Southwest Licking County residents will soak up the last days of summer this week.
The 77th annual Pataskala Street Fair opens Wednesday and runs until Saturday.
Pataskala Mayor Mike Compton said the annual fair is a special chance for the community to come together.
"Most of the community just can't wait because sometimes it's the only time of the year that they get to connect with neighbors and relatives because everybody comes to it," he said.
Here's what to know before the 77th annual Pataskala Street Fair opens Wednesday:
Who's performing at the 2024 Pataskala Street Fair?
The fair will feature live music every night.
- 8:30 p.m. Wednesday: Long Play, a Columbus rock group
- 8:30 p.m. Thursday: At It Again, a Johnstown country band
- 9 p.m. Friday: Marquis 66, a central Ohio rock and roll group
- 8:30 p.m. Saturday: Bryan Lewis Band, a Licking County band
When will streets close and reopen?
Compton said South Main Street/Ohio 310 between the railroad tracks to the north and Mill Street to the south will close at 9 a.m. Tuesday and reopen by 5 a.m. Sunday. A small part of Jefferson Street will also close but will still be accessible for residents.
Compton cautioned that residents should be patient Tuesday morning. One of the "super loads" heading to the Intel site south of Johnstown is parking in Pataskala overnight Monday and is scheduled to leave at 8:15 a.m. from its spot on East Board Street. It will travel north on Ohio 310 and not move through the area for the street fair.
When do Pataskala Street Fair rides open?
The street fair will again feature carnival rids for children. They open 6 p.m. Wednesday, 1 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and immediately following the noon parade on Saturday.
Who are the food vendors at this year's street fair?
The street fair will have plenty of tasty treats available. Here are the food vendors for the 2024 fair.
Commercial vendors
- Dickies BBQ
- Summer Freeze (shaved ice)
- The Bavarian Almond Shoppe (roast nuts)
- Whit’s Frozen Custard
- Rolls by Pound (baked goods)
- Pizza Cones
- Owen Concessions (gyros)
- Cheddar Burger (burgers/pork tenderloins)
- Grilled Cheese Gangsters (grilled cheese sandwiches)
- The Snack Shack (funnel cakes)
- BesTEAS Drink Den (bubble teas)
- Triplett Vending (kettle corn, fruit smashers)
- Cate’s Steakhouse & Catering (tacos, wraps and fry bread)
- Krazy Taters (ribbon fries)
- The Snack Wagon (cheesecake on a stick, ice cream bars)
Nonprofit vendors
- Watkins Memorial High School Cheerleaders (lemon shake ups)
- Pataskala Presbyterian Church (chicken and noodles, homemade pie)
- Summit Station Lions Club (roast beef sandwiches, corn on the cob)
- Pataskala Lions Club (brats, corn dogs, pulled pork)
- Healing Our Warriors (taco boats, shredded chicken sandwiches, hot dogs and sloppy Joes)
When is the 2024 Pataskala Street Fair Parade and what's the route?
The parade, which is organized by the Pataskala Rotary Club, starts at noon Saturday.
It starts on Oak Meadow Drive and heads south to South Vine Street then turns east onto Third Street. The parade will turn south onto South Main Street/Ohio 310, then west onto Front Street before finishing at South High and Mill streets.
Mike Dalton, a Pataskala Boy Scouts scoutmaster, has been selected as the parade's grand marshal for his years of service, leadership and dedication to Pataskala's Boy Scouts program.
When is the 2024 Little Miss Firefighter pageant?
The 40th annual Little Miss Firefighter pageant starts at 7 p.m. Wednesday. Registration for the annual pageant, which is open to girls entering the second grade, closed July 31.
Where can people park while attending the street fair?
People can park in two city parking lots just north of the railroad tracks, Compton said, adding there is also parking at the BMV on Township Road. People can also park vehicles along the side streets in the area, but Compton said people should be respectful of local residents so they don't block driveways or mailboxes.
Is there anything people should avoid bringing to the street fair?
Compton said it's best if people leave pets and bicycles at home: "There's too much food and too many babies in strollers, and it just gets too crowded," he said.
What does the street fair benefit?
The fair started as way for the West Licking Firefighters Association to get additional equipment for the West Licking Joint Fire District. Now the fair supports stocking the district's support truck to ensure it has coffee, blankets, cold water and other items firefighters need when dealing with a larger fire.
Street fair partners with county agency to provide accessible restrooms
The Licking County Board of Developmental Disabilities is providing mobile, accessible restrooms each day of the fair from noon to 11 p.m.
The vehicle, which is the size of a food truck, includes a wheelchair lift, an adjustable changing table that can accommodate an adult, a ceiling hoist and an accessible toilet and sink. Trained staff members stay with the vehicle at all times to provide information and clean the space between uses.
The vehicle has been used at other Licking County events this summer, including the Newark Strawberry Festival and Granville Fourth of July fireworks.
mdevito@gannett.com
740-607-2175
