Reynoldsburg Tomato Festival
New committee plans smaller Tomato Festival

A new turn of events is taking place with the Reynoldsburg Festivals. This article was posted in This Week's Community Newspapers, Reynoldsburg on Tuesday, March 10, 2009 By David S. Owen. ThisWeek Staff Writer. The article is public.

The Reynoldsburg Tomato Festival will return this summer under the direction of a new group of directors.

"It's going to happen this year, and we would love anyone who wants to volunteer and become a part of this," said Mary Hudson, one of the new directors and vice president of the Reynoldsburg Community Association.

Other new committee directors, all volunteers, are Reynoldsburg Parks and Recreation Department director Jason Shamblin, Christopher Long, Greta Stake and Bob Martin.

The treasurer will be Sandy Long. Hudson said the group is in search of a recording secretary.

The group is currently recruiting volunteers and seeking sponsorships.

With too much debt to recover after last year's festival, officials of Reynoldsburg Tomato Festival Inc. decided not to organize the event in 2009 and closed its operations.

This year will be the festival's 44th year, and Hudson said the new committee is starting out with a clean slate. It is currently in the process of filing with the state of Ohio to incorporate as Reynoldsburg Festivals Inc.

Although the group wants to keep some of the traditional attractions known to the festival in past years, she said, some things will be scaled back this year and a new location has been chosen.

Instead of a five-day festival, this year's event will last only two days, Aug. 21 and 22, and will be held at Huber Park instead of Civic Park.

"This brings the festival back to the center of the city, with a hometown feel, plus it's in August before school starts, and we'll use local service clubs and community organizations," Hudson said.

"We're very excited, but we're going to scale it back this year with a lot of things and start small," she said. "We're just now in the process of obtaining sponsorships.

"We're trying to move forward. We're a new group, and we thank the former organizers for all they did over the past 43 years the festival has gone on," she said.

Hudson said the city administration supports keeping the Tomato Festival going.

"We believe that is very, very important because that's who we are, and that's what we're about," Hudson said. "The administration of the city felt very strongly that they wanted to continue this as a Reynoldsburg tradition."

It's too early to make many announcements, Hudson said. The committee is still working on the details and forming committees to put it all together.

She said a variety of food will be offered, and the traditional tomato tent will display tomatoes and food items made from tomatoes.

Hudson said the committee wants an entertainment segment for each day of the festival. Depending on how much sponsorship they receive, organizers would like to have a name act on Saturday night to cap off the two-day festival.

"We're moving the fitness challenge event to take place on that Friday night (Aug. 21) ... and there are all kinds of ideas we're thinking of that will excite everybody," Hudson said. The committee wants to include activities for all ages.

Another possibility being looked at is a local battle of the bands on Saturday afternoon.

"We're also working on maybe a queen's scholarship pageant," Hudson said. "If anyone wants to serve on that committee, we would like them to give us a call."

Shamblin said the city will continue to provide support, as it has in the past through the use of Huber Park and with police security.

With a budget set at $25,000, Hudson said the committee is relying on sponsorships.

"We know that what it actually looks like in the end will be determined by the kinds of funds we can raise," she said.

The committee will meet at 7 p.m. on the first and third Thursdays of every month at the city's safety building, 7240 E. Main St. Hudson said so far, about 50 volunteers have turned out, but more are needed.

An official Web site for the new Tomato Festival organization is currently being worked on. Anyone who has questions and/or would like to volunteer for the festival can call (614) 866-4888.

"Community is what it is all about, and I know with the economy the way it is now, people are looking for things to do that aren't costing a lot of money," Hudson said. "And this gives you a sense of community."