Summertime is in full swing, and that means one thing in Ohio, it is fair season! One of my favorite local festivals to attend is the Celina Lake Festival, taking place on the shores of Grand Lake St. Marys. Not only is the Lake Festival a great opportunity for the Celina community to come together, but it also serves as a celebration of an important resource in western Ohio.

This year, the Celina Lake Festival takes place from Friday, July 28 through Sunday, July 30. A weekend full of a variety of events, I highly encourage you to come out for a day, or even the entire weekend. There is entertainment for every member of the family, from a craft show to the annual Miss Lake Festival pageant. A few of the better-known attractions to take part in include the Cruise In and Car Show, the children’s fishing derby, and hot air balloon rides.

The volleyball tournaments and fair food make for a fun-filled weekend, but I think the biggest benefit that the Lake Festival brings to western Ohio is the boon to our state’s tourism industry. Not only does the festival draw the local crowd to Grand Lake St. Marys, but it is also a great advertisement for the surrounding state park, bringing in Ohioans from other regions. The park boasts boating, fishing, hunting, picnicking, and an assortment of other family-friendly activities.

Outside of the Celina Lake Festival, Grand Lake St. Marys is a great local destination for a summer weekend trip. But the festival generates attention to our small city of Celina, boosting our local economy and giving the community an opportunity to connect. It puts the beautiful lake and everything Celina has to offer on display. I plan on heading to the festival as well as many of the other great summer fairs and festivals in our area this year. I hope to see you this summer!