The biggest summer kick-off event was Thursday night in Chagrin Falls and runs through Sunday evening at 10:30 p.m. The theme of this year's Blossom Time is "Wild, Wild West" and anyone coming to Blossom Time is encouraged to dress in Western gear!
The Chagrin Valley Jaycees Chagrin Falls Blossom Time started Thursday night with the 5:30 p.m. opening of the carnival rides in Riverside Park on Main Street, the 6 p.m. crowning of the Blossom Time queen and the 8:30 p.m. Heinen's Hot Air Balloon Glow behind Chagrin Falls High School at 400 East Washington Street. The carnival closes at 10:30 p.m.
There will be entertainment and bands in the Big Top Tent in Riverside Park all four days!
On Friday, the Riverside Park carnival rides open at 2 p.m. and close at 11 p.m. There's a pizza eating contest in the Big Top Tent in Riverside Park 6-7 p.m., and the Sherwin Williams Balloon Launch from Chagrin Falls High School 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m.
Saturday is a full day. It starts with Kid's Day in the Big Top Tent from 9 a.m. to noon with games and Herps Alive Reptile show. The Taste of Chagrin takes over Triangle Park downtown (just a block from Riverside Park) from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. with restaurants and vendors selling food and drinks. The carnival rides open at 10:30 a.m. and run until 11 p.m. and once again there's the Sherwin Williams Balloon Launch from Chagrin Falls High School 6:30-8 p.m.
Sunday is a full day, with the 40th annual Motorcars Blossom Time Run & Fitness Walk (5.25 miles) stepping off at 9 a.m. on Main Street above the falls. Carnival rides in Riverside Park run from 10:30 a.m. and the carnival ends at 10 p.m. The 60th annual Blossom Time Parade steps off from Chagrin Falls High School at 2 p.m. and winds its way down East Washington Street, ending in Triangle Park.
This year's Grand Marshal is the legendary Larry Morrow, dubbed "Mr. Cleveland" by former Cleveland mayor George Voinovich. A legend in Northeast Ohio, his career spanned 40 years on the radio here. A Marine who served in Korea, he lives in Geauga County and is an adjunct faculty and teacher of Executive Communications at John Carroll University.
It's usually a 2-hour parade and draws about 30,000 people to watch. Once again there will be a Sherwin Williams Hot Air Balloon Launch from Chagrin Falls High School 6:30-8:30 p.m.
There's a second parade on Monday, Memorial Day from Triangle Park to Evergreen Cemetery on South Franklin Street, starting at 10 a.m. The parade starts in Triangle Park with the colors will be lowered. The parade will have a parade marshal, military service members for all wars, the Chagrin Falls police and fire departments, scout troops, bagpipes, and the Chagrin Falls High School marching band. Once the parade marchers pass by, residents and onlookers usually fall in behind and march along up to Evergreen where there will be a Memorial Day ceremony.
Never been to Chagrin Falls? It's located in the southeastern corner of Cuyahoga County in Northeast Ohio. The 2.4-square-mile village has a population of about 4,424 and was incorporated in 1844.
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