Regular participants in Greater Alliance Carnation Festival events should check the schedule before this year’s big celebration, because there have been some big changes.
Some long-running events have changed their dates, and there are new events for the 65th version of the festival.
No flower show this year
One of the big changes this year is the Flower Show will not take place. The event, which has been part of the first weekend of events in the 11-day festival, is expected to return in 2026.
Gospel Songfest retired
Festival organizers announced the Gospel Songfest has been retired. The event formerly was held the final Saturday of the festival, but the Alliance of Churches’ annual Gospel Songfest takes place just a few days later, this year Aug. 16 at the Carnation Caboose in downtown Alliance.
Rain dates set for Auto Show, fireworks show
Another twist this year is the addition of rain dates for two big Carnation Festival events – the Auto Show and Days in the Park fireworks.
The 2024 festival endured a soggy first weekend, with torrential rain on Saturday, Aug. 3, which was the last day of the Food Fest and when the hugely popular Auto Show is held at Glamorgan Castle.
The Auto Show, planned for 2025 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 2, has rain date listed for Sunday, Aug. 3.
Days in the Park, which runs this year from Aug. 6-9 at Silver Park, features fireworks on the last night. Rain spoiled the fireworks show in 2023, and organizers rescheduled the show for the following night. This year’s fireworks are planned for Aug. 9 at dusk, and a rain date is now part of the festival’s schedule, listed for 2025 as Aug. 10.
New dates for two running events
Two events have new days for 2025.
The Carnation Trail Run has moved to the final day of the festival, Aug. 10. It will still be a night event, planned to step off at 7 p.m. at Iron Horse Trail. Registration begins at 5 p.m. at First Christian Church, 1141 W. Beech St. in Alliance. Runners also can register on the festival’s website, carnationfestival.com, closer to the event date.
The 5th Carnation Youth Color run is planned for 6 p.m. Aug. 6 at the tennis courts in Silver Park. The run this year will be on a Wednesday, and in a new location. In previous years, it was a Tuesday night at the same time as the trail run, also on Iron Horse Trail.
Sponsored by Alliance Family YMCA, the free event involves youngsters ages 5 to 18 running on a course on which at various points colorful powder is tossed onto them. Registration is open for the event from July 9 through July 31 by calling the YMCA at 330-823-1930. Participants are urged to wear white shirts for the event, so they can show off he bright colors.
Author event for children
Two young authors from the Akron area will be in the spotlight at 6:30 p.m. free event Aug. 4 at Maple Beach Park. Kamille and Kamryn Smith, who each have written children’s books, will speak about their efforts, and urge young Alliance-area residents in the audience that, according to sponsor Early Childhood Education Alliance, “no dream is too big and no author is too young to make an impact.”
The free event will move to Alliance High School in the event of rain.
The girls’ father, Kenny Smith, wrote “We Love Our Daddy,” which highlights the importance of a father being present in the lives of his family.
Kamille Smith wrote “Switching Up My Hair,” which shares a powerful message of self-love that encourages girls to embrace confidence in their hair – no matter how it is styled.
Kamryn Smith will speak about her book, “Be Free: Just Do It Your Way,” which empowers young readers to be bold, authentic and fearless while being themselves.
New location for family movie event
The festival’s family movie event will be at Maple Beach Park this year, accompanying the young authors event. The movie will be “Wild Robot,” a family adventure film about a robot that crashes on an uninhabited island and becomes friends with the native animals.
As with the author event, the movie will move to Alliance High School in the event of rain.
This article originally appeared on The Alliance Review: New dates, events set for 2025 Carnation Festival
Reporting by Alliance Review / The Alliance Review
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
