Lorain’s Firefish Festival kicked off on Sept. 21 with numerous vendors lining Broadway Street selling everything from arts and crafts to jewelry.
This year marks the festival’s 10th year in downtown Lorain, except for one year it was canceled due to the global pandemic, festival founder and artistic director Joan Partch said.
“It’s great. We have more vendors and performers this year,” said Ben Maniaci, one of the event organizers who was busy dealing with various issues faced by vendors as the festival began at 2 p.m.
Sisters Alena and Quintela Newson, from Lorain, were excited when they entered the festival grounds and saw the many vendors.
“It’s a lot of fun,” they both said.
The pair attended the event last year but missed out on the symbolic burning of an artistic fish well before the festival, as part of the evening festivities.
“We’re going to video it and post it,” Alena Newson said excitedly as the couple made plans for their afternoon and evening.
This year’s fish burns were conducted using natural gas, Maniaci said.
“We don’t burn wood anymore. It’s more environmentally friendly,” he explained. “We’re definitely changing with the times.”
Natural gas would help reduce pollutants in the air, he added.
Megan Wright and her 6-year-old son, Ferris Wright, were also excited as the festival began.
Wright was manning a booth for a local arts group that offers young people a place to learn and practice art over the weekend.
“We’re just a small group that gives kids something to do on the weekend,” Wright said. “We think it’s a good event, it brings a lot of people out and it raises our profile.”
Modern Day Pirates, who have had a booth at the festival every year for the past three years, also attended dressed in pirate costumes.
“We sell all kinds of pirate-themed merchandise in our store,” said Keelhall Crowley, who appeared with several other men dressed as pirates.
“We’re here to support the festival,” Crowley said, “and just hang out and have fun.”
The “pirates” sell everything from pirate clothing, jewelry and replica weapons, much of it handcrafted by Crowley.
“I’ve always loved pirates ever since I was a kid,” Crowley added.
The evening concluded with a parade, live music, various presentations and the symbolic fish burning.
The annual Firefish Festival was held in downtown Lorain on Sept. 21. (Heather Chapin – The Morning Journal)