event, organized by the Columbiana Fire Department, is a crowd favorite and always sets the tone for a fun three days.
The parade begins at nearby Firestone Park and then makes its way down North Main Street and then heads east along East Park Ave. It is always led by the color guard of American Legion Post 290 and is followed by a mix of floats, organizations, and classic cars.
Participants typically include civic groups, churches, veterans groups, and a large contingency of classic cars. If you’re a classic car fan, the parade will be exceptionally appealing as there are usually nearly 100 featured in the parade. The best strategy for getting a good view of the fair is to arrive early and set your own chairs up along East Park Avenue or North Main Street.
If you’re interested in participating in the parade, you can download the parade registration form here.
Photo Contest
Each year the Street Fair hosts an “All Things Columbiana” amateur photo contest. Entries will include photos of landscapes, landmarks, or people associated with the City of Columbiana. The contest will have both an adult and a children’s (14 or younger) divison.
Entries will be displayed in the large vendor tent during the fair, and the winners will be displayed in the Columbiana Public Library after the fair.
If you’re interested in entering the photo contest, you can download the entry form here. The deadline for submission is noon on September 3rd.
Special Needs Day
The City of Columbiana has a history of elevating individuals with special needs. In fact, their local theater’s focus on special needs productions was highlighted in a 2019 Readers Digest Article. That spirit of caring for those individuals is continued through the fair’s Special Needs Day. Friday, September 6th at noon the American Legion invites any special needs children to an afternoon of free lunch, and unlimited rides at no cost.
Logistics and Parking
There will be several free and paid parking areas located around the city. The free lots located in Firestone Park will include free shuttle services to the fair.
For any questions or additional information about the Street Fair, you can use their online contact form, contact them via email at columbianastreetfair@gmail.com, or follow their Facebook page.
History
The Columbiana Street Fair has a very long history dating back to 1885. That first fair was much more similar to a typical county fair as it featured livestock and produce displays. In the early 1900s, some of the entertainment you could expect at the fair included wheel barrel races, bicycle races, and even a ball game between Columbiana and nearby town, and at one point the name was changed to the H.H. PSmith Pumpkin Show. In 1920 American Legion Post #290 took over managing the event and expanded it into a 3 day event which it remains to this day.
If you’re interested in learning more about the history of the Street Fair be sure to check out the Columbiana Street Fair’s Website.
Kick off fall with one of the best street fairs in the state. Grab some food, do some shopping, and experience the welcoming charm of The Columbiana Street Fair on September 5-7!
Photos in this blog used courtesy of the Columbiana Street Fair