Greater Alliance Carnation Festival returns, celebrates 10 days of community

ALLIANCE ‒ The Greater Alliance Carnation Festival returns this week for its 64th year with a renewed focus on Levi Lamborn.

Lamborn, an Alliance politician, physician and horticulturist, is credited with breeding the first scarlet carnations in the United States. This year also marks the 120th anniversary of the scarlet carnation being named Ohio's state flower.

The 10-day celebration starts Aug. 1, when Carnation Food Fest kicks off at the University of Mount Union. About 30 more activities dot the calendar through Aug. 10, when the festival's Grand Parade and fireworks at Silver Park close out the fun. In between, events include a wildly popular used book sale at Alliance Commons; a car show at Glamorgan Castle; pump-in and muster featuring Alliance-area fire departments; and Days in the Park, with vendors and nightly musical entertainment.

Three events have already occurred. The Royal Afternoon at Castle, for young children, was July 21; a vintage baseball game was held Sunday; and the Carnation Queen Pageant was held Saturday night.

Photo Gallery: Alliance-area girls have royal fun with queen, court

Sue Grove, president of the Carnation Festival Executive Board, said this year's festival returns all of the favorites, plus a few new features, including a scavenger hunt and "Jim Gill's Sing-a-thon" on Aug. 5 at Silver Park amphitheater.

Here's a list of festival events :

• Aug. 1 - Carnation Food Fest at Mount Union Campus Lakes (4-11 p.m.) and Shakespeare at the Castle ( 7 p.m.);
• Aug. 2 - Carnation Golf Scramble at Tannenhauf Golf Club (9 a.m.), Carnation Food Fest (noon to 11 p.m.), Flower Show at Mount Union Giese Center (7 to 9 p.m.) and Shakespeare at the Castle (7 p.m.);
• Aug. 3 - Flower Show (8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.), Used Book Sale at The Commons (11 a.m. to 3 p.m., members only), Auto Show at Glamorgan Castle (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.), Community Luncheon at Alliance Senior Citizens Center (11:30 a.m.), Carnation Food Fest (noon to 11 p.m.), Pedal Tractor Pull at Mount Union Campus Lakes (2 to 4 p.m.), Shakespeare at the Castle (7 p.m.) and Glamorgan Castle Tours (noon to 4 p.m.);
• Aug. 4 - Fishing Derby at Kidwell Lake in Silver Park (8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.), Fire Truck Pump-in and Muster at Glamorgan Castle (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.), Used Book Sale (1 to 5 p.m., public), Kick-off Parade (1 p.m.), Hike and Seek at Huston-Brumbaugh Nature Center (1 to 5 p.m.), Shakespeare at the Castle (7 p.m.) and Glamorgan Castle Tours (noon to 4 p.m.);
• Aug. 5 - Used Book Sale (9 a.m. to 8 p.m.), Jim Gill's Sing-a-thon at Silver Park amphitheater (6 p.m.) and Movie on the Silver Screen at Silver Park (dusk). The film is "Sing." If there is rain at noon, the movie will move to Alliance High School.
• Aug. 6 - Used Book Sale (9 a.m. to 8 p.m.), Carnation Trail Run at Iron Horse Trail (6 p.m., registration begins at 5 p.m. at First Christian Church), and Carnation Youth Color Run at Iron Horse Trail (6 p.m., pre-registration required at YMCA);
• Aug. 7 - Used Book Sale (9 a.m. to 8 p.m., pay by donation) and Days in the Park at Silver Park (4 to 9 p.m.);
• Aug. 8 - Carnation Days at Beech Creek Gardens (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.), Days in the Park (4 to 9 p.m.) and Hot Air Balloons Lift-Off at Silver Park (7 p.m.);
• Aug. 9 - Carnation Days (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.), Days in the Park (4 to 9 p.m.) and Pet Show at Jaycee Shelter in Silver Park (6 p.m., rain date is Aug. 10); and,
• Aug. 10- Carnation Days (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.), Grand Parade (11 a.m.), Days in the Park (1 to 10 p.m.) and Fireworks at Silver Park (9:30 p.m., rain date is Aug. 11).

The festival also will have a kids coloring contest, scavenger hunt, business display contest and a photo contest that extend multiple days.

Hartzell Home: Mini-Museum to display new photos during Carnation Festival

Grove explained the scavenger hunt involves Levi Lamborn-inspired gnomes hidden in 10 locations throughout the city, and hints will be given daily. If a person finds a gnome, they scan the QR code and enter a drawing for prizes. The gnomes were created by Hot Pots Pottery.

Lamborn is a revered figure in Alliance, and attendees to the festival's Community Luncheon will hear from his great-great-nephew Mike Lamborn, who owns a California winery.

"We are home of the state flower," Grove said. "We couldn't be more proud."

For more information, visit the festival website at http://www.carnationfestival.com/ .

Reach Benjamin Duer at 330-580-8567 or ben.duer@cantonrep.com . On X (formerly Twitter): @bduerREP .

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Greater Alliance Carnation Festival returns, celebrates 10 days of community